Financial Aid
The Yale School of Music provides talented students with a rich musical education.
Thanks to a generous gift from Stephen and Denise Adams (YC ’59) in 2005, all students admitted to the School receive a full tuition award and fellowship, with the exception of those who have earned awards from other agencies. This page has information about obtaining federal loans for living expenses and fees, the various jobs available to students through student employment, and other grants for which students can apply. Please contact the Office of Student Services with any questions.
Financial Aid Information
Financial Aid for U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents
- To apply for a federal student loan or federal work study, students must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Use Yale School Code 001426.
- After receiving the FAFSA, the Financial Aid office is able to determine how much a student is eligible to borrow and how to proceed.
- For more information on federal loan options available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents, visit finaid.yale.edu/graduate-aid/loans.
Financial Aid for International Students
- Students coming from countries which have currency restrictions should make necessary arrangements before arriving so that they will have access to funds to be used for living expenses.
- Before an I-20 will be issued, students must give appropriate evidence of support. If you are being supported by a foreign government or agency, you must have a signed statement attesting to the level and time period of your support.
- Federal loans are not available to international students.
Student Employment
There are many jobs available to students on- and off-campus, in teaching, operations, and administration.
Gainful Employment Disclosure
The U.S. Department of Education requires colleges to disclose a variety of information for any financial aid eligible program that “prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation”. At the School of Music, the Certificate in Performance program is subject to this regulation. The information provided here describes the graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information regarding gainful employment.
Cost
How much will the Certificate in Performance program cost me?
Tuition and fees: $122,085
Books and supplies: $2,613
On-campus room & board: $50,745 (see Room and Board rates)
What other costs are there for this program?
Health Insurance: $10,266
*The amounts shown above include costs for the entire program, assuming normal time to completion. Note that this information is subject to change.
How much will the Artist Diploma program cost me?
Internal students – one year
Tuition and fees: $40,685
Books and supplies: $871
On-campus room & board: $16,915 (see Room and Board rates)
What other costs are there for this program?
Health Insurance: $3,422
External students – two years
Tuition and fees: $81,370
Books and supplies: $1,742
On-campus room & board: $33,830 (see Room and Board rates)
What other costs are there for this program?
Health Insurance: $6,844
Financing
What financing options are available to help me pay for this program?
Financing for this program may be available through grants, scholarships, loans (federal and private) and institutional financing plans. The median amount of debt for program graduates is shown below:
Federal loans: *
Private education loans: *
Institutional financing plan: *
*There were fewer than 10 graduates in this program. Median amounts are withheld to preserve the confidentiality of graduates.
Success
How long will it take me to complete the Certificate in Performance program?
- The program is designed to take 3 years to complete. Of those that completed the program in the most recent academic year, *% finished in 3 years.
*Fewer than 10 students completed this program in the most recent academic year. The number who finished within the normal time has been withheld to preserve the confidentiality of the students.
How long will it take me to complete the Artist Diploma program?
- For internal students, the program is designed to take 1 year to complete. Of those that completed the program in the most recent academic year, *% finished in 1 year.
- For external students, the program is designed to take 2 years to complete. Of those that completed the program in the most recent academic year, *% finished in 2 years.
*Fewer than 10 students completed this program in the most recent academic year. The number who finished within the normal time has been withheld to preserve the confidentiality of the students.
Billing, Account Statements, and Refunds
Yale University uses an electronic billing and payment system. You will be notified when your e-bill is ready through your Yale email account. You may also access your e-bill through Yale Hub. It is the student’s responsibility to monitor and review their monthly account statements.
Tuition and fees for the fall term are billed on or about July 1 and payment is due the first business day of August. Likewise, the spring term is billed on November 1 and payment is due the first business day of December. A late fee of $125 per month is assessed if the balance due is not paid in full by the due date. Late fees are assessed on the August, September, and October statements for the fall charges and December, January, and February for the spring term charges.
Financial aid (scholarship and loans) will appear on the account statements as anticipated credits, provided your signed financial aid form is received by the due date. It could be your financial aid is enough to cover your balance due and you will not have a payment due for the August due date. Financial aid is split evenly between the fall and spring term.
Refunds of Credit Balances
If your financial aid exceeds your balance due and a credit balance is created, you may request a refund of the credit balance to use for your living expenses. To request a refund of a credit balance, go to Yale Hub; select Student Accounts from the sidebar menu, then select Refund Requests from Student Accounts. You may receive the refund as a check or as an electronic funds transfer (EFT) via direct deposit. Direct deposit in a U.S. bank account is the fastest way to receive your refund; the refund will be processed within 48 hours.
Note: if you request a check, there is a three-day waiting period before a check can be issued.
Please be aware that even though you can request your refund at any point after your netID is activated, the refund will not be processed until the first day of orientation in the fall term, and the first day of classes in the spring term. Additionally, due to the high volume of transactions during the first week of classes, it may take a little longer to get your refund, possibly up to one week.
Veterans Benefits
Nicole Archer is the VA School Certifying Official for the School of Music. If you are eligible for educational benefits under any of the chapters of the GI Bill®, please provide your Certificate of Eligibility from the VA and a copy of your DD214, and which chapter you are requesting benefits. For more information regarding VA education benefits, or for questions specific to your eligibility, please visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. For information about Yale University’s participation in the VA program, please visit the University’s Financial Aid website.
Belding Fund
The Belding Fund provides some financial assistance to current YSM students who travel for professional engagements, including performances, auditions, and competitions.
Details and application: ArtsVision > Student Resources > Deputy Dean's Office > Belding Fund
Student Relief Fund
The Student Relief Fund is designed to provide support to students who are experiencing temporary financial hardship caused by emergency situations.
Details and application: ArtsVision > Student Resources > Financial Aid > Student Relief Fund
Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year will open in September and will close on May 15.