Salish Kootenai College
Cost of Attendance Breakdown
| Annual Cost of Attendance | $31,868 |
| Tuition & Fees | $13,184 |
| Living Expenses | $18,684 |
| Federal Loan Cap (Graduate) | −$20,500 |
| Annual Funding Gap | $11,368 |
Cover Your $11,368 Gap
Salish Kootenai College Graduate students typically need $11,368 in private loans per year to bridge the gap between federal aid and cost of attendance. Pre-qualify with a soft credit check — no impact to your score.
Based on our analysis of 7,333 programs at 1,861 universities · thefundinggap.org
What This Means for You
Moderate gap — plan ahead
A $11,368/year gap adds up to $22,736 over the full 2-year program. This requires intentional planning but is manageable with the right strategy.
- Contact the financial aid office — many schools offer institutional grants for students with demonstrated need
- Look into graduate assistantships, which often include tuition waivers
- Compare private loan options — rates vary significantly by lender and credit profile
- Consider whether in-state residency (if applicable) would reduce your costs
Need help navigating financial aid? Start with FAFSA
In-State vs. Out-of-State
In-State (Resident)
Out-of-State (Non-Resident)
Out-of-state students face a $5,976 larger gap per year due to non-resident tuition surcharges.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the federal loan limit for Salish Kootenai College Graduate students?
Under the OBBBA (effective July 1, 2026), Salish Kootenai College Graduate students can borrow up to $20,500 per year in federal Direct Loans. This is the graduate annual cap. The aggregate lifetime limit is $100,000 for graduate students.
Can I still get a Grad PLUS loan for Salish Kootenai College?
No. Starting July 1, 2026, the Grad PLUS loan program is eliminated under the OBBBA. All graduate and professional students are subject to fixed annual borrowing caps ($20,500/year for graduate programs). Students who need additional funding beyond the cap must use private loans, institutional aid, scholarships, or personal funds.
How much does Salish Kootenai College Graduate cost per year?
The total cost of attendance for Salish Kootenai College Graduate is $31,868 per year. Over the full 2-year program, the total cost is $63,736.
What is the funding gap for Salish Kootenai College Graduate?
The annual funding gap is $11,368, calculated as the difference between the total cost of attendance ($31,868) and the federal loan cap ($20,500). Over the full 2-year program, the total gap is $22,736. This is below the national median of $15,072 for Graduate (General) programs.
Is Salish Kootenai College Graduate classified as graduate or professional?
Salish Kootenai College Graduate is classified as graduate under 34 CFR § 668.2. This means the annual federal loan cap is $20,500/year, with an aggregate limit of $100,000.
Related Articles
In-State vs. Out-of-State Graduate Costs
How residency status changes your funding gap — and whether establishing residency is worth the effort.
Read more →Is Graduate School Worth the Debt?
ROI varies enormously. Total costs range from under $20K to over $300K for graduate degrees.
Read more →The $257,500 Aggregate Cap Cliff
How the lifetime federal borrowing limit creates a wall — often before your final year.
Read more →Sources & Methodology
Data Sources
- Cost of attendance: Sourced from Salish Kootenai College’s official tuition and fees page for the 2025–2026 academic year.
- Federal loan caps: Defined by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), Public Law 119-21, Title VIII, Section 81001, amending 20 U.S.C. § 1087e(a), paragraph 4(A)(i).
- IPEDS data: Institutional characteristics from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (NCES), Unit ID: 180647.
- Program classification: Graduate is classified as graduate per 34 CFR § 668.2, with an annual federal loan cap of $20,500.
Methodology
- Funding gap = Cost of Attendance − Federal Loan Cap. Negative values are reported as $0.
- Cost of attendance includes tuition, mandatory fees, and estimated living expenses (housing, food, books, transportation, personal).
- Rankings compare programs within the same degree type nationally, sorted by annual funding gap from lowest to highest.
- Default COA assumes full-time enrollment, out-of-state residency (where applicable), no scholarships or grants, and no prior federal debt.
Data last updated: January 2026. Effective date for OBBBA loan caps: July 1, 2026.
A non-resident student at Salish Kootenai College Graduate faces an annual funding gap of $11,368 based on a cost of attendance of $31,868 minus the federal graduate loan cap of $20,500. Over 2 years, the total funding gap is $22,736. Based on data from “The 2026 Graduate Education Funding Crisis — A Data Report” available on thefundinggap.org.