Financial Aid & Preparation: U.S.

U.S. Schools Financial Aid & Scholarship Links

Financial Aid Sources & Other Resources

 



Financial Aid & Preparation: Canada

Canadian Schools Financial Aid & Scholarship Links

Federal, Provincial & Territorial Loan Information

 

Canadian schools financial aid information compiled with the assistance of the financial aid offices of Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine and Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine.

 

Financial Aid

Financial Aid, Loans and Scholarships

Deciding to enroll in naturopathic medical school is a life-changing choice. Whether you are a recent college graduate or have been working in another career for years, the more prepared you are financially, the easier the transition to student life. Naturopathic medical school is a rigorous four-year program with many similarities to conventional medical school in terms of both class content and demands on the student’s time.

While the prospect of paying for medical school can be daunting, there are many funding sources available. It helps to talk to a financial aid officer at the school you’d like to attend. They are available to counsel prospective students on their options and to help you find the funds to pay for your education. Having a financial plan in place before starting school will enable you to focus on your studies. The following resources are a great starting point:

Loan Programs & Financial Aid Resources

United States

Canada

Scholarships
Work Study

 

Loan Programs and Financial Aid Resources

Each ND school provides beneficial information and links on its website, and experienced financial aid and admissions personnel are on staff to advise and provide students with the following:

  • Available scholarships
  • Financial aid requirements, applications and deadlines
  • Tuition and fee information
  • Local housing information and costs
  • Answers to any questions and concerns

Both the United States and Canada differ in the types of student loans available, the process of applying for aid, and the various customary alternatives to government funding.

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United States

Federal Student Loans
Naturopathic medical students are permitted to borrow within the same financial parameters as other medical students per the U.S. Federal Direct Stafford Student Loan Program and the Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan Program.

Extended Lending Benefits for ND Students
In 2005, the U.S. Department of Education approved extended Stafford loan limits for ND students. As a result, ND students are now eligible for Stafford loans of up to $40,500 for a three-quarter academic year. The aggregate loan limit for ND students (includes all Federal Family Education Loans and Federal Direct Loans, undergraduate and graduate) has also been increased to $224,000.

Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan
Students do not need to qualify for need-based assistance to receive this loan, and the interest accrues while students are enrolled in school. Students can choose to let the interest capitalize, or they can make interest-only payments while they are in school. ND students may qualify for up to $40,500 per academic year. (The graduate students loan limit is $20,500.) The interest rate on all Federal Direct Loans guaranteed after July 1, 2006, is a fixed 6.8 percent.

Federal Perkins Student Loan
The Federal Perkins Loan is a need-based, low-interest loan available to students who have exceptionally high financial need. The amount of new Federal Perkins Loan Program funds provided to a school for an award year by the federal government is called the Federal Capital Contribution (FCC). There is also an institutional contribution that must accompany the FCC allotment. This means that every Perkins loan awarded to a student will be comprised of both federal dollars (FCC) and institutional funds (the Institutional Capital Contribution or ICC). No interest accrues while the student is enrolled in school and there is a nine-month grace period after graduation before payment begins. The interest rate is 5 percent. Note: NCNM does not offer Perkins loans.

Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans
Graduate and professional students can take out Graduate PLUS Loans to pay for their educations. Graduate PLUS Loans are part of the Federal Direct loan program which also offers Federal Direct Stafford Loans. Graduate PLUS Loans have a fixed interest rate of 7.9 percent and other convenient terms such as the ability to defer payments when you are enrolled in school at least half time. You may borrow up to the cost of education minus any other financial aid you receive. There are no annual or aggregate borrowing limits set by the federal government. There is a personal credit check requirement for the Graduate PLUS loan.

Private Student Loans
Private educational loans are also available for students who wish to receive additional resources to cover the gap in funding or to replace federal loans. It is the responsibility of the student to seek out a lender and apply for a private student loan. Private loans require a personal credit check and may require a co-signer. We encourage students to pay attention to interest rates, fees and repayment terms as these may be different than federal student loans. Please note: ND students do not typically qualify for private loans as their costs are generally covered by the extended Federal Direct Loan limit of $40,500 per academic year, and Graduate PLUS loans if needed.

Special Programs
Students should inquire into possible financial aid programs sponsored by fraternal organizations, clubs, etc., in their home area. Alaska residents should ask about the Alaska Student Loan Program.

Student Loan Pros and Cons:

Pros

  • Students are not required to begin repayment while attending full-time studies or until six months after completion of studies
  • Repayment options are available to graduates facing financial difficulty

Cons

  • Limited amount of funding
  • Post-graduation debt 1

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Canada

Government Student Loans

In Canada, government loans are provided at both the federal and provincial level. For a list of links to Canadian government loans by province, please see the sidebar on Canadian Resources.

Loan Limits

  • For students without dependants (federal and provincial - $320-$360/week)
  • For students with dependants (federal and provincial - $510-$560/week)
  • Note: Students from Ontario studying naturopathic medicine in British Columbia receive only the federal loan portion.
  • Canada Student Grants may add funding above the loan limits:
    • Students with permanent disabilities can receive grants of up to $2,000 per program year, depending on income
    • Students with dependents can receive a $200 grant per month per number of dependents
    • Students from low-income families can receive $250 per month ($3,000 maximum per year)

Lifetime Maximum Funding

  • A total of 340 funded weeks for students, effective Aug. 1, 2011
  • A total of 520 weeks for students who were issued loans prior to August 1995, or who are permanently disabled
  • A total of 400 weeks, including all weeks accumulated during bachelor's, master’s and PhD-level studies (does not apply at CCNM)

Student Loan Pros and Cons:

Pros

  • Students are not required to begin repayment while attending full-time studies or until six months after completion of studies
  • Repayment options are available to graduates facing financial difficulty

Cons

  • Limited amount of funding
  • Post-graduation debt

U.S. Federal Loans (for U.S. students studying in Canada)

CCNM participates in the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL). Eligible students who are citizens of the United States may apply for Direct Unsubsidized Stafford and Direct Grad Plus Loans. An Unsubsidized Stafford loan is a federally insured student loan that is not needs-based. The maximum annual loan amount is $20,500 U.S. Interest accrues on this loan while you are attending school.

U.S. applicants please note that the Boucher Institute does not currently participate in the US federal student loans program.

Student Lines of Credit
Students who are unable to receive financial aid or who are unable to acquire sufficient funding from other loan sources may consider a student line of credit from a bank as an alternative.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Proof of college enrollment (available through Student Services)
  • Two pieces of ID proving age of majority (age 19 in British Columbia)
  • Proven ability to pay make interest payments only (from employment, savings, etc.)
  • Satisfactory cash flow (to be completed by student with bank rep)
  • Good credit history and payment history
    Note: For students with no former credit history, a guarantor maybe required to qualify for a line of credit (parents, spouse, relatives, etc.)

Student Line of Credit Pros and Cons:

Pros

  • When approved, students have access to funds of up to $50,000 per academic year, depending on the school and the province
  • Students do not need to begin repaying the principal (the borrowed amount) until 12 months after graduation
  • Loans are not secured with personal assets but may require a guarantor

Cons

  • Students are not eligible for grant funding
  • Students must make monthly interest payments on student line of credit loans while still in school
  • Interest starts to accrue from the day the money is accessed (withdrawn from the bank)
  • Students pay the principal after graduation, with a higher interest rate (negotiated with the bank)2

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Scholarships

There are many scholarships available, from private or corporate external scholarships to internal, school-sponsored scholarships based on academic performance, to ND program-specific scholarships offered to those specializing or enrolled in a particular area of study. You can research scholarship options offered by the individual schools on the admissions, advancement or financial aid pages of their websites (see sidebar for links to financial aid pages). For more information on researching scholarship opportunities, please refer to our sidebar on Financial Aid Sources & Other Resources.

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Work-Study Programs

Many of the U.S. ND schools offer on-campus jobs with staff and faculty through the Federal Work Study (FWS) program. Students interested in the FWS program must complete the FAFSA every year in order to determine eligibility.

Some schools offer work-study programs with a wide variety of jobs, on campus and off, that provide learning and earning opportunities that help students meet their living costs.

Students interested in work-study programs can apply for jobs including teacher’s aides and lab assistants, administrative positions, cashiering in an on-campus store, and many more. 

For more information, contact the individual schools.

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Josefin Kannin is a freelance writer and the marketing and events coordinator for AANMC. She received her BA in English literature from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

1 U.S. financial aid and lending information provided courtesy of Bastyr University.

2Canadian schools financial aid and lending information compiled with the assistance of the financial aid offices of Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine and Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine.