Financial Aid
Cummings School Financial Aid Office supports students enrolled in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), M.S. in Animals and Public Policy (MAPP) and M.S. in Conservation Medicine (MCM).
Our office works with students and families to identify and understand the financial resources available to help meet educational expenses.
Applying for Financial Aid
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Before applying for financial aid, students and their families are expected to maximize their own financial resources. These resources may include:
- Personal and family savings
- Current income
- Anticipated future earnings
Students are also encouraged to:
- Apply for private scholarships
- Use a tuition payment plan when possible
These options can help reduce reliance on student loans.
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Students may fund their education through a combination of the following resources:
- Federal student loans
- Private student loans
- Federal work-study
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits for qualifying veterans
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D.V.M. students may be eligible for additional funding through the following programs:
- Institutional Financial Aid, which consists of need-based grants
- Health Professions Student Loans (HPSL)
Both programs are awarded based on demonstrated financial need.
To be considered, D.V.M. students must provide parent financial information so the university can assess the family’s overall financial resources.
In some cases, exceptions to the parent information requirement may apply. Students should review the Parent Information Requirement & Exceptions page for details and contact the Financial Aid Office with any questions.
Please visit the Applying for Financial Aid page for step-by-step instructions on applying for the various types of financial aid.
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Federal student aid programs are available only to U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens. International students can review the eligible noncitizen categories to determine whether they qualify.
International students may explore private student loans through lenders that offer programs for international borrowers. In most cases, these loans require a creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident co-signer. We strongly encourage students to review and compare interest rates, fees, and loan terms carefully before selecting a lender. You can learn more by visiting the Types of Aid page.
International students are also encouraged to explore additional funding sources, including:
- Financial support from family
- Outside scholarship opportunities
- Financial or scholarship programs offered in their home country
The following scholarship resources can be helpful:
Exploring a range of funding options can help international students develop a comprehensive plan to support their education costs.
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In July 2025, Congress enacted the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3), a major federal budget law that includes significant changes to the federal student loan and financial aid systems. Most of the provisions will take effect for loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2026, impacting students beginning in the 2026-27 academic year.
What Is Changing
New Federal Loan Limits for new borrowers
OB3 establishes new borrowing limits for federal student loans:
- Graduate PLUS Loans will be eliminated for new borrowers after July 1, 2026.
- Graduate and Professional Direct Unsubsidized Loan limits are changing to:
- Graduate annual limit: $20,500; lifetime: $100,000
- Professional programs: annual $50,000; lifetime $200,000
- Combined Lifetime limits of $257,500 for all federal loans will apply.
Note: Current Unsubsidized Loan borrowers can continue to access Graduate PLUS Loans and Unsubsidized Loans under the current limits. See information regarding legacy students below for more information.
Legacy Borrowing Protections for some current borrowers
You will be considered a ‘legacy student’ if you meet all of the following:
- Remain enrolled in the same program as of June 2026, attending the same school AND
- Are currently borrowing or previously borrowed a Direct Unsubsidized Loan while enrolled in this program AND
- Have no future lapse of enrollment (including withdrawal or LOA) until you complete the program AND
- Do not change programs
As a ‘legacy student’, you will continue to have access to both Direct Unsubsidized and Graduate PLUS loans. This will include:
- Having access to current Direct Unsubsidized annual loan limits
- D.V.M. students: $40,500 - $42,722 based on grade level
- All other grad students: $20,500
- Having the same aggregate limits for Direct Unsubsidized loans
- D.V.M. students: $224,000
- All other grad students: $138,500
- Having access to Direct Graduate PLUS loans until you complete your program or for a maximum of 3 years
Is it too late to qualify for legacy borrower status?
No, it’s not too late.
· If you borrow a Direct Unsubsidized Loan during the 2025–26 academic year, you will be considered a legacy student.
· Currently enrolled students who plan to borrow for the 2025–26 academic year should contact the Financial Aid Office by April 10, 2026, to begin the process.
Legacy students will be subject to the following OB3 changes:
- Prorated loan eligibility if enrolled less than full-time
- New federal repayment plan options if a Direct Loan is borrowed on or after July 1, 2026
What This Means for D.V.M. and Graduate Students
Because these changes will affect how much students may borrow through federal loan programs after July 1, 2026, it’s important to start planning now.
- Understand future federal borrowing limits: New annual and lifetime loan caps may reduce the amount of federal aid available.
- Review your credit profile: Students and families should consider checking their credit reports and learning how credit history may affect eligibility, interest rates, and terms for private student loans, which may become a more important financing option under OB3.
- Learn about private loan readiness: Understanding and reviewing your credit score and securing potential co-signers will help students prepare if additional funding is needed.
- Explore all funding sources: Students are encouraged to combine federal loans with other resources such as institutional aid, private scholarships, grants, work-study, and other available opportunities.
The U.S. Department of Education continues to issue guidance related to OB3 implementation. Cummings Financial Aid will share updates as more details become available.
Important Disclaimer: The content on this page is provided for informational purposes to assist Tufts students in understanding federal student aid programs and related changes. This information reflects our current interpretation of available federal guidance but does not represent official federal policy. Students and families should consult official U.S. Department of Education resources for authoritative information. Please visit StudentAid.gov for the most current guidance.
For additional resources published by Federal Student Aid (FSA) and national associations, please visit:
CONTACT
Office of Financial Aid
The Financial Aid staff at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine Financial Aid Office is always happy to speak with you and answer any questions you may have regarding financial assistance.
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University
200 Westboro Road
North Grafton, MA 01536
Phone: (508) 839-8733
Fax: (508) 887-4820
vet-finaid@tufts.edu
Financial Aid Staff
Charlotte Hydrick, Financial Aid Program Director
Suzanne Ukpong, Assistant Director of Financial Aid
Linda Mayo, Administrative Coordinator
Ph.D. Program Financial Aid
Marvin Schulte, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Comparative Pathology
Associate Dean of Graduate Education
Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University
200 Westboro Road
North Grafton, MA 01536
vetgradstudies@tufts.edu