marriage and financial aid

[Auspicious]

Is it true that if you get married in med school it reduces your financial aid because then they then take the spouse's salary into account?

And if so, did anyone factor that in to their decisions on when to get married?

Julie,

What I've noticed in my own dealings with the Financial Aid office, is that the subsidized/unsubsidized Stafford amounts will be affected. For example, the max subsidized amount you can get is $8,500, and for unsubsidized about $10, 000. If you have other means or make more than a certain amount, they shift some of the funds from subsidized to unsubsidized. Private loans are different and their terms do vary by Bank. Your BF may be able to borrow more if you co-signed the loan with him.

Your best bet is to consult with the Financial Aid office and with the loan originators (i.e. Nellie Mae, Wells Fargo, et al) to get more detailed info.

Good luck!

Dures

[Vishenka69]

My FH's Financial Aid office told him that it will affect his loans and grants amounts. We choose to get a Domestic Partnership for a few years and will be getting married couple of weeks before graduation. The housing office recognizes DP enough to give us "married housing" but the FA office doesn't count it same as marriage.