New England Conservatory awards institutional (NEC), federal, and state funding to eligible students. Federal and state eligibility is largely based on financial need. Institutional funding is awarded based on both a student's talent/merit and demonstrated financial need.
Additionally, the Conservatory makes a limited amount of its funding available for awards based solely on a student's talent/merit. Those applicants whose level of financial need might not otherwise qualify them for institutional assistance may be considered for a merit-only award. Please note: awards based solely on merit will not exceed 50% of tuition. Application requirements are the same for all applicants, regardless of the type of financial assistance requested.
Application Requirements
NEC requires all applicants for financial aid (including students seeking only merit-based NEC funding) to provide complete financial information, as follows:
All U.S. citizens and permanent residents must submit the following:
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
NEC Application for Financial Aid and Scholarships*
All international students must submit the following:
NEC Application for Financial Aid and Scholarships*
*Important Note: We encourage incoming students to apply for Admission and Financial Aid online using the Unified Application for Conservatory Admission. The NEC Application Financial Aid and Scholarships is included in the online Admission application. Therefore, incoming students who have applied for admission online should not submit a separate Financial Aid application.
Important Deadlines
Incoming Student Deadlines
December 1, 2010: 2011-2012 NEC Application for Financial Aid due
February 1, 2011: 2011-2012 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) due
Returning Student Deadlines
February 1, 2011: 2011-2012 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) due
February 1, 2011: 2011-2012 NEC Application for Financial Aid due
The Application Process
Once you have been admitted and your FAFSA and Financial Aid file are complete, the NEC Financial Aid Office will review your file and send you a Financial Aid award letter. The Financial Aid Office sends every Financial Aid applicant an award letter detailing his/her eligibility for all types of financial aid. Institutional (e.g. NEC scholarship/merit aid) and federal (e.g. grants, loans, and work-study) aid will all appear on the same award letter; NEC does not award scholarships separately from other types of financial aid. If you were not offered any type of financial assistance, please refer to the explicit details indicated on your award packet.
It is the student's responsibility to read and act upon any correspondence sent to him/her. Should any information seem unclear, please contact the Financial Aid Office for clarification. It is your responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Office of any changes to your mailing or email addresses. You may forfeit all or a portion of your financial aid award if you do not follow all instructions or respond to requests from the Financial Aid Office.
Securing Your Financial Aid
Your NEC Financial Aid Award letter reflects the financial assistance package we are able to offer you for the 2009-2010 academic year. To accept your award, please sign, date, and return one copy of it to the NEC Financial Aid Office. Accepting of Financial Aid Awards must done in writing only; verbal acceptances will not be processed. Student loan borrowers will also be required to submit additional paperwork before loan funding can be disbursed.
Appealing Your Financial Aid Award
All appeals for additional financial assistance must be made in writing and include appropriate documentation. All appeals should also specify a dollar amount of funding requested. If approved, appeal awards generally range from $1,000 to $5,000.
Incoming Students
Appeals that document a change in the student’s financial situation since the application was filed or that document information that was not previously provided to the Financial Aid Office must be detailed in the NEC Financial Aid Appeal Form. Appeals are reviewed continually; responses will typically be mailed within 10 business days from the date the appeal is received by our office.
Returning Students
Appeals may be filed as part of the renewal Financial Aid application by completing the "special circumstances" section within the NEC Application for Financial Aid and Scholarships. Students who are appealing based on significant changes to their financial situation must complete the NEC Financial Aid Appeal Form. These appeals are reviewed continually and responses will be mailed to students within 10 business days from the date the appeal is received by our office. Returning students who are appealing based strictly on talent/merit will only need to complete the "special circumstances" section of the NEC Financial Aid and Scholarships Application. Faculty letters/recommendations are not necessary for appeals; the Financial Aid Office will consult with faculty if necessary.
Verification
The U.S. Department of Education selects approximately one-third of all federal aid applications for review in a process called “Verification.” If you are selected, the Financial Aid Office will request documentation from you that may include signed copies of 2008 federal income tax returns for both the student and parent (if applicable), copies of all 2008 W2 information for both the student and parent (if applicable), and the completion of a Verification Worksheet.
Incoming Students
Incoming students may be awarded funds prior to the Verification process being completed; however, all Financial Aid award offers are considered tentative until Verification has been completed (changes to student packages will be communicated in writing). Students selected for Verification will not have any financial aid funds disbursed until Verification is completed.
Returning Students
Returning students must complete the Verification process before they can be awarded any Financial Aid. Students selected for Verification will not have any financial aid funds disbursed until Verification is completed.
Disbursement (Payment) of Financial Aid
Financial Aid will be applied to student accounts and will be used to address billable charges (i.e. tuition, fees, residence hall charges). Financial Aid funds cannot be applied until the student has completed all required paperwork to ensure a complete Financial Aid file. Aid applied to a student account that exceeds the student's charges will be refunded to the student.Students who borrow loan funds for living expenses will not receive refunds until 3 business days from the date that loans are posted onto their student account (approximately the second week in September). Students are expected to plan accordingly.
Financial Aid Renewal
All Financial Aid recipients, including those receiving only NEC funding, must reapply for financial aid annually. Students who are meeting NEC’s academic standards, are registered, apply for Financial Aid on-time, and remain in relatively the same financial situation will be eligible for renewal of the initial financial aid package. NEC funding is increased proportionally (not dollar for dollar) based on the percentage increase in tuition from year to year. Students remain eligible for renewal for as long as they are working toward the same degree/diploma and are enrolled full-time (part-time students are not eligible for NEC funding but may be eligible for federal aid).
Students who are returning from inactive status are included in the renewal policy provided their return has been approved by the Students Services Office, they have completed the Financial Aid process on time, and have registered. Students returning from suspension are not considered eligible for financial aid until they return to good academic standing.
Current NEC students who are applying to another degree program (ie: Bachelor’s students who re-apply for Master’s programs) are subject to the deadlines set for new students. Financial Aid decisions will be made in accordance with the applicant’s strengths and financial need relative to the pool of new applicants. This policy includes current Master’s students applying for a second Master’s degree in another major.
Please view our Policies page for important policies related to your Financial Aid application and awards.
2009-07-09
CLAUDE DEBUSSY