Federal, State, and Private Grants

A grant is money that does not need to be repaid. The Juilliard School will package all students with any federal/state grants for which they are eligible. These may include the following:

Federal Grants

The Federal Pell Grant: available to undergraduates who are U.S. Citizens or eligible non-citizens, and who have not completed their first undergraduate degree. Grant amounts are based on the Student Aid Eligibility Index (SAI) calculated on the FAFSA. For more information, visit Federal Student Aid. Pell grant recipients with anticipated credit balances may request an advance of their refund to purchase books and supplies. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information.

The Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): available to students who are Pell eligible. Funds are limited and based on unmet need. For more information, visit Federal Student Aid.

Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF)

The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), has now been exhausted, effective May 2023. HEERF was created as part of The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and signed into law on March 27, 2020 to address the national emergency of Covid-19. This fund provided emergency grants to students for expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus pandemic. Learn how Juilliard has utilized this fund.

State Grants

The New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP): available to full-time undergraduate students who meet the State Education Department's New York residency requirements. Students must have graduated from a U.S. high school. Grants range from $500 to $5,665 per year for tuition only. New York State (NYS) residents attending NYS schools can link directly to the NYS Student Aid Payment Application from the FAFSA submission confirmation page. For more information, visit Higher Education Services Corporation.

Veterans' Education Benefits

The Department of Veteran Affairs administers a variety of education benefit programs; however, the GI Bill® and the Yellow Ribbon Program are the two most commonly used programs at the School.

To determine which VA educational benefit is best for you and to discuss your eligibility, students and families should contact the GI Bill® hotline at 1-888-GIBILL1 (1-888-442-4551) or visit www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

The Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-407) was signed into law on December 31, 2018. In compliance with this law, The Juilliard School allows GI Bill® and VR&E beneficiaries (Chapter 33 and Chapter 31) to attend a course of education 90 days after the school has certified tuition and fees, and following the receipt of the Certificate of Eligibility, or valid VAF 28-1905. This allows a student to attend classes until VA provides payment to the institution.  The Juilliard School will not impose a penalty, or require the beneficiary to borrow additional funds to cover tuition and fees due to late payments from VA. 

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill

Private Grants

We strongly encourage all students to apply for privately funded grants and scholarships. There are a number of online databases that catalogue a wide variety of opportunities. In addition, many fraternal, industrial, community, and religious organizations sponsor scholarship programs which should be investigated through the particular institution.

Prospective applicants may wish to begin their search during their junior and/or senior year of high school and may seek information from their guidance counselor regarding application procedures. Current Juilliard students may view the list of opportunities on this page.

Private Grant Databases

Although we make every effort to inform students of grant opportunities, we strongly encourage students to do their own research as well. Here are some websites that you may find helpful when searching for private grants. Remember, you should never have to pay a fee to apply for a grant or scholarship!

Private Grant Opportunities

Visit The New York Public Library (NYPL) Foundation Center Resources for an online database of foundation and public charity programs that fund students, artists, researchers, and other individual grant seekers.

Music for Humanity scholarship applications are now available! Scholarship amounts range from $1,000-$7,500.  Applications are available February 15 - April 30.

Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) awards scholarships to students who intend to pursue full-time undergraduate, graduate or doctoral degrees. For U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents. Visit their website about various scholarship opportunities.  Amounts vary. Application Deadline: Various deadlines

National Merit Scholarship Corporation is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. Approximately 1.5 million high school students enter the program each year.

Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship (APIAS) open to AANHPI undergraduate students attending any U.S. accredited university or college. Scholarship amounts range from $2,500 one-year awards to $20,000 multi-year awards. APIA Scholars has a special focus on supporting AANHPI students who live at or below the poverty line; are in the first generation of their family to attend college; are representative of the APIA community’s diversity, (geographically and ethnically}, especially those ethnicities that have been underrepresented on college campuses due to limited access and opportunity.

POINT Foundation (The LGBTQ Scholarship Fund) offers LGBTQ scholarships for students at accredited US schools, universities and colleges. They offer community college scholarships, as well as scholarship programs for students earning undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees.

Hebrew Free Loan Society awards scholarships to Jewish students who are pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees. For U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents and International Students. Amounts vary.  The deadline for this scholarship is normally June of each year.