Student Loan Policies and Disclosures
Loan terms and conditions are provided below. Additional resources, including a sample repayment schedule, repayment obligations information, and other helpful information, are available through the links below.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan – is a federal loan for graduate/professional students and is non-need-based.
Eligibility:
- You must be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident.
- You must be enrolled at least half-time in a degree program.
- You must maintain satisfactory academic progress.
- You cannot be in default on a federal student loan.
The federal government sets limits on the amount of Direct Unsubsidized loans that a student may be eligible to receive in each academic year and in total. In general, the maximum annual loan amount is $20,500. There is no credit check required. For terms and conditions, loan repayment, additional student loan information, and to find out your current loan balance, please visit Federal Student Aid - Student Loans, Borrowing at Yale | University Financial Aid, and Student Loans | Yale School of the Environment sites for more information.
Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan – is a federal loan for graduate/professional students that allows students to borrow up to the full cost of attendance (minus other aid). Similar eligibility requirements as the Federal Direct Unsubsidized; however, the Graduate PLUS requires a credit check, and has higher interest rates than Direct Unsubsidized Loans, and is available through StudentAid.gov. For loan amount limits, loan repayment, how to cancel a loan, and find your student loan information, please visit Federal Student Aid - Student Loans, Borrowing at Yale | University Financial Aid, Student Loans | Yale School of the Environment, and Yale's Graduate & Professional Student Loan Option | University Financial Aid sites for more information.
NOTE: Starting July 1, 2026, Direct PLUS Loans are no longer available to graduate or professional students unless you qualify for the limited exception. Students who are new borrowers beginning in the 2026–27 academic year or later will no longer be eligible for this source of funding.
Yale Loan – a loan through Yale University. In general, the maximum annual loan amount is $40,000 or the cost of attendance less all other resources, whichever is less. The interest rate will be published on the school’s financial aid webpage and is subject to annual revision. There is no credit check required. For more information on terms and conditions and the most up-to-date interest rates, loan amount limits, and loan repayment, please visit Student Loans | Yale School of the Environment, Borrowing at Yale | University Financial Aid, and Graduate and Professional Loans. Adjustments to the Yale Loan are limited to a maximum of two per academic year. Please plan accordingly. The Yale Student Loan Accounting and Collection Office and UAS Connect are responsible for the management and collection of the loan. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for assistance.
Private Loan – managed through private lenders. You may wish to consider a private student loan to bridge the gap between secured funding and the total cost of attendance. Private loans are available to both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens and are offered by a variety of private lending institutions; however, terms and conditions can vary significantly.
If you choose to pursue a private loan, you are encouraged to compare lenders to identify the option that best meets your needs. Review all loan terms carefully, including: interest rates; origination and guarantee fees; how often interest is capitalized; availability and length of any grace period; credit requirements; whether a co-signer is required; repayment incentives (e.g., interest rate reductions for on-time payments); deferment options; and other borrower benefits or restrictions.
Be sure private loans are the right option for you. Typically, private loans should be utilized when all federal resources, such as Federal Direct Unsubsidized and Federal Direct PLUS Loan (if applicable), have been exhausted.
Some private student loans require Yale certification. If certification is needed, the Office of Financial Aid may contact you to request additional information. A list of lenders from whom students have borrowed recently is available at https://www.elmselect.com/v4/school/156/program-select.
For more information on loans, please visit the following sites: Student Loans | Yale School of the Environment, Borrowing at Yale | University Financial Aid, Yale's Graduate & Professional Student Loan Option | University Financial Aid.
How to cancel or reduce your loans
You will receive an email message about your right to cancel or reduce your loans.
You have 14 days from the date on the message to complete the loan cancellation/reduction request form. Be sure to read the important information below before you complete the form. If you don’t want to cancel or reduce a loan, no action is required.
To reduce or decline your loans, please complete the Yale School of the Environment Loan Request Form. If you would like to cancel or reduce your loans after the 14-day period, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at financialaid.yse@yale.edu to see if an adjustment is possible. If the cancellation or reduction results in a balance, you will want to ensure it is paid in full, as late fees may accrue throughout the semester on any outstanding balance. Please visit Yale Hub - YalePay to view your Student Account Bill.
Entrance Counseling
The purpose of Entrance Counseling is to educate students about the responsibilities that come with borrowing a Federal Direct Loan. In most cases, you will only need to complete entrance counseling once during your degree.
To complete the entrance counseling requirement:
- Click on "Complete Aid Process" at studentaid.gov and select "Complete Entrance Counseling.”
- Choose your loan type, then log in with your FSA I.D.
- Select the school’s name "Yale University", and complete the entrance counseling as a "graduate/professional student.
Progress through the counseling tool until you complete all sections.
Exit Counseling
You must complete exit counseling when you leave school or drop below half-time enrollment. The purpose of exit counseling is to ensure you understand your student loan obligations and are prepared for repayment.
Federal Loan Borrowers
Exit counseling is designed to help students:
- Understand their federal student loan responsibilities.
- Prepare for repayment and choose a plan that fits their financial situation.
How to complete exit counseling
- Exit counseling is completed online at FederalStudentAid.gov by logging in with your FSA ID and password.
Yale Student Loan Borrowers
Exit counseling is designed to help students:
- Understand their Yale student loan responsibilities.
- Prepare for repayment and choose a plan that fits their financial situation.
How to complete exit counseling:
If you are unable to create an account, please contact the Office of Financial Aid with your address, telephone number, and email address if you use an email address other than yale.edu. You may use your Yale student ID as your lender-borrower ID.
All students who have received Federal Direct or Yale Loan(s) must complete the exit interview requirement by early May. The exact date will be shared through the Student Newsletter and/or by email. After finishing your exit counseling, please allow up to 72 hours for processing so the hold can be removed once all updates are finalized. Be sure to complete this requirement on time to avoid any delays in receiving your diploma.
For more information on Federal and Yale Loan Exit Counseling, please visit Yale Loan Resources | Student Loan Billing and Payment.
Veteran Benefits
Eligible students are strongly encouraged to seek specific information about Veterans Administration (VA) benefits from their local Veterans Administration office by calling 800.827.1000 or visiting https://benefits.va.gov/gibill. The school also participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, which covers the remaining tuition for qualifying Post-9/11 GI Bill students. The Director of Academic Affairs, in partnership with the associate director of financial aid, coordinates the administration of Veterans Administration benefits at YSE.
Institutional policy confirming compliance with 38 USC 3679
The Yale School of the Environment (YSE) permits any covered individual to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to YSE a certificate of eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 31 or 33 (a “certificate of eligibility” can also include a “Statement of Benefits” obtained from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ website or a VAF 28-1905 form for chapter 31 authorization purposes) and ending on the earlier of the following dates:
- The date on which payment from VA is made to YSE.
- Ninety days after the date that YSE certified tuition and fees, following the receipt of the certificate of eligibility.
YSE will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to YSE due to the delayed disbursement of funding from VA under chapter 31 or 33. NOTE: A covered individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits.
