<p>Graduate school financial aid is typically based on merit…not on need. Grad schools typically award merit awards based on your demonstrated merit as an applicant. These awards can be scholarships, fellowships, assistantships, grants, loans and sometimes work/study. Grad students can take Stafford loans, and work study is also federally funded. </p>
<p>I hate to say this but your need isn’t usually considered. Think of it this way…many grad students have an EFC of $0 as the previous year they were full time students earning no appreciable income. There are no Pell grants or the like for grad students.</p>
<p>I would suggest you contact someone in the department in which you plan to study to see if you are possibly being considered for any aid.</p>