Aid for non-degree programs

As a non-degree student, you may be eligible for limited student loan funding if you are enrolled in an eligible certificate program, teacher certification program or taking prerequisite coursework necessary for admission to degree program. 

Post-bachelor students

Teacher certification courses

The courses must be required for elementary or secondary Michigan teacher certification or re-certification.

• You must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) to be eligible for federal student loans. 

Aid for teacher certification

• Federal Stafford Annual Loan Limits
  • Dependent students: $5,500
  • Independent students: $12,500
• Students enrolled in teacher certification programs are considered fifth-year undergraduates and subject to undergraduate lifetime loan limits.

Optional courses that you elect to take for professional recognition, advancement, endorsement or that Wayne State University recommends, do not qualify for a loan.

Approved post-bachelor certificate programs

The courses must be required for your certificate program.

• You must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) to be eligible for federal student loans.

Aid for approved post-bachelor certificate programs

• Federal Stafford Annual Loan Limits
  • Dependent students: $5,500
  • Independent students: $12,500
• Students enrolled in approved post-bachelor certification programs are considered fifth-year undergraduates and are subject to undergraduate lifetime limits.
• The loan amounts will be prorated if the loan period is less than one academic year. 

Optional courses that you elect to take for professional recognition, advancement, endorsement or that Wayne State University recommends, do not qualify for a federal loan.

Prerequisite course work

Prerequisite Coursework Aid Request Form

In order for us to review your eligibility, you must submit the Prerequisite Coursework Aid Request Form, which includes a plan of work. The form must be signed by an advisor in the program in which you will enroll after prerequisites are complete. 

Your advisor must certify that you will be admitted to and enrolled in the program after successfully finishing the prerequisite courses. You will not be eligible for financial aid if you will not be enrolled in the new program. 

Caution: Do not assume you will receive financial aid. A Financial Aid Officer will review your form and enrollment status to confirm your aid eligibility.  

Aid for prerequisite course work

Undergraduate annual, aggregate and lifetime loan limits apply to post-bachelor students. You must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) to be eligible for federal student loans.

Whether or not first-year or fifth-year undergraduate loan limits are applied is determined by the level of the program for which you are completing prerequisites.  

Preparatory coursework for admission to an undergraduate program 

• Dependent students: $2,625
• Independent students: $8,625

Preparatory coursework for admission to a graduate program 

• Dependent students: $5,500
• Independent students: $12,500

LoansFederal Direct Loan or Federal Parent PLUS Loanare limited to one consecutive 12-month period, i.e.., three consecutive semesters: fall, winter, and summer OR winter, summer, and fall; OR summer, fall, and winter. Federal financial aid regulations do not allow exceptions.

Courses taken for the sole purpose of raising your grade point average, courses that are not required prerequisites for enrollment in an eligible program, and courses taken for professional recognition or advancement or that Wayne State University recommends do not qualify for financial aid. You must enroll only in courses that are required for admission and enrollment in an undergraduate, graduate, or professional program. If you are repeating courses to correct an academic deficiency you are not eligible for financial aid.

Lifetime federal loan limits for students in post-bachelor programs

Review your loan history at studentaid.gov.

• Dependent Students - $31,000, of which no more than $23,000 can be subsidized loans
• Independent Students - $57,500, of which no more than $23,000 can be subsidized loans

Graduate certificate programs

Not all certificate programs are eligible for federal student aid. Only the following programs are aid eligible.

Programs currently eligible for aid: