US citizens and permanent residents applying for federal student aid are required to file the US Department of Education’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). As part of the FAFSA filing process, students need to authorize that their information be forwarded to the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid. Please note that there are multiple school options listed for Harvard University. Harvard Griffin GSAS students must select E00470 – “Harvard Univ Grad S of Arts & Science.”
Students can streamline the FAFSA filing process by filing their tax returns with the IRS at least two weeks prior to filling out the FAFSA.
As part of the FAFSA filing process, the US Department of Education will match student information to the National Student Loan Data System to verify that the applicant is in good standing with respect to any prior federal aid received.
Satisfactory Progress
Government regulations require that students be registered and making satisfactory academic progress to be eligible for federal student aid (also referred to as federal “Title IV” programs). Harvard Griffin GSAS satisfactory progress guidelines may be obtained from each academic department and are published in Policies. Please note that students in "Grace" or "Unsatisfactory" progress are not eligible for Federal Title IV aid.
Satisfactory academic progress standards for federal student aid are based on a combination of both qualitative academic progress determined by the department and quantitative time-to-degree standards. Because policy states that students in PhD programs ordinarily will not be permitted to register beyond their 10th year, students registered past the G10 year are not eligible for federal student aid.
Refund Policy
Federal Loan Programs
Federal regulations require that students receiving federal loan assistance toward tuition, fees, and living expenses must refund aid received to the Department of Education in the event that the student fails to register for the period of enrollment for which they were charged and aid was awarded, or the student withdraws, drops out, takes an unapproved leave of absence, fails to return from an approved leave of absence, is expelled, or otherwise fails to complete the period of enrollment for which they were charged and aid was awarded.
This refund must be allocated in the following order:
- Federal Direct Graduate Plus Loan
- Ford Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
Withdrawing from Harvard Griffin GSAS
Registered students who formally withdraw from Harvard Griffin GSAS and are not subject to the Active File Fee are charged tuition according to the following schedule:
Fall
Students withdrawing on or before:
September 9: no tuition
October 1: one-fourth tuition for the term
October 28: one-half tuition for the term
December 3: three-fourths tuition for the term
After December 3: full tuition
Spring
Students withdrawing on or before:
January 31: no tuition
February 25: one-fourth tuition for the term
March 22: one-half tuition for the term
April 27: three-fourths tuition for the term
After April 27: full tuition
Please note that the Active File Fee is not prorated.
Return of Title IV Aid
The term “Title IV Funds” refers to the federal financial aid programs authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended), and for students enrolled at Harvard Griffin Graduate Schools of Arts & Sciences includes the following programs: Unsubsidized Direct Loans and Direct GradPLUS loans.
If a student withdraws or requests a Leave of Absence and has utilized Federal Title IV funds during the term in which they withdraw, the Office of Financial Aid (OFA) will determine if any amount of funding will be returned to the federal program(s) based on the federally mandated calculation.
A student’s withdrawal date is defined as one of the following:
- The date the student began the institution’s withdrawal process or notified the institution of intent to withdraw; or
- The student’s last date of attendance as documented by academically related activity; or
- The midpoint of the period of enrollment for a student who leaves without notifying the institution.
Federal law specifies that the Office of Financial Aid must determine the amount of Title IV program aid that a student has earned at the time of withdrawal. Even though financial aid is posted to the student account at the start of each semester, funds are only earned as the student completes each term. If the student withdraws during the payment period or period of enrollment (i.e., term), the amount of Title IV program assistance that has been earned up to that point is determined by a specific formula. If the student received (or the school received on the student’s behalf) less assistance than the amount that was earned, the student may be able to receive those additional funds. If the student received more assistance than was earned, the excess funds must be returned by the school and/or the student.
How we determine the amount of Title IV funds to be returned:
- The amount of assistance earned is determined on a pro rata basis. For example, if you completed 30 percent of your payment period or period of enrollment, you earn 30 percent of the assistance you were originally scheduled to receive.
- Once you have completed more than 60 percent of the payment period or period of enrollment, you earn all the assistance that you were scheduled to receive for that period.
- If you did not receive all the funds that you earned, you may be due a post-withdrawal disbursement.
- You may choose to decline some or all the loan funds so that you don’t incur additional debt. If you do not give your permission, you will be offered the funds. However, it may be in your best interest to allow the school to keep the funds to reduce your debt at the school.
- For the purpose of billing and calculating refunds, the winter term is considered part of the spring term.
- Refunds and adjusted bills will be sent to the student’s permanent address following withdrawal.
In accordance with federal regulations, the return of Title IV funds is paid in the following order:
- Unsubsidized Direct Loans
- Direct PLUS Loans
If it is determined that excess Title IV program funds must be returned:
- Harvard must return a portion of the excess funds equal to the lesser of:
- Any institutional charges multiplied by the unearned percentage of your funds, or
- The entire amount of excess funds.
- We must return this amount even if you no longer have this amount of your Title IV program funds in your possession.
- If Harvard is not required to return all the excess funds, you may still be required to return the remaining amount directly.
- For any loan funds that you must return, you will repay the loan funds in accordance with the terms of the promissory note. That is, you will not be required to repay any loan funds immediately; instead, you will make scheduled payments to the holder of the loan over a period of time.
The requirements for Title IV program funds when you withdraw are separate from the Harvard Griffin Graduate School of Arts & Sciences refund policy for institutional charges. Therefore, you may still owe funds to cover unpaid institutional charges. Harvard may also charge you for any Title IV program funds that the school was required to return.
If you have questions about your Title IV program funds, you can call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FEDAID (1-800-433-3243). TTY users may call 1-800-730-8913. Information is also available on Student Aid on the Web.
Institutional and student responsibilities regarding the Return of Title IV funds
- Harvard’s responsibilities include:
- Providing each student with the information given in this policy.
- Identifying students who are affected by this policy.
- Completing the Return of Title IV funds calculation for students who are subject to the policy.
- Returning Title IV funds that are due the Title IV programs for which the institution is considered to have not earned.
- Student’s responsibilities include:
- Repaying their Title IV aid consistent with the terms of the student’s MPN any funds that were disbursed directly to the student and for which the student was determined to not to have earned via the Return of Title IV funds calculation.
- Notifying the Office of Financial Aid immediately of a pending withdrawal or leave, as Federal refunds must be made within 45 days of the date of withdrawal or leave.
- Students have the right to obtain a final calculation of the Return of Federal Funds.
Office of the Ombudsman
The US Department of Education Office of Federal Student Aid has an ombudsman available to work with student loan borrowers to informally resolve loan disputes and problems involving Direct Loans, Federal Family Education Loans, Guaranteed Student Loans, SLS Loans, and Perkins Loans. For additional information visit the federal student aid at or call 877-557-2575.
Students are encouraged to contact their financial aid officers with questions about federal student aid or any of these related policies.