Harvard Law School has a long-standing commitment to preserving access to the J.D. program for all admitted candidates, regardless of family financial strength. Admissions decisions are made regardless of ability to pay. Any student with financial concerns is encouraged to apply for financial assistance.Student Financial Services encourages students to come by and discuss financial concerns any time during the year. Harvard Law School offers two types of application for aid. You can apply as a “need-based aid applicant” to be considered for HLS Grant assistance, or you can apply as a “loan only applicant” which will greatly simplify the application process but exclude you from consideration for Grant aid. For “loan only” applicants only student information is required; no parental financial information is required or collected. The 2018-2019 Financial Aid application process for Admitted Students to the class of 2021 will open on February 28, 2018. The continuing student application process for 2018-2019 will open in late March 2018. Watch your HLS email for details!
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United StatesBenefits
Standard student budget (9-month) in 2017-2018:
- Tuition $61,650
- Room/Board/Personal Allowance $23,158
- Mandatory HUHS Student Health Fee $1,142
- Waivable Harvard University Student Health Insurance Plan (HUSHP) Fee $3,130
- Books and Supplies Allowance $1,325
- Travel Allowance $1,575
- Stafford Loan Fees $220
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Total Budget $92,200
Note: International students do not pay Stafford Loan Fees. The travel allowance for international students is increased by an equivalent amount to produce the same total budget.
Eligibilities
If you do not have any siblings in college, you should consider applying as a “need-based aid applicant” for Grant assistance if:
- your parents’ total family income (not the AGI on your tax return, but your actual gross income from all sources before deductions) is less than $180,000 per year and
- your parents’ net worth (from all investments excluding savings in qualified retirement accounts, plus home equity, plus other savings, trusts, business value, and real estate equity) falls within the range typical for the HLS Grant recipient population, which is $0 to $500,000
- please note that if your parents’ income exceeds $150,000 there is a low likelihood that you will qualify for HLS Grant assistance
If you have siblings in college, you should consider applying as a “need-based aid applicant” for Grant assistance if:
- your parents’ total family income (not the AGI on your tax return, but your actual gross income from all sources before deductions) is less than $250,000 per year and
- your parents’ net worth (from all investments excluding savings in qualified retirement accounts, plus home equity, plus other savings, trusts, business value, and real estate equity) falls within the range typical for the HLS Grant recipient population, which is $0 to $500,000
- please note that if your parents’ income exceeds $180,000 there is a low likelihood that you will qualify for HLS Grant assistance
Application Process
- Step 1: Completing your preliminary application
- In this step you will submit the online HLS financial aid application, which will then create a personalized list of required documents for you to complete. Once all of your documents are received, they can begin reviewing your application to determine a provisional award offer.
- Step 2: Reviewing and Understanding Your Award
- Once they complete their review of your application, you will receive email notification (on a rolling basis for admitted students and in July for returning students) of your provisional award. We use the word provisional because HLS financial aid awards are not final until the fall review process concludes in October of each academic year. When you receive your provisional award notification, review the information they provide and contact them with any questions.
- Step 3: Understanding and Applying for Your Loans
- This step will help you understand the various loan options available to you in order to secure the funding you need. They will outline both the details of the loans you were offered as part of your aid package, and your options for additional loan funding should you need to borrow up to the total of your student budget.
- Step 4: Financial Clearance and Cash Advance Check
- You will receive email notice of your fall semester charges in July from Harvard University’s central Student Accounts Office. Make sure that your provisional financial aid award is sufficient to cover your fall balance. If it’s not, you should plan to make an e-payment or apply for a supplemental education loan. If your anticipated financial aid credits exceed the total of your fall charges, you will be eligible for a fall cash advance check that can be used for living expenses. Eligible students will receive this check during the fall registration period.
- Step 5: Finalizing Your Financial Aid Award
- Financial aid awards are always provisional until the completion of their fall award review process in September and October of each academic year. In late August/early September they will send you a reminder of everything they will need to do to finalize your award, including:E-signing master promissory notes for any federal and institutional loans in your package
Completing an online financial aid entrance counseling session
Submitting any remaining documentation still listed as outstanding in “Your Documents”
Completing the online Summer Income and Expense Update Web FormAfter receiving all of this final documentation, they will review your file again, and notify you of your final aid package. Grant recipients should expect to receive their final award notification no later than November 1 of each academic year.
- Financial aid awards are always provisional until the completion of their fall award review process in September and October of each academic year. In late August/early September they will send you a reminder of everything they will need to do to finalize your award, including:E-signing master promissory notes for any federal and institutional loans in your package
For more details, please check their official website.
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