Financial Aid FAQ
Frequently asked questions about financial aid.
- How is financial aid distributed?
- Do I have to apply in order to receive financial aid?
- Do I have to reapply for financial aid in my second year?
- What forms do I need to fill out?
- Are there important deadlines I need to be aware of?
- How can I get a jump-start on applying for outside scholarships?
- What financial aid is available from Yale for U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents?
- What financial aid is available for international students?
- Are there any opportunities for administrative, research or teaching assistantships?
- How much aid is given annually in the form of grants?
- What percent of Yale students receive financial assistance?
- Does F&ES offer scholarships to students from underrepresented communities?
- Do I get a new financial aid award my second year?
- Where can doctoral students find financial aid information?
- When should I apply for financial aid if I am applying as a joint degree student?
- What is my student account?
- How do I request a refund?
- What is my Student Budget/Cost of Attendance?
- Can I borrow money to cover my living expenses, books and health insurance costs?
- How do I find information about student loans?
- I received a financial aid but I would like to borrow an additional amount to cover my living expenses. How do I determine how much additional money I can borrow?
- What happens if I don't pay my student account balance by August 1st?
- Who should I contact if I have remaining questions?
- How is financial aid distributed?
The school offers financial aid packages primarily based on need, with a merit component. An award is often comprised of scholarship, student employment and federal loans to students with demonstrated financial need as measured by financial aid application information, and on academic merit as shown in the application for admission.
- Do I have to apply in order to receive financial aid?
All students must apply for financial aid by the stated deadlines on an annual basis.
- Do I have to reapply for financial aid in my second year?
All students must apply for financial aid on an annual basis.
- What forms do I need to fill out to be eligible for financial aid?
U.S Citizen or a Permanent Residents must complete:
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (on-line FAFSA)
- Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies on-line Financial Aid Application
International students must complete:
For more information refer to F&ES Financial Aid Overview.
Are there important financial aid deadlines that I need to be aware of?
For incoming applicants, all application materials must be received by March 1 to be considered for awards that may include scholarships. Scholarship aid is considered for all admitted applicants with demonstrated need who meet this deadline. For returning students, the on-line FAFSA and F&ES Finanical Aid application and all required tax forms must be submitted by April 5.
How can I get a jump-start on applying for outside scholarships?
After applying for admission and paying the admission application fee at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, applicants will receive access to a password-protected Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies Outside Scholarship database. All students and applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for outside aid. Outside scholarships
What financial aid is available from F&ES for U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents?
The School offers financial aid packages of scholarships, student employment and loans to students with demonstrated financial need. The level of funding for each student is determined at the time of admission; therefore it is critical that all financial aid application deadlines are met.
What financial aid is available for international students?
The Financial Aid OFfice offers scholarships and employment opportunities to as many international students as our resources allow; however, most students need additional support. International students are encouraged to seek support from their governments, employers or various international agencies. See Financial Aid for International Students.
Are there any opportunities for administrative, research or teaching assistantships?
See Employment Opportunities.
How much aid is given annually to Yale students in the form of grants?
In 2009 – 2010, F&ES awarded US $3.8 million in scholarships to our master’s students. Total awards each year are based on the School's scholarship budget.
What percent of Yale Students receive financial assistance?
About 73% of our students receive scholarships and/or loans each year.
Does FES offer scholarships to students from underrepresented communities?
The following scholarships are designated for students from underrepresented communities: Philip Laurance Buttrick Fund – Preference given to students of Native American heritage. John M. Musser Fellowship – Preference given to women or students from historically underrepresented communities. Others may arise based on donor specifications and interests.
Students who apply for financial aid and who matriculate are automatically considered for these scholarships.
Do I receive a new financial aid award my second year?
Students are awarded a financial aid package for their incoming year and can expect the same award during their second year as long as they reapply and still qualify as having financial need. For example, if an incoming student receives a financial aid award with a scholarship for $3,000, a subsidized Stafford loan for $8,500 and an unsubsidized Stafford loan for $10,000, then s/he will receive the same package as long as his/her financial need remains the same. This also holds true if a student receives a financial aid award that only includes loans, as well as a scholarship only award .
Where can doctoral students get financial aid information?
The doctoral program Web site.
When should I apply for financial aid if I am applying as a joint degree student? Financial aid decisions for joint degree students will be made at the time of admission to F&ES, which is not necessarily the year in which a student matriculates in our school. It is therefore essential that joint degree applicants apply for financial aid at the same time that they apply for admissions. This includes students who do not plan to start their first year of enrollment at F&ES.
What is my student account?
Student Financial Services creates a "student account" for each student. This account is used both for charges (tuition, bursar bills, meal plans, etc.) and for financial aid awards. One-half of the financial aid award (loans and/or scholarships) is disbursed to the student account on the first day of each semester. This money is first applied to any charges. If there are remaining funds or credits (for example, if a student receives loans to cover living expenses), the student will be entitled to a “refund.”
How do I request a refund?
Students can request a refund after the start of classes (check the academic calendar) by going to www.yale.edu/sis and clicking on the "financial aid menu" and then on "request a refund" They can also visit Student Financial Services, located at 246 Church Street, New Haven, CT. The fastest way to receive a refund is by signing up for Direct Deposit with Student Financial Services.
One-half of financial aid awards are disbursed each semester, even though the fall semester covers five months (September through January) and spring semester only covers four months (February through May). Please plan accordingly.
Your financial aid budget is composed of tuition and fees plus allowances for living expenses, books, health insurance, etc. This budget reflects an estimate of the cost of a moderate style of living in New Haven for the nine-month academic year. Expenses that are not considered part of the student budget in determining eligibility for financial aid awards are moving expenses, prior debt, credit card debt, and costs associated with automobiles.
The 20089-10 Student Budget (also known as Cost of Attendance) for an incoming single student:
Tuition: $29,250
Living Expenses: $13,198*
Books & Supplies: $1,200
Hospitalization: $1,852
Total Estimated Budget: $45,500 *Estimated cost for a single student living for a nine-month period in New Haven.
Travel expenses are not averaged into the cost of attendance.
Yes, use the calculation below (#21) to determine eligibility.
Stafford and Other Lenders
Yale provides a list of lenders that may be of assistance to you when choosing a lender to help cover the cost of education. To create the list, Yale requested a brief proposal from lenders describing their fees, borrower benefits, ease of processing and customer service. The proposals were reviewed and a final selection was made. The resulting list of lenders provided here have a range of benefits including other products and services. You have the right to select a lender of your choice and are not obligated to choose one from the list. We ask that you notify us of your choice to ensure timely processing.
Yale does not receive any form of payment or remuneration from the lenders in exchange for inclusion on our Lender List. Yale will continue to review our lenders yearly to ensure that our students and their families receive excellent rates and the best customer service available.
Students borrowing through the Federal Stafford loan program can view possible lenders here.
Students interested in a Federal Graduate PLUS loan can view possible lenders here.
To determine your eligibility amount use the following formula:
Cost of Attendance - Financial Aid Received = Eligibility Amount
Example:
An incoming student has the following award package:
Stafford Subsidized Loan $8,500
Stafford Unsubsidized Loan $12,000
Total Financial Aid: $20,500
Use formula: $45,500(Cost of Attendance) - $20,500 (Financial Aid Received) = $25,000 (Eligibility)
Therefore, this incoming student can receive an additional $25,000 in private or Grad PLUS loans or other aid.
Any student who has an account balance after August 1st will be charged a monthly $110 late fee until the remaining balance has been paid in full.
Financial Aid Office
Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies
Kroon Hall 105/107
195 Prospect Street
New Haven, CT 06511-2189
fesfinancialaid@yale.edu
Lisa Kleintjes Kamemoto, Director or
Linda Jacobs, Senior Administrative Assistant
Email: fesfinancialaid@yale.edu
Phone: (203) 432-6100
FAX: (203) 432-7297
