Financial Aid
Mary Lou Cornwall Hawkes '65 and James B. Hawkes Physician Assistant Program
We are committed to helping you navigate the financial aid process for your PA education, providing guidance and information you need—including types of aid, how to apply for aid, debt management counseling, and more.
Our staff will work with you to review your individual needs. We’ll help you explore financial aid options in order to maximize your funding sources and minimize your debt.
PA applicants can also refer to the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) web page on “Paying for PA School” for information about scholarships and other resources.
As you explore your financial need and funding options, you should first research and consider scholarships available to you. Requirements, eligibility and deadlines for each scholarship varies.
Below is a list of some possible external scholarships available to students exploring the Cornwall Hawkes PA Program.
Scholarships available to students before starting your program:
Scholarships available only to students actively are enrolled and matriculated in the PA Cornwall Hawkes PA Program:
- American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants (AASPA) Scholarships
- Association of PAs in Oncology (APAO) Student Scholarship
- F.A. Davis Nursing & Health Science Scholarships
- Georgia Associate of PA (GAPA) Scholarships
- Indian Health Service (IHS) Health Professions Scholarship
- PA Foundation Scholarships
- Paul S. Robinson Award from the Society of Emergency Medicine PAs (SEMPA)
- Physician Associates for Latino Health (PALH), a caucus of the AAPA, Scholarship
- Susan Lindahl Memorial Scholarship - Physician Assistants in Orthopaedic Surgery
There are several external programs that offer special loan repayment incentives for students who are pursuing a physician assistant studies degree, with a sample list of programs below. Students who are planning to apply for federal or private loans to fund their PA studies program should review to determine their eligibility.
Federal Education Loan Application and Options:
Physician Assistant graduate students at Agnes Scott may be eligible for federal education loans based on updates made through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Below is the process to apply for federal aid for fall 2026:
- Students who are starting their program in fall 2026 should complete the 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- List your student grade level under the demographic section of the FAFSA "Master’s, Doctorate, or Graduate Certificate program (MA, MBA, MD, JD, PhD, EdD, etc.)”
- PA students are defined as “graduate students”
- The Agnes Scott College FAFSA school code is 001542.
- Your completed FAFSA will indicate which federal student loans you may be eligible to receive and the amount.
Types of Federal Education Loan Options (after July 1, 2026):
As a graduate student, you will be considered an independent student. Federal student loans that might be available to graduate students who complete the FAFSA include Direct Unsubsidized Loans. For the Direct Unsubsidized Loan, the student assumes all responsibility for the interest and interest begins accruing immediately following disbursement. You have to be attending college at least part-time (4.5 credit hours) as a part of eligibility for the Direct Unsubsidized Loan.Repayment begins:
- 6 months after student graduates
- 6 months after student drops below part-time enrollment
- 6 months after student is no longer enrolled
No penalty for pre-payment
Current interest rates for these loans can be found at www.studentaid.gov.
Direct Unsubsidized Loan Limits:
If you started or completed a graduate degree previously and used federal student loans, those amounts will be considered when you file a new FAFSA form for your graduate degree at Agnes Scott College. The limits for graduate students who enroll in their program after July 1, 2026 are as follows:
- As a graduate student, annual amount of combined unsubsidized loans is $20,500
- The aggregate limit of all federal loans for graduate students cannot exceed $100,000
Private Loans
A private, credit-based alternative loan may be available to graduate students who need funding for remaining educational costs. There are various lenders for student borrowers that require no payments while the student remains in school. Private loans have various options for repayment and may offer forbearance and deferral options. In addition, interest rates for private loans are based on credit and are set by the lender.
To view and compare alternative loans available to Agnes Scott students, please go to ElmSelect. On ElmSelect, you can search and compare real, personalized private student loan offers from over 15 lenders through a simple, three-minute application. ElmSelect allows you to easily compare loans and is free. Using ElmSelect does not impact your credit score when searching for loan options; your credit score will not be impacted until you choose a loan and begin the application process.