The application for financial assistance for the 2024-2025 academic year is now available for those who have submitted an application for admission. If you’ve submitted an application to one of our master’s degree programs, you should now see an “Application for Financial Aid” tab on your application status page. Click this tab to access the financial aid application.
This application is only relevant to incoming students prior to initial enrollment at HKS. Current HKS students should not complete this application.
The deadline to submit the application for financial assistance is Friday, January 12, 2024 at 12 p.m. Eastern Time. U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and eligible noncitizens should also submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by this deadline.
Here’s an overview of our admission and financial aid application timeline.
- September: Application for admission opens
- November: Financial aid application available to applicants
- Early December: Admission application deadline (December 1, 2023 at 12 p.m. ET); 2024-2025 FAFSA available for completion (U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and eligible noncitizens)
- January (January 12, 2024 at 12 p.m. ET): Financial aid application deadline; FAFSA submission deadline
- Mid-March: Admission and financial aid decisions released
- Mid-April: Admission and financial aid response deadline
What you should know about financial assistance at HKS
- As you can see from the timeline above, you will apply for financial aid before being notified of your admission decision. This means you cannot wait until you are admitted to apply for financial assistance.
- We encourage you to apply regardless of financial need. The majority of our scholarships and fellowships are awarded primarily based upon merit.
- Some awards have additional application requirements, such as essays, but by submitting the financial aid application, you will be considered for a number of other awards for which you may be eligible.
- Many scholarships and fellowships require submission of an essay, which you will upload within the financial aid application. We advise against waiting until the last minute to start the financial aid application, as to allow yourself time to work on the essays for the fellowships for which you wish to be considered.
- Financial assistance is limited; submission of an application for financial aid does not guarantee that you will receive assistance. About 30 percent of the applicants we admit each year are awarded institutional aid.
- Most students must rely on several funding sources, including external resources and student loans, to cover their cost of attendance.
We look forward to working with you throughout the financial aid process in the coming months. You are welcome to be in touch with your assigned Assistant Director of Admissions & Financial Aid as you navigate this process.
