Common questions about Harvard's financial aid program

• Does applying for financial aid affect my chances of admission?

  No. Your financial circumstances are never an impediment to admission. International students have the same access to financial aid funding as do U.S. citizens.

• Are there any merit-based scholarships at Harvard?

  No, we admit students based on their strengths and talents, but all Harvard-administered aid is based only on financial need, and we treat all admitted students equally in terms of their eligibility for that aid.

• What happens to my financial aid if I receive additional outside assistance or other scholarships?

  A large percentage of each entering first-year class receives one or more outside awards from national or local organizations. When adjusting the Harvard financial aid package, 100% of the total outside award amount is first deducted from your work expectation. If the total of outside awards exceeds your work expectation, that excess amount is deducted from the Harvard Scholarship. Since outside awards are additional resources that help to meet need, they may not be used to replace your parents’ contribution or other expected family resource.

  For example, if you were originally offered a financial aid package with a $3,500 job, and a $15,000 Harvard Scholarship and subsequently receive a $2,000 National Merit award and $1,000 from the Elks Club, then we will reduce your term-time job expectation to $500. Only if outside awards exceeded $3,500 would they have any impact upon the amount of Harvard Scholarship.

• Is there financial aid for international students?

  Yes, financial aid is provided on exactly the same basis for international students as for American students. Although international students are not eligible for any federal funding, the College has its own job and scholarship money available to international students.

• How should I fill out the Net Price Calculator if my parents are divorced or separated?

  If your parents are divorced or separated, each parent’s contribution is assessed separately. Each parent should use the calculator to obtain an estimated cost for their personal income and asset information. The total estimated net price to attend Harvard is the sum of the estimates for the two parents.

  Remarried parents should separate their income and assets from the applicant’s step-parent’s income and assets. For assets where a clear separation isn’t obvious, please halve the value of these assets and include this value.