Prospective Students
The financial aid program at Harvard University is need-blind, and your eligibility for financial aid will not affect your admission decision. However, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to receive federal aid. The CSS Profile is also required of international applicants whose annual family income exceeds $60,000 (or U.S. dollar equivalent in countries other than the United States).
To be considered for any financial assistance at Harvard University, you must apply two months before classes begin or one month after receiving official notification that you have been accepted into one of our programs. Early action applicants must apply by November 1 (for Fall entry); regular decision applicants can apply anytime between December 1 and January 15 (for Spring entry). Transfer students must also submit their application within these same timeframes but should refer to our Transfer Student page for more information about transfer student scholarships specifically available to them during this process
Application Requirements
To apply for financial aid, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. If you need clarification on your eligibility, contact the financial assistance office of the school you plan to attend.
It would be best if you were a high school senior or graduate attending college in the fall.
You must fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form by April 15 if you want any chance at receiving aid from Harvard University in addition to merit-based scholarships, which are awarded based on academic performance and other factors such as leadership skills and community service experience during high school years rather than financial need alone.
Deadlines and Dates for Early Action
- Early Action: a non-binding option that allows students to apply to Harvard University before the regular deadline.
- Early Action Deadline: November 1.
- Early Action Notification Date: December 15.
Deadlines and Dates for Regular Action
Deadlines and Dates for Regular Action
- The deadline to apply for financial aid is February 1. If you apply after this date, your application will be considered on a rolling basis until all available funds are used up.
- You can use the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile or the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply online at fafsa.ed.gov or by mail using the forms from your high school guidance office or college financial aid office.
Deadlines and Dates for Transfer Students
As a transfer student, the next step for you is to apply for financial aid. The application process is similar to that of first- and second-year students, with one major difference: the deadline. While there are several deadlines throughout the year, the most important one for you as a transfer applicant is October 15 (though it’s best to apply earlier).
If you’re interested in receiving aid from Harvard University but need to know where or how to start your application process, this guide will help! We’ll cover everything from what is required when filling out your FAFSA form through every step until graduation day, including how much each year will cost and what types of loans are available. Let’s get started!
CSS Profile
The CSS Profile is a financial aid application colleges and universities use to determine your eligibility for need-based financial aid. The CSS Profile measures the student’s ability to pay for college by assessing the family’s income, assets and other resources, and the number of people in the household.
When you fill out this form online at CollegeBoard.org, you must enter information about yourself (name, address), your parents (names and Social Security numbers) and your spouse or partner if applicable.
How to Complete FAFSA
The FAFSA can be completed online at fafsa.gov. If you need to know your student ID number, which is required to sign in, visit the school’s financial aid office and ask them for it- they will provide it.
To complete the application:
- Select “Login” at the top right corner of the page
- Enter your name, date of birth and Social Security number in the fields provided
- Select whether this is an undergraduate or graduate student (or parent) application
- Choose your state from among those listed onscreen; if yours isn’t listed there already, then choose another condition with similar cost-of-living expenses until one does appear
IDOC
The IDOC is a web-based application that allows you to apply for financial aid and other student services. The deadline for completing the IDOC is February 15.
To apply for aid through the IDOC, you’ll need the following:
Your FAFSA PIN (the number associated with your federal tax return) – if you don’t know it, contact Federal Student Aid at 1-800-4FEDAID (1-800-433-3243) or on their website at www.studentaid.ed.gov/sa/contactus/faq_pin.html
The Social Security Number(s) of all family members applying for aid; this includes yourself as well as parents and siblings who will be attending college next year; if someone in your household has never used a Social Security number before but would like one now so they can complete their FAFSA form electronically instead of filling out paper forms by hand next year, then please let me know about this person’s situation so we can help them obtain one quickly