Harvard Divinity School currently participates in several federally funded self-help programs, including the Federal Work-Study Program and the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan. These programs are available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who need help in meeting the cost of their graduate study. Students who are not in degree programs or who are pursuing less than a half-time course of study are not eligible for federal financial assistance.
Applicants to any federal financial aid programs must file the HDS Application for Financial Aid and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Eligibility for these federally funded programs is determined from the information provided on these forms. Eligibility for the Federal Work-Study Program is based on financial need as stipulated by Federal Methodology, a method used to calculate a student's expected contribution. All graduate students are considered independent, and therefore parental financial information is not a factor in determining eligibility.
Since Federal Methodology does not allow for the living expenses of the spouse and/or dependents, a budget based on the standard living expenses for a single student is used. There are certain categories for which the regulations allow an increase to this budget, which include (but are not limited to):
- medical/dental expenses not covered by insurance
- certain child care costs
- dissertation expenses
- computer purchase (may be used only once)
- moving expenses (may be used only once)
- certain housing costs
Students applying for federal aid who believe they have allowable expenses that could be used to increase their budgets should document these expenses and request an appointment with the appropriate financial aid officer. Such added expenses to a student's budget do not increase their eligibility for institutional grant support, but they could, however, increase their loan eligibility.
It is Harvard Divinity School policy that students currently in default on a previous Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP), Stafford, or Perkins Loan are ineligible to receive federal or institutional financial aid.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Government regulations require that students make satisfactory academic progress each year in order to be eligible for federal loans and/or work-study. Satisfactory progress guidelines can be found in the HDS Handbook for Students.
Verification
Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid verify students' eligibility for federal financial aid. Verification is a process used to check the accuracy of the information provided by an applicant for federal financial aid. For 2024–25, Harvard University will comply with the Standard Verification Guidelines. To ensure compliance, additional documentation may be required of students. It is expected that any requests for additional information will be fulfilled. Failure to do so may result in the cancellation of federal aid.