The financial aid application deadline is approaching—here’s what you should know

The financial aid application is open until Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 11:59 a.m. ET. We encourage all applicants to apply for financial aid. 

We asked Associate Directors of Admissions and Financial Aid Mira Morgan and Brianna Gomez to address applicants’ frequently asked questions regarding the financial aid application. Read below to learn from our team. 

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Why should I fill out the financial aid application?

There will not be an opportunity to apply for financial aid again as an enrolled student, even if your financial circumstances change in the future, so it’s key to apply for aid now, before learning about your admission decision. If you are not sure if you will be eligible for funding, you should still submit the application so you can be considered for all available options. We cannot emphasize enough how important it is to ensure your financial aid application is submitted before the January 15, 2025 deadline.

Does HKS provide full funding?

We are committed to distributing as much financial assistance as possible to our talented students; however, our institutional resources are restricted. There are very few fellowships that fund up to our cost of attendance. The vast majority of our fellowship offers do not exceed tuition and fees, so we encourage you to research all possible funding resources, including external scholarships resources and loans, to pay for your educational expenses. 

When will I know if I have been awarded financial aid?

Admissions and financial aid decisions will be released on the same day in mid-March.

What other financing opportunities are available to HKS students?

Most of our students contribute financially to their degree, often using student loans. The loan options that are available to you will depend on whether you are a domestic or international student.

As a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible noncitizen, you may be eligible to borrow federal loans, as well as private loans, to help finance your education. To be eligible to borrow federal student loans, you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the appropriate academic year. ​The HKS school code is E00215. 

International students may use ELMSelect.com to explore private loan options. Be sure to select “International” from the drop-down menu. For more information about loan borrowing, please visit our Student Loans website.

We understand that student loan debt can be a significant obstacle when pursuing a career in public service. HKS and the U.S. government have developed programs to help our graduates put their degrees into practice without feeling overly burdened by debt. Our Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP) and the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program are among several programs that offer loan forgiveness opportunities to students who work in certain professional positions after graduation. Our team has also put together a list of scholarship search engines to explore external scholarship opportunities outside of HKS that may be helpful in your scholarship search.

How do I apply for scholarships offered through the Committee on General Scholarships?

The Committee on General Scholarships (CGS) does not accept applications for Restricted Scholarships from students. Candidates for these awards are nominated through the financial aid offices across Harvard. To be considered for these funds, you should complete the HKS financial aid application.

There are several scholarships offered through CGS for international students that require a separate application. International students should visit the CGS website and view international scholarships organized by country. If a separate application is required, instructions will be listed on their website.

There is a scholarship on the HKS website that I want to apply for, but I don’t see it listed on the financial aid application. How can I apply for the scholarship if I don’t see it listed?

The only HKS scholarships explicitly listed on the financial aid application are those that require an essay. HKS has many funds that do not require essays, so they are not specifically listed in the application. You will still be considered for all HKS scholarships by virtue of submitting a financial aid application, even if you don’t see the scholarship listed on the application. 

Do you have any advice for applicants filling out the financial aid application?

Please be sure to read through all of the instructions, including the prompts for fellowships and scholarships that require an essay. You want to demonstrate in your essay(s) why you are the best fit for that scholarship. For example, if you are applying for a public service fellowship, explain how your prior professional journey fits into your current decision to attend graduate school and how you plan to use your HKS education to work in public service following graduation.