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. 

Post-bachelor certificate programs include the following:

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

Remember to file the annual FAFSA. 

Not all certificate programs are eligible for federal student aid.

Programs currently eligible for aid: 
School/College Program Program Code CIP Code Certificate
School of Business Administration (BA) Accounting PBCACC_UG_BA 52.0301 Post-Bachelor Certificate
College of Education (ED) Bilingual-Bicultural Education BGCBBE_GR_ED 13.0201 Bridge Graduate Certificate
College of Education (ED) Counseling EDSPC_GR_ED 13.1101 Education Specialist Certificate
College of Education (ED) Curriculum and Instruction EDSPC_GR_ED 13.0301 Education Specialist Certificate
College of Education (ED) English as a Second Language BGCESL_GR_ED 13.1401 Bridge Graduate Certificate
College of Education (ED) Administration & Supervision EDSPC_GR_ED 13.0401 Education Specialist Certificate
College of Education (ED) Reading EDSPC_GR_ED 13.1315 Education Specialist Certificate
College of Education (ED) School Psychology GCAGSP_GR_ED 42.2805 Graduate Certificate
College of Engineering (EN) Alternative Energy Technology GCAET_GR_EN 14.9999 Graduate Certificate
College of Engineering (EN) Polymer Engineering GCPOL_GR_EN 14.3201 Graduate Certificate
College of Fine, Performing & Communication Arts (FA) Communications & New Media GCCNM_GR_FA 9.0702 Graduate Certificate
College of Fine, Performing & Communication Arts (FA) Health Communication GCHC_GR_FA 9.0905 Graduate Certificate
School of Information Sciences (IS) Archival Administration GCAA_GR_IS 25.0103 Graduate Certificate
School of Information Sciences (IS) Information Management GCIM_GR_IS 11.0401 Graduate Certificate
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (LS) Economic Development GCED_GR_LS 45.0601 Graduate Certificate
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences (LS) World History BGCWH_GR_LS 54.0101 Bridge Graduate Certificate
School of Social Work (SW) Alcohol and Drug Use Studies GCADA_GR_SW 51.1501 Graduate Certificate
School of Social Work (SW) Disabilities GCD_GR_SW 51.2399 Graduate Certificate
School of Social Work (SW) Gerontology GCG_GR_SW 30.1101 Graduate Certificate