Financial Aid & Scholarships

Financial Aid
(617) 912–9147

The Boston Conservatory provides scholarships based on artistic merit as determined by the admissions entrance audition. There is no paperwork to fill out in order to be considered for a merit award. However, we do take financial need into consideration when allocating these merit awards, and we have a limited number of need-based grants, so applicants with need should complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) by February 15. Please note that tax returns need not be finished in order to fill out the FAFSA. You are free to estimate your income. Corrections to the FAFSA can always be done once your tax return is completed.

The FAFSA is required for most forms of federal financial aid. The Boston Conservatory offers the following forms of federal financial aid: the Pell Grant, the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, the Direct Subsidized Loan, the Direct Unsubsidized Loan, the Direct Parent PLUS Loan, the Direct Grad PLUS Loan and Work Study. Need is a requirement for all of these funds except the Unsubsidized Loan, the Parent PLUS Loan and the Grad PLUS Loan.

Need = Cost of Attendance – Estimated Family Contribution.

The cost of attendance is determined by the institution. It consists of direct costs such as tuition, fees and on-campus room and board and estimated costs such as off-campus room and board, travel and miscellaneous costs. Different institutions have different costs of attendance. The Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) is determined by the FAFSA. Using the family’s income, assets, number of household members and number of household members in college, the federal government determines what it believes a family can afford to put toward its student’s education. Families can estimate the cost of attendance using the Net Price Calculator at our web site.

In addition to the Conservatory Scholarship, we also offer the Returning Student Scholarship (RSS). Scholarship Students who were not awarded a scholarship as freshmen or students who want to increase their scholarship are eligible to apply. Need is more of a factor in awarding this scholarship, but merit is a necessary component. Requirements for American citizens and eligible noncitizens are the application, the FAFSA, federal tax returns and W-2s. International students must provide the application, the International Student Financial Data Form and translated verification of income. The deadline for the RSS is May 1.