Know This!

Bachelor’s/Master’s Pathways

Pathways Programs allow academically qualified students to complete a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree on an accelerated timeline. Typically, students will complete a portion of the required graduate coursework while classified as undergraduate students and have it count toward both degrees. As soon as the student completes the undergraduate degree requirements, the student is converted to graduate status, where the remaining graduate requirements are fulfilled. 

Undergraduate students admitted to a pathways program will only be approved for up to a maximum of 12 graduate credit hours as an undergraduate student.  However, each pathway program has its own number of shared credit hours.

For more information on Pathways programs, click here

Financial Aid During the Period of Undergraduate Enrollment

Financial Aid funds offered will continue to be at the undergraduate level and students will be considered for funding and receive a tuition deferment. 

Financial Aid During the Period of Graduate Enrollment

Any financial aid funds offered as an undergraduate will be adjusted to the graduate level. All undergraduate-level academic requirements (bachelor’s degree conferred) should have been met before progression to graduate status; any undergraduate classes would not be counted toward financial aid eligibility. The information presented in the Financial Aid Eligibility section below does apply to all graduate students.

Financial Aid Eligibility Changes as a Graduate Student

As indicated above, financial aid eligibility will change once a student progresses from undergraduate to graduate level.  Financial aid awarded at the undergraduate level will be revised to meet federal, state, and institutional regulations for funds once students are reclassified as graduate students. If a graduate level student is retroactively changed back to an undergraduate, the student may be billed to repay funds for which they are no longer eligible.

Types of Aid	Graduate Student Eligibility
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans	Can be received at the graduate level amounts. Note: Federal Direct Subsidized Loans are not available to graduate students.
USF Grant	Can be received if awarded but will be adjusted to graduate student limits.
Other Federal Grants	Only available at the undergraduate level.
USF & Private Scholarships	Eligibility is at the discretion of the awarding unit. Refer to Scholarship Terms and Conditions or contact the awarding unit/donor directly.