<p>Is it mostly in the form of fellowships (merit scholarships), loans, and teaching assistantships or is need based grant money available in the same way it is to undergrads?</p>
<p>The federal grant money (Pell, SEOG etc) is only available to undergrads, not to grad students or medical/law students unfortunately. Lots of federal loans available.</p>
<p>How about institutional need based grant money? Does it exist for graduate students?</p>
<p>Are you talking about Masters, PhD, MD, JD? Those programs differ.</p>
<p>Not sure, it could be masters or JD, maybe joint. Probably not Phd.</p>
<p>It totally depends on the school & the program for institutional aid. Some schools have fellowships, assistanceships, and similar programs that cover tuition and even a living stipend. Other schools have scholarships. Still other schools don't offer any assistance other than the government loans and possibly work study opportunities. </p>
<p>Government loans include subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans and graduate PLUS loans (like the undergrad parent PLUS, but taken out by the student). Loan limits vary by program, although all are high.</p>
<p>All grad students are independent for the purpose of federal aid. However, some schools require parent info for their institutional aid.</p>