Harvard University Complete Information
Current Students Financial Aid
If you’re a current student and want to apply for financial aid, here’s what you need to know:
- You must be enrolled in at least six credits.
- Suppose you are taking classes not offered through Harvard University (for example, online courses or independent study). If your dean’s office approves them, they will only count towards your 6-credit minimum requirement.
- It would help if you were full-time (12 or more credits).
Deadlines for Financial Aid
May 1 is the deadline to renew your aid. If you complete your application by the deadline, you will get your decision notification through my.harvard by July 1.
As a current student, you must submit your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as early as possible to ensure you can receive federal and state grants and loans. The FAFSA has two parts: the student’s financial information is reported on the application and then processed by the U.S. Department of Education, called “processing time.” Then, Harvard University uses the information provided on your FAFSA to determine if you qualify for aid in addition to any other funds available at HLS .
You can track your application status through our online system here: my.harvard.edu .
Students will receive their Financial Aid through my.harvard by July 1. Late applications will be processed as soon as possible after July 1.
CSS Profile
The CSS Profile is a financial aid application for students interested in attending college in the United States. The CSS Profile helps colleges determine how much money you will need to pay for your education, and it also allows you to list all of your assets so that the college can consider them when determining your financial aid package.
You can access the CSS Profile online at www.collegeboard.org/cssprofile/. You must create an account with them before beginning this process; however, it is free! Once logged in, click “Create New Account” at the bottom right corner of the screen. It will take you through several steps–please follow each step carefully to ensure you get everything important!
IDOC
The IDOC is the Institutional Data on College Students form. It’s a standard form that colleges use to report financial data about students. The federal government uses this information to calculate eligibility for federal student aid programs and determine how much you can borrow from them.
You must complete an IDOC and submit it annually to continue receiving financial aid at Harvard University. You should also complete and submit an IDOC if you change your name, address or marital status during the year; this will ensure that we have accurate information about your circumstances so that we can continue paying out funds as needed throughout the year (or until graduation).
If there are any changes in your family size or income level during the school year–for example, marriage/divorce/births–then please get in touch with us immediately so we can update our records accordingly!
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Financial Aid Activity and Demographic Supplement (FAADS)
FAADS is an important part of the financial aid process. It collects information about your family’s financial situation and determines if you are eligible for federal student aid, Harvard University scholarships and grants.
To complete FAADS, you need to:
- Provide the Social Security number(s) for each member of your household who will be included on the FAFSA (and, as appropriate, a Taxpayer Identification Number).
- Provide certain tax forms such as W-2s or 1099s if they apply.
- Complete additional questions related to assets held in trust; these include retirement accounts (401k), pension plans, annuities and life insurance policies.
FAFSA
The FAFSA is the form you fill out to apply for financial aid, and it's available online at fafsa.ed.gov. Colleges and universities use the FAFSA to determine how much money a student will be eligible for, so you must submit it as soon as possible after October 1 (the first day of classes).
Students should file the most accurate tax forms possible when applying for aid.
Filing the most accurate and complete tax forms is crucial when applying for financial aid. If you cannot file your taxes because you need more information, or if there has been a change in your financial situation since last year's filing deadline, contact Student Financial Services immediately so they can guide how best to proceed.
Harvard University requires all students receiving funding from federal sources (including loans) to submit their IRS 1040 form(s) by May 1 each year.