Many students elect to apply for a Stafford Loan to help offset the cost of a graduate program. You need to be aware that a Stafford loan can only be used for teacher certification at the Rank I level or for either the M.A.T or M.A.Ed. degree. If you are pursuing anything other than certification in Special Education or Reading and Writing you will not qualify for a Stafford Loan. You can qualify for the loan however if you work toward a second thirty hour Master’s degree which will give you Rank I status for pay purposes.