After applying for admission, you can access the financial aid application from the Financial Aid tab of your status portal. The deadline for 2026-2027 applicants to apply for financial aid is Friday, January 16, 2026 at 12 p.m. (noon) ET. 

We encourage you to apply for financial assistance regardless of financial need. The majority of our fellowships and scholarships are awarded based on merit. By applying for financial aid, you will be considered for a variety of awards, including:

Several research center awards require a separate application; see the list of research center awards for more information. CGS International Fellowships require a separate application.

Financial Aid at Harvard Kennedy School

We are committed to distributing as much financial assistance as possible to our talented students; however, our institutional resources are limited. During the 2025-2026 academic year, approximately 39% of enrolled students received some form of aid from Harvard University. Scholarship amounts vary but typically do not cover the full cost of attendance. Accordingly, we strongly encourage you to research all possible funding resources, including HKS and Harvard aid, as well as external scholarships.

By the Numbers: Size of Awards from HKS & Harvard

During the 2025-2026 academic year, 61.5% of HKS students received no financial aid from HKS or Harvard. 11.6% of students received an award between $1-$30,000; 7.8% of students received an award between $30,001-$60,000; 12.7% received an award between $60,001-$90,000; and 6.4% received an award of $90,000 or greater.

By the Numbers: Source of Institutional Aid

During the 2025-2026 academic year, 62.3% of awards granted to HKS students were awarded by the HKS Office of Admissions & Financial Aid, 24.2% were awarded by HKS research centers, and 13.5% were awarded by the Harvard University Committee on General Scholarships or other Harvard-wide funds.

On the financial aid application, you will be asked to:

  • Input information about your household income and assets
  • Respond to a series of questions to determine your eligibility for a variety of awards from HKS and the Harvard University Committee on General Scholarships
  • Upload a general financial aid essay, in which you describe—in 750 words or less—your commitment to public service, professional interests and aspirations, and how attending HKS will help you to meet those goals
  • Upload additional essays required to apply for certain awards

Because many fellowships require submission of an essay, we encourage you to start your financial aid application as soon as possible. 

HKS fellowships and scholarships are primarily awarded based on merit, as determined by the School. Our evaluation of merit in the admissions process takes into account factors such as academic achievement and intellectual distinction, leadership capabilities, quantitative proficiency, commitment to public service, and diverse experiences and backgrounds.

Financial need may be considered when determining award amounts. 

Harvard’s professional schools maintain individual endowments. Those with long histories and significant numbers of alumni have substantial endowments, while those established more recently—like Harvard Kennedy School in 1936—have fewer alumni and, as a result, more modest endowments. The majority of our fellowship and scholarship funding is derived from current income and gifts. 

 

Financial Aid Application Timeline

  • April 2026
    Admission and financial aid response deadline

    Admitted students must respond to their offer of admission by mid-April.

  • March 2026
    Admission and financial aid decisions announced

    Applicants who are admitted to the Kennedy School and who submitted a financial aid application will be notified of their admission and financial aid decisions in mid-March.

  • January 16, 2026
    Financial aid application deadline at 12 p.m. (noon) ET

    You will apply for HKS scholarships and fellowships after you have completed your application for admission but before you receive your admission decision. There are very few opportunities to apply for fellowship or scholarship funding after you are admitted to or enrolled at HKS.

    Some scholarships and fellowships require the submission of additional information or essays, so we encourage you to start your application well in advance of the deadline. 

    If you are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible noncitizen, we also encourage you to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for federal student loans.

  • December 01, 2025
    Admission application deadline at 12 p.m. (noon) ET

    If you plan to apply for financial assistance, you must submit your master’s degree application before you can access our financial aid application. 

Are you an HKS applicant?
Apply for financial aid by Friday, January 16, 2026 at 12 p.m. (noon) ET.
Financial Aid Application
Have questions?
Attend an upcoming financial aid event to have your questions answered.
See Events