HDS - AFA - Financial Need

Admissions and Financial Aid

Calculation of Need and Grant Eligibility

Calculation of Institutional Financial Need

The goal of the Divinity School financial aid program is to assist students in meeting basic expenses, educational and living, incurred while pursuing their studies. The Divinity School is also conscious of the integral part that financial aid plays in a student's eventual enrollment decision. While every attempt is made to attract a highly qualified and diverse class, we are also committed to providing broad access to our programs. The Office of Admissions and Financial Aid is able to provide available scholarship support to qualified candidates in the master of divinity, master of theological studies, and doctor of theology programs. In order to make funding available to the widest range of students in entry level programs, scholarship aid for master of divinity and master of theological studies candidates is awarded on the basis of demonstrated financial need and academic merit. Individual awards are not renewed automatically and may vary from year to year because of changes in a student's resources or expenses, increased overall demands on the financial aid budget, or changes in institutional or federal financial aid policy. ThM students may qualify for federal funds and/or the HELP/CitiAssist loan, but are not eligible for HDS grant support.

Students may apply for financial aid by submitting the FAFSA and Harvard Divinity School Supplementary Form. (Note: International students do not need to complete the FAFSA, as they are ineligible for U.S. federal funds). Each individual's financial need is calculated based on the information provided on these forms. Financial aid awards may be subject to change if supplementary documentation (i.e., tax returns, bank statements, etc.) indicates significant change from the information originally reported on the form. The "student contribution" derived from this calculation is then used to package grant dollars from HDS. This formula has been designed to provide an equitable system for the awarding of available institutional funds.

It is a student's responsibility to notify the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid of any changes to the student's financial aid application (change in marital status, change in household size, receipt of outside gifts or awards, etc.). These changes may result in an adjustment to a student's award.

It is Harvard Divinity School policy that students currently in default on a previous FFELP (Federal Family Education Loan Program), William D. Ford, or Perkins Loan are ineligible to receive federal or institutional financial aid.

Master's Applicants

Master's candidates may apply for grant support during the period in which they are being charged tuition. Students who extend their program beyond the necessary degree requirements are ineligible for institutional support. Students who extend their academic program, but who are still within the necessary degree requirements, may still be eligible for grant support; however, students receiving stipend support should note that stipends are provided only for the duration of the traditional length of their program (two years for the MTS and three years for the MDiv). U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents of the U.S. may apply for federal funds to assist with the added costs of extending their program.

Eligibility for need-based funding is determined through a congressionally mandated formula referred to as Federal Methodology. Financial need assessments are based on income (including spouse's income), assets, family size, number in college, and other factors. From an analysis of the financial data submitted, we are able to assess a reasonable contribution from the student toward educational expenses. This contribution is subtracted from the student budget, and the remainder is considered the student's "financial need." Due to limited funding, HDS cannot guarantee to meet full need.

Doctoral Applicants

Awards to doctoral students are made solely on the basis of academic merit, and doctoral applicants are not required to apply for financial aid. Admitted applicants will receive an award package of full tuition and fees and a stipend of $19,000 (2006-07 rates).

During the second and third years of their program, doctoral students will continue to receive the award package of full tuition and fees and stipend, if they maintain satisfactory academic progress. Stipend support will not be available after the third year. No institutional grant support will be available after the sixth year.