New incoming students, transfer students, and continuing students must follow the instructions below for every semester they are enrolled.

1. Complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
2. Indicate The Ailey School code (015038) in Step Six of the FAFSA and make sure to record your confirmation number for future reference.  The Central Processing Service (CPS) will send the processed application results to The Ailey School.

3. Please note that FAFSA applications use “prior, prior” tax information. For example: on the 2020-2021 FAFSA, the 2018 US tax information should be reported.

Newly accepted and transfer students to the Certificate Program and Independent Study Program who demonstrate financial need may apply.

Federal financial aid is not available for students enrolled in the Scholarship Program.  Merit-based Tuition Remission Grants are awarded by audition only.

Federal financial aid is not available for the Summer Intensive Program, but students may audition for merit-based scholarships during the summer term.

In order to be eligible to apply for federal financial aid, you must meet the following requirements:

• Be a U.S. citizen, national or permanent resident alien (Green Card holder)
• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment, full-time during the academic year
• Make satisfactory academic progress each semester you are enrolled
• Not be in default on a loan, owe a repayment on a previous financial aid award received at The Ailey School or any other institution, and/or not have any outstanding tuition or fees due from a prior enrollment period at The Ailey School

• The School's Ailey Tuition Remittance Grant (ATR) Program
• Federal Pell Grant Program
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) Program
• Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program
• Federal Direct Student Loan Programs (Direct Loan)

For a description of these programs, please visit studentaid.ed.gov. 

Financial aid is disbursed in two halves: half at the beginning of the fall term and half at the beginning of the spring term. By Federal requirement, aid disbursements must be first be applied to a student’s tuition and fees account. When a “credit-balance” occurs as a result of a disbursement, the amount that exceeds unpaid charges will be refunded to students within two weeks that disbursements are received. As aid cannot not be disbursed until a student starts school, students can typically expect to receive a credit-balance refund the third week of each term.

Applicants may email The Ailey School Financial Aid Office or call 212-405-9135.