Financial Aid Regulations
The University adheres to a firm policy of providing assistance to meet the demonstrated financial need of all Yale College students for their four undergraduate years.
Most awards are made on a yearly basis. Where circumstances warrant, awards are made for one term even though a student is enrolled for the full academic year. The amount and type of aid (i.e., job, loan, and gift) are determined individually after consideration of the financial situation of the student's family. The first portion of demonstrated financial need, however, is met through self-help (job and/or loan).
A student who demonstrates financial need and who meets the requirements for promotion is eligible for gift aid and/or loans. No student, except certain readmitted students, will be eligible for assistance for more than eight terms. (See section J, "Readmitted students.") The University will not aid any student who is in default on any federal or University loan, has borrowed in excess of loan limits, or owes a refund to the Department of Education, Yale, or any other institution for any Title IV financial aid. Further, if a student is found to be in default, has borrowed in excess of loan limits, or owes a refund after being offered financial aid, the University will withdraw all aid immediately while continuing to hold the student responsible for any charges incurred. Students who falsely attest to their status in this regard may be subject to disciplinary action as well.
Awards are granted on the assumption that a student's living expenses will not exceed the cost of room and board charged to resident students. Students will not receive additional gift aid in order to meet expenses for off-campus living that exceed the cost of living in University accommodations. Requests for additional self-help to meet such expenses, however, will be considered.
A married student should not expect to receive more gift aid than he or she would receive as a single student.
The University believes that parents have the primary responsibility of paying for their children's education. That principle extends to both parents, even when they are divorced or separated, and is fundamental to the University's financial aid policy. If a student is admitted to Yale as a dependent, and the student's parents discontinue support at a later time, the student cannot expect that the University will replace the expected parental contribution with Yale funds.
A student with dependents should plan to support them without assistance from the University.
A financial aid recipient is required to report to Student Financial Services any improvements or reversals in circumstances that alter the family's and/or student's financial situation, including receipt of gift or loan assistance other than that awarded or processed by Student Financial Services. Awards may be adjusted as the result of such changes.
Applications for financial aid for the fall and spring terms of an academic year must be completed no later than June 1 prior to the academic year for which aid is being requested. Applications for financial aid for the spring term only must be completed by November 1 prior to that spring term. (Students applying for readmission should indicate that they are applying for financial aid on their applications for readmission. Student Financial Services will provide the application instructions to the student, who should complete and file them immediately.) For each month or part of a month that the application remains incomplete after the application deadline, $100 of any eventual award will be transferred from gift aid to self help. A copy of the student's and parents' latest federal income tax returns and W-2 forms, a College Scholarship Service (CSS) Financial Aid Profile, a Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA), and a Yale College Application for Financial Aid are required from each applicant before a renewal of a financial aid award is made; other forms, such as a Noncustodial Parent Profile or Business/Farm supplement, may also be required. Students not receiving financial aid whose circumstances change are encouraged at any time during the year to discuss with a staff member in Student Financial Services the possibility of applying for aid.
All financial aid recipients returning to Yale after a withdrawal must complete a financial aid application at least two weeks before the beginning of the term for which they have applied for readmission. (See section I, "Applying for financial aid.") Students who withdrew for medical reasons will resume their eligibility for financial aid as before. Similarly, students who, after readmission, will be able to complete the requirements for graduation in a total of eight terms (the total including the semester in which they withdrew if withdrawal occurred after the first ten days of the term) will resume their eligibility for financial aid as before. Normally, students who attend for nine terms are not eligible for financial aid from Yale in their ninth term. However, a readmitted student who will require nine terms of enrollment may apply for financial aid for a ninth term. During the first term back, however, the student will receive less gift assistance than usual. (Questions concerning exact amounts should be addressed to the Student Financial Service Center.) After the first term back such a student is eligible to resume aid on the normal basis.
At the end of senior year, or at the time of withdrawal from Yale College, students who have received a student loan from Yale or federal sources must complete exit counseling requirements. Student Financial Services will notify all graduating and withdrawn students of this obligation and provide instructions on completing the requirement. No student who has obtained such a loan will be awarded a diploma or be able to secure a transcript until he or she has completed the exit counseling process.
For a more detailed explanation of financial aid policy and procedures, students may contact Student Financial Services, located at 246 Church Street, first floor. The mailing address is Yale University, P. O. Box 208288, New Haven, CT 06520-8288; the telephone number is 432-2700; and the e-mail address is sfs@yale.edu.
