Types of Aid

Suffolk students achieve their graduate education goals through a combination of personal funds, scholarships and grants, loans, employer sponsorships, and external funding.

There are three main forms of financial aid available to Suffolk graduate students through the Office of Student Financial Services:

  • Grants and scholarships (no repayment required)
  • Loans (offered under terms of repayment, normally with interest)
  • Employment (usually a job within the University)

A student may be offered financial aid in any of the above forms, or in a combination referred to as a “package.”

Scholarships & Grants

Scholarships and grants are awards based on academic achievement, program of study, work experience, and/or financial need (based on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid – FAFSA) and do not need to be repaid.

We encourage you to review the options available and seek out all opportunities, including external scholarships.

Visit Student Financial Services to view awards financial aid applicants are automatically considered for.

Loan & Financing Options

Federal student loans are offered by the U.S. Department of Education to students who complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applicants must include Suffolk University on their FAFSA by using school code 002218. Additionally, students may seek out alternative educational loans through private lenders.

Visit Student Financial Services to view graduate loan and financing options.

Student Employment

Student employment isn’t just a method of financing your education—it can help build your resume and professional relationships around campus.

Graduate students assume a wide range of job responsibilities and provide support in numerous areas including clerical, customer service, research, administrative, student services, and enrollment management.

Some administrative offices offer fellowship opportunities to graduate students, often for the entire academic year. The Graduate Fellowship Opportunities listing is updated as new positions become available.

Please note that:

  • Fellowships consist of a grant and employment award. The recipient may not reject the employment portion of the award and keep the grant portion. Students must work their required weekly hours or risk having the grant reduced or revoked. The grant portion of the award is directly credited to the recipient’s tuition account; the employment award is paid bi-weekly for hours worked
  • Fellowships are only awarded for the fall and spring semesters; summer funding is not available
  • In order to begin working, additional employment paperwork must be completed (including authorization, I-9, W-4, direct deposit form, etc.)
  • Fellowships are typically renewable for up to four full-time semesters, provided the recipient meets the renewal requirements (e.g., satisfactory job performance, academic progress, enrollment status, etc.)
  • A student may only accept one fellowship, and all students are limited to a maximum of 20 hours of employment per week

Award Details

Your Graduate Fellowship award consists of a grant and employment. The grant portion of the award will be credited directly to your tuition account, with half the amount posted each semester.

If you choose to accept the Fellowship Employment, it will be paid to you in a bi-weekly paycheck via direct deposit.

For Spring 2024 Fellowship Employment consideration, candidates must submit their completed application for admission by November 1. Admitted recipients of this award must confirm their enrollment by the deadline stated in their admission letter, register for classes by December 1, and accept their fellowship employment award by December 1.

Employment Award

For Spring 2024 Fellowship Employment consideration, candidates must submit their completed application for admission by November 1. Admitted recipients of this award must confirm their enrollment by the deadline stated in their admission letter, register for classes by December 1, and accept their fellowship employment award by December 1.

If you received an employment award of $6,200 for the year, your estimated weekly hours are as follows:

Semester Hours per week
Fall: $3,100 11-12
Spring: $3,100 11-12

If you received an employment award of $4,650 for the year, your estimated weekly hours are as follows:

Semester Hours per week
Fall: $2,325 8-9
Spring: $2,325 8-9

If you received an employment award of $3,100 for the year, your estimated weekly hours are as follows:

Semester Hours per week
Fall: $1,550 5-6
Spring: $1,550 5-6

Renewal

Renewal of Sawyer Business school fellowships is possible based on satisfactory performance and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0. Please note, fellowship awards are available to full-time students for only two consecutive years (four semesters), provided they meet all renewal requirements.

In addition, if you graduate, withdraw, take a leave of absence, or enroll below half-time status, you are no longer entitled to this funding. A change in your enrollment status can impact your award, so be sure to check your award letter for the required enrollment status and register for the appropriate credits prior to the close of each “Add/Drop period”. If renewed, fellowship amounts remain the same and will not be revised to reflect any annual tuition increase.

Alumni Scholarships and Discounts

Suffolk University alumni enrolling in on-campus Sawyer Business School and College of Arts & Sciences graduate degree programs are eligible for generous scholarships. Learn more about alumni scholarships and the benefits of becoming a Double Ram.

Partner Programs

Suffolk University partners with outside organizations to expand financial aid options for working professionals and Peace Corps Volunteers. Through these partnerships, students are eligible for discounted tuition in Suffolk graduate degree programs that deepen their knowledge, expand their skillsets, and advance their careers.

As part of Bright Horizons EdAssist Solutions, Suffolk University's Sawyer Business School offers a 10 percent discount on all eligible graduate degree and non-degree programs and a $10,000 tuition reduction for the Executive MBA Program.

*For an additional $50 application fee waiver, please contact Suffolk’s Graduate Admission prior to submitting your application.

Why Sawyer Business School?

Because school shouldn’t interrupt your work. Conveniently located in downtown Boston, we offer practical graduate degrees that open doors for career advancement. From the moment you set foot on one of our campuses, you’ll start building your resume and professional network. In the classroom, you’ll get hands-on experience with consulting projects, where you'll solve real-life challenges and present to business executives. Outside the classroom, you’ll have access to networking events, professional workshops, and dedicated career mentors.

Get a head start on your career journey today.

1. Choose the program that’s right for you

If you do not see your program of interest in the lists below, contact the Office of Graduate Admission.

Degrees

Executive MBA
MBA On campus and online
MBA/Health
MBA/Nonprofit
MS in Accounting (MSA)
MS in Finance (MSF) 
MS in Marketing (MSM)
Master of Public Administration (MPA) 
Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)
MS in Business Analytics (MSBA)
Master in Management & Organizational Leadership (MMS)

Dual Degrees

MBA/MSA
MBA/MSF
MBA/MS in Business Analytics
MBA/MSM
MSA/MSF
MSBA/MSA
MSBA/MSF
MSBA/MSM
MSBA/MMOL
MPA/MA in Applied Politics
MPA/MA in Global Public Policy
MPA/MS in Mental Health Counseling 
MPA/MS in Crime and Justice Studies

Sawyer Business School Graduate Certificate

Academic Microcredential

2. Introduce yourself

Complete the form at the bottom of this page to receive additional information.

If you prefer, you can contact the Office of Graduate Admission at 617-573-8302 or email us. Please identify yourself as a candidate through Bright Horizons EdAssist Solutions.

3. What to do after you apply and are admitted

At the time of application and upon receiving an offer of admission, please ensure that your education benefits have been approved for Suffolk University through the Bright Horizons EdAssist Solutions process via your HR department.

Once Suffolk University receives this confirmation from Bright Horizons EdAssist Solutions, your program-specific tuition reduction will be applied to your student account. Please note that Suffolk University must receive confirmation of your benefits eligibility from Bright Horizons before the start of classes each semester in order for the discount to be applied.

*Note: For all graduate degrees, the discount applies to tuition fees only. Discounts cannot be combined with other University funding and will not be applied retroactively.

Questions?

Contact the Sawyer Business School Graduate Programs Office.

Currently Enrolled/Returning Students

Call 617-305-1941 or email us and indicate that you are an employee of a Bright Horizons EdAssist Solutions-affiliated company and are interested in obtaining benefits. Please note that tuition reduction is effective for enrollment in future academic terms and will not be applied retroactively.

Request Information

Continue on your path of global engagement, public service, and social justice through Suffolk's Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program.

Suffolk University highly values the experience of and skills of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs).

Student Benefits

The application fee will be waived for all RPCVs applying to the Coverdell Fellows program.

All accepted Fellows will be awarded a scholarship equivalent to at least 30% of their tuition charges (some students may be eligible for a higher merit-based award). Awards will renew up to a total of four semesters for full-time enrollment or eight semesters for part-time enrollment (minimum of 6 credits per semester). Scholarships are available for the fall and spring semesters only.

As part of their studies, Coverdell Fellows will complete an internship at a site that (a) benefits an underserved population, (b) complements the curriculum of the graduate program, and (c) aligns with the students’ goals.

Participating Graduate Programs

The following graduate programs are approved to accept Coverdell Fellows:

College of Arts & Sciences
Sawyer Business School

Requirements

Applicants must have an earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and have satisfactorily completed their Peace Corps service. Admission decisions are based on a number of factors, including prior academic performance, relevant experience (e.g. your time volunteering with the Peace Corps, professional work experience, etc.), test scores (if required), the goal statement (essay), recommendations, and your fit in the program. For a full list of application requirements, please visit the Application Requirements page as well as the specific degree program pages (see above).

Up to a $23,000 Sawyer Business School MBA educational scholarship is available to qualified members of the National Black MBA Association® (NBMBAA®). This Collegiate Partnership Program is designed to "help the Black community reach the highest levels of academia, increase lifetime median income potential, and reduce unemployment rates among the Black community."

Suffolk University’s Partner Scholarship Program (PSP) offers employees and members of partner organizations a 20% tuition reduction on any on-campus master’s degree, dual degree, or graduate certificate program—with the exception of EMBA which is discounted by $15,000 dispersed evenly over four semesters. The Professional Certificate in Restorative Justice Practices is eligible for a 10% reduction.

Employees must remain employed by the partner organization, or in active membership standing, in order to receive the tuition reduction each semester.

Find out if your employer is a current partner--view our list of partner organizations.

Up to two fellowships will be awarded each year in partnership with Reaching Out MBA Inc. In exchange for scholarship support, fellows will work to promote empowerment and representation of LGBTQA students applying to and enrolling in business schools.

Veteran Benefits

In appreciation for military service, Suffolk University provides military education assistance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon Program.

Visit Military Students & Families Admission to learn more about your education benefits.