Financial Aid

All scholarships at the School are need-based and do not need to be repaid. In accordance with University policy, financial assistance is determined only after admission and is awarded solely on the basis of demonstrated financial need and the resources available within the Yale School of Art. If an admitted student’s demonstrated financial need remains unmet after accounting for loan and work-study offers, the School covers this gap with a need-based scholarship. For scholarship-eligible first-year students, the maximum scholarship amount cannot exceed the cost of tuition.

Admitted students with financial aid eligibility will have a portion of their financial need met with a loan offer. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for a Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. Non-U.S. citizens and non-permanent residents are eligible for the Yale Student Loan. Private Loans are also available to qualified student borrowers through private lenders, such as banks, online lenders, and credit unions. Creditworthy U.S. citizens may apply for private loans without a co-signer, and international students typically need a creditworthy U.S. Citizen/Permanent Resident co-signer to apply. For private loan options, visit ELM Select.

Work-study as part of your financial aid award indicates eligibility for a job within Yale. There are a number of jobs within the School of Art (admissions, labs, studio crews, etc.). Generally, it will involve four-to-six hours a week during the regular academic year only, and students are paid directly.

Work-study positions available within the School of Art may be limited, and not all MFA students will necessarily be assigned a job within the School. So it is suggested you examine the Yale Student Employment Office (246 Church Street) online student job search. This job search engine lists campus, community service (Federal Work Study), and other categories of employment for which you can apply online.

(Returning/Second-year students ONLY)

School of Art faculty select Teaching Assistants each year from the second-year class. Pay is a flat rate for the term and is determined by the class’s number of hours and sections. At the time they are assigned, Teaching Assistantships are not determined through financial need; however, the amount a student earns is considered a term-time earning and may reduce a student’s total need insofar as the financial award is concerned. Teaching Assistants normally receive an appointment for one term.

All students are encouraged to seek additional funding beyond what is available from the School of Art. In order to comply with federal regulations as well as University policy, students must advise the Financial Aid Office of any additional awards received (scholarships, grants, loans, VA benefits, teaching assistantships, teaching fellowships, etc.). As a general rule, outside awards up to $10,000 can be received without affecting the student’s scholarship from the School of Art, although it may be necessary to reduce the student’s loan(s). Outside assistance in excess of $10,000 will likely affect a student’s need-based scholarship from the School of Art. Students’ financial aid awards (scholarship, loans, and/or work-study) cannot exceed the School’s established cost of attendance.

Please refer to our University Financial Aid website for more information on Veterans’ Benefits.