Applying for Aid

Emerson offers several need-based and merit-based financial aid programs. To be considered for merit-based aid, you should have a distinguished academic record or demonstrate leadership or outstanding potential either in your school or community. To apply for need-based aid, you must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident and you must follow the application steps below. View our Graduate Student Eligibility Requirements for further information.

Financial aid applications must be received before the end of the academic year in order to be considered for aid in that academic year. For students only attending in the fall, you must submit your application at least one week prior to the last day of the fall semester to allow for processing. For students attending the full year or spring only, you must submit your application at least one week prior to the last day of the spring semester to allow for processing. If your application isn’t completed by that time, you will not be eligible to receive either Emerson or federal financial aid for that academic year.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) selects certain FAFSA files for a review process called verification. When this happens, the Office of Financial Aid is required to ensure that the information reported on your FAFSA is accurate.

If your application has been selected, your financial aid document checklist will be updated with a list of documents that need to be submitted to complete this review process. Federal verification is an important part of the financial aid application process. We cannot process your financial aid award until the verification review is complete, so we encourage timely submission of all requested documents.

Emerson’s federal verification deadline is the end of the semester or academic year for which the student is enrolled, whichever is sooner.

Applicants should submit all requested documents through their Admission Portal. If all documents are not received by the first week of classes, students should submit any outstanding documents through their SFS Portal.

Emerson-specific forms requested to complete the verification process can be found on our Forms and Instructions page.

Please note:

• Federal verification for the 2026–2027 academic year requires 2024 income tax information.
• Federal verification for the 2027–2028 academic year requires 2025 income tax information.

Financial aid application materials can be uploaded via the Financial Aid Checklist on the Admission Portal or mailed to:

Emerson College
Office of Financial Aid
120 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116

Please do not fax or email documents.