Financial Aid

How to Apply for Financial Aid (New Students)

At SCU, we are committed to helping you understand the financial aid process and navigate available resources to aid in your education. Please complete the following steps to start the financial aid process.

Here are the steps for a new student.  If you are a returning student, click here.

  1. Create an FSA ID and Password. Create an account via studentaid.gov if you haven’t done so already. Your FSA ID and password will serve as your login credentials to all federal student aid systems.
  2. Complete the FAFSA.   Complete the FAFSA on studentaid.gov every year with our school code, which is 001229.
  3. Complete Entrance Counseling and the Master Promissory Note (MPN). To be eligible to borrow student loans, you will need to complete both requirements via www.studentaid.gov.

If you experience a technical error with our SCU pages, please clear your cache and consider using a different internet browser. If issues persist, please contact our IT department at (877) 626-9748.

Once all steps have been completed, your Financial Aid counselor will review your file for aid eligibility. You will receive an email to review and accept your funding estimate once your financial aid package is complete. Please be advised that all our email communication is sent to your SCU email account.

Important Changes to Federal Graduate Student Loans — What You Need to Know Effective July 1, 2026

NOTE: Students enrolled by May 5th, 2026, will be less impacted by the new federal law.  Please contact the financial aid office to understand the impact.

At Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU), we want you to have the fullest possible understanding of your financial aid options as you plan for your graduate or professional studies. A major new federal law — the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — includes significant changes to federal student loans for graduate and professional students that will affect students beginning with loans disbursed on/after July 1st, 2026.  This change will impact students starting in the Fall of 2026.  Below is a summary of how these changes may impact you, and how we are here to help you navigate them.  The information below reflects the most current guidance available but is subject to change.

Key Changes You Should Know

  1. Graduate PLUS Loans (Grad PLUS) will no longer be available
    Historically, graduate and professional students could borrow through the federal Grad PLUS program up to the full cost of attendance. Under the new law, this option is eliminated.

What this means for you:

  • You may need to look at other alternative funding sources if your program cost exceeds what you can borrow via federal loans.
  • If you were planning to rely on Grad PLUS, you should speak with the SCU Financial Aid Office now to review your plan.
  1. Annual and lifetime borrowing limits for federal loans are lower and more defined
    The law introduces new annual and lifetime caps on federal borrowing for graduate/professional students. While exact amounts may vary depending on program type, current guidance includes:
  • For many graduate programs: a cap of $10,250 per term (3 terms per academic year) or $30,750 per year and a lifetime cap of $100,000.
  • For professional degrees: a higher cap of $25,000 per term (3 terms per academic year) or $75,000 per year and a lifetime cap of $200,000.

What this means for you:

  • Carefully estimate the total cost of your degree (tuition, fees, living expenses, books, equipment, etc.).
  • If you expect to borrow more than the new caps allow, you’ll need to plan for alternative sources of funding (scholarships, employer support, savings, private loans).  SCU is here to help you.
  • You should talk with your Financial Aid Advisor early to ensure your budget aligns with the new borrowing limits.
  1. Repayment and borrower protections have changed for future loans
    For loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2026, the repayment landscape changes: fewer income‐driven repayment options, fewer deferment/forbearance protections, and longer paths to forgiveness in many cases.

What this means for you:

  • Borrowing decisions need to consider both how much you borrow and how you will repay.
  • It is more important than ever to keep total borrowing as lean as possible and to explore all funding sources.
  • The Financial Aid Office can help you model repayment scenarios so you understand what your monthly payment could be based on your future income.
  1. SCU is here to support you
  • Our Financial Aid Office has updated all costs and financing models in light of these federal changes.
  • We strongly encourage you to meet with a financial aid advisor before you commit to borrowing or enrolling, to ensure your funding plan remains solid.
  • If you have employer sponsorship, tuition assistance, scholarships, or other non‐loan funding, we’ll help you integrate that into your budget.
  • We encourage you to revisit costs and funding each year of your program, especially if you have a multi‐year doctoral or master’s program.

What You Should Do Now

  • Schedule a one‐on‐one meeting with the SCU Financial Aid Office as soon as possible.  Please contact the financial aid office at financialaid@scuhs.edu
  • Update your cost estimate for your program: tuition, fees, books/supplies, living costs, and any differential expenses (travel, equipment, licensing).
  • List all funding sources you expect: employer tuition support, scholarships/grants, savings, and federal loans.
  • Estimate your total borrowing need and compare it to the new federal lifetime caps.
  • Consider alternative funding early, such as institutional scholarships, student worker assistantships, employer reimbursement, or private loans.
  • Plan for repayment: ask what your projected monthly payment might be based on your expected income after graduation and your expected loan debt.

Important Notes & Disclaimers

  • These changes apply to loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2026; many rules still must be clarified by the U.S. Department of Education and regulatory guidance.
  • If you received previous federal loans (before these changes), your terms may differ. The Financial Aid Office can help determine which rules apply to your loans.
  • Private loans may fill funding gaps.
  • This information is intended as guidance only and not financial advice. You should speak with the Financial Aid Office.

Contact Information

If you’re a prospective or current SCU graduate or professional student and have questions about how the One Big Beautiful Bill Act affects your financial aid options, please contact:

SCU Financial Aid Office
Phone: 562-947-8755 Ext. 766
Email: financialaid@scuhs.edu
Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM PT

We are committed to helping you navigate these changes and plan a financing strategy that keeps your education as achievable and manageable as possible.