All prospective students are encouraged to apply for financial aid at the time of audition.  The Financial Aid Committee will review all complete applications and offer an aid package consisting of a combination of scholarships/grants, loans and on-campus employment.  All scholarship decisions are based on a combination of the financial need of the student and his or her parents (when applicable) and the student’s artistic and academic merit. 

Scholarship awarding policies at the Juilliard School are considered “need-based, merit-informed.” This means that although assisting students to meet their financial need remains our top priority, students with or without need may receive varying levels of scholarship assistance based on their audition results. While we are unable to meet the full need of all who apply, we make every effort to assist as many students as possible to attend the School. It is a fundamental principle of awarding aid that every student and his or her family should contribute to their education to the extent of their ability. However, we also recognize that the information provided on the FAFSA does not always tell the whole story. We encourage families to provide us with whatever supplemental information they feel is important to give us a clearer picture of their financial circumstances and allow us to create an appropriate award package.

Detailed application instructions can be found in the Juilliard Financial Aid Application. For more information about all programs, we encourage you to review the following links, including our Frequently Asked Questions page. In addition, you can contact our office at any time with questions or concerns. We're here to help! 

Funding may come from federal, state, institutional, or private sources. A summary of available major programs follows, including Financial Aid Information on the Internet.

Grants and Scholarships

These terms both refer to money that does not need to be repaid. The Juilliard School will package all students with both Juilliard scholarship and federal/state grants for which they are eligible. We also encourage prospective applicants to apply for privately funded scholarships during the junior and/or senior year of high school. High school guidance counselors can provide information regarding application procedures. Many fraternal, industrial, community, and religious organizations sponsor scholarship and/or loan programs which should be investigated through the particular institution. 

The Federal Pell Grant is available to undergraduates who are U.S. citizens and permanent residents, and who have not completed an undergraduate degree. Grants range from $400 to $4,731 per year. Visit The Guide to Federal Student Aid from the U.S. Department of Education.

The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) is a federal program available to undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and are enrolled full-time in their first or second academic year of study.

• First academic year—students who have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study, graduated from high school after Jan. 1, 2006, and have not been previously enrolled in an undergraduate program, may be eligible for up to $750.
• Second academic year—students who have completed a rigorous secondary school program of study, graduated from high school after Jan. 1, 2005, and have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA at the completion of their first year of postsecondary study, may be eligible for up to $1,300.

The Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is a federal program available to undergraduates who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents, and who have not completed an undergraduate degree. Priority is given to Pell Grant recipients. Grants range from $100 to $4,000 annually. For more information, visit The Guide to Federal Student Aid from the U.S. Department of Education.

The New York State Tuition Assistance Plan (TAP) is available to full-time undergraduate and graduate students who meet the State Education Department's New York residency requirements. Students must graduate from a U.S. high school or pass an ATB test. Grants range from $200 to $5,000 per year for tuition only. To apply, file a FAFSA and an Electronic TAP application (ETA).
Visit the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation Web site.

Juilliard Scholarships are available to all Juilliard students, including international students. Scholarships range from $1,000 up to full need. Students who receive scholarships are asked to submit a brief biographical statement to the Financial Aid Office.

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Loans

A student loan is an investment in your education.  However, because loans must be repaid with interest, taking on educational debt is a decision that must be considered carefully. The Juilliard School encourages responsible borrowing and is committed to providing students and parents with the tools and information needed to make the best possible choices. (Please download our brochure for more details.)

In order to provide the most efficient service to students, the Juilliard School is a Direct Loan school. This means that all of our federal loans, including Stafford and PLUS, are funded directly through the federal government rather than through banks. For more information including the benefits of direct lending, please visit the National Direct Student Loan Coalition Web site.

The Federal Direct Stafford Loan (subsidized and unsubsidized) is available to undergraduate and graduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. In this federal program, students may borrow $5,500 to $20,500 per year directly from the School, depending on their class level and dependency status. Normal repayment begins after the student ceases at least half-time enrollment, with up to 30 years to repay. The interest rate for new Stafford loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2006, is a fixed 6.80%.
For more information, visit The Guide to Federal Student Aid from the U.S. Department of Education.

The Federal Direct PLUS Loan is available to parents of undergraduate dependent students. The student and parent must both be U.S.citizens or permanent residents. These federal loans range up to full need. Borrowers must pass a credit check. The interest rate for new PLUS loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2006, is a fixed 7.90%. To apply, contact the Financial Aid Office after receiving the financial aid award letter.For more information, visit The Guide to Federal Student Aid from the U.S. Department of Education.

The Graduate PLUS Loan is available to graduate students who are U.S. Citizens or permanent residents. Borrowers must pass a credit check. The interest rate for new PLUS loans first disbursed on or after July 1, 2006, is a fixed 7.90%. To apply, file a FAFSA, then contact the Financial Aid Office.

The Federal Perkins Loan (NDSL) is available to undergraduates and graduate students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents with financial need. Undergraduates may borrow up to $5,500 per year, and graduate students may borrow up to $8,000 per year. Students have up to ten years to repay. Repayment at 5% interest begins six months after student ceases at least half-time enrollment. To be considered for a Perkins loan, you must request it in a separate letter to the Financial Aid Committee after a receiving a Financial Aid award letter. Because funds are limited, students must use their Stafford loan eligibility before requesting a Perkins loan.

Alternative loans (also called private loans) usually carry a higher interest rate than federal loans and offer few benefits. Students are advised to consider them only after all other traditional sources of financial aid have been secured, including Federal Direct Stafford and Federal Direct PLUS. In some cases, securing alternative funds before traditional aid may result in a loss or a reduction of Federal Aid.  In addition, students (both international and U.S. citizens/Permanent Residents) who are able to find a U.S. credit-worthy co-signer will obtain better rates on alternative loans. The Greentree Gazette.com and Simple Tuition.com offer comparison guides to alternative loan lenders.  When using these tools be sure to only check the box for alternative/private loans, since your federal loans are processed directly through the School. Contact the Financial Aid Office if you have questions.

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