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Sources & Types of Financial Aid

This section is under development. New information will be provided on an on-going basis.  Please check back regularly for updates.

Institutional Financial Aid
Cummings Institutional Loans

Institutional loans are awarded as part of a need-based financial aid package from Cummings School funds. The interest rate is 5.0%. The loan is interest-free during enrollment. If your financial aid package includes an institutional loan, you will be required to complete loan notes electronically via https://www.uasconnect.com when prompted to do so by email.

Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL) & Loans for Disadvantaged Students (LDS)

HPSL & LDS are federally funded loan programs governed by the Department of Health & Human Services. Loans are awarded by the school and based on need as part of a need-based aid package. Parent information is used to determine eligibility. The interest rate is 5.0% and interest-free during enrollment. The grace period is 12 months, during which time repayment of principal is not required and interest does not accrue. The grace period follows separation from at least 1/2 time enrollment. The length of repayment is up to ten years. If your financial aid offer includes an HPSL or LDS loan, and you accept the offer, you will receive instructions to complete loan counseling and a promissory note electronically.

A citizen, national, or a lawful permanent resident of the United States or the District of Columbia, the Commonwealths of Puerto Rico or the Marianas Islands, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the American Samoa, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated State of Micronesia.

Loans for Disadvantaged Students are restricted to those who meet the criteria as set by the Health Resources Service Bureau (HRSA)

Recipients must qualify as having a disadvantaged background, which is defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as: one who comes from an environment that has inhibited the individual from obtaining the knowledge, skill, and abilities required to enroll in and graduate from a health professions school, or from a program providing education or training in an allied health profession; or comes from a family with an annual income below a level based on low income thresholds according to family size published by the U.S. Bureau of Census, adjusted annually for changes in the Consumer Price Index, and adjusted by the Secretary, HHS, for use in health professions and nursing programs. In addition, students may qualify based on income and family size based on low income thresholds: https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines

Veterans Education Benefits

Tufts University Information for Veterans: https://provost.tufts.edu/institutionalresearch/veterans/

Please visit the Tufts University Information for Veterans webpage as a primary resource for information and review the information below for additional guidance and Cummings Veterinary School resources.

The VA can assist you in determining your VA education benefit eligibility.

Veteran Administration Resources

The Cummings Veterinary School Registrar, Sarah Hurd (email sarah.hurd@tufts.edu) can help with your certification of enrollment when you apply to use VA benefits for educational expenses. You may also contact the Veterinary Student Affairs Office (508) 839-8733 and visit https://vet.tufts.edu/registrars-office for additional contact information.

The Cummings Veterinary School Financial Aid Office can help you explore costs and financial aid resources, provide financial aid application information as well as provide loan counseling as you consider the cost of your program for the full length of the program, including planning for living expenses and estimated student loan debt. Contact vet-finaid@tufts.edu or reach out the Veterinary Student Affairs Office at 508-839-8733.

Veterans education benefits may be available to eligible Cummings Veterinary School students who are active duty or reserve military personnel, veterans, or in some cases, the child or spouse of a veteran. For a determination of eligibility, complete the online Application for VA Education Benefits (VA Form 22-1990).

Once your VA benefit application has been processed by the VA and you receive the Certificate of Eligibility statement from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, you must complete step 1 below to use of your benefit for the first time at Cummings:

  1. Send a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility to Cummings School VA Certifying official sarah.hurd@tufts.edu. 
  2. The school certifying official will certify your tuition and fees through the VA ONCE database.
  3. Provisional credit information of your VA benefit will be sent to the Tufts University Bursar’s Office based on your Certificate of Eligibility information. The amount of the expected VA benefit will be reflected in your university account as “Pending Credit.”
  4. After receiving your certifying information, the VA transfers your educational benefit directly to your Tufts University financial account depending on the type of benefit for which you are eligible (Chapter 33, for example). Certain benefits are paid directly to the recipient.  
Post-9/11 GI Bill® (Chapter 33) Payment Rates can be found here.
Addition Resources

(GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.)