Financial Aid

All students receive full-tuition scholarships; need-based financial aid is also available.

All students at Curtis Institute of Music receive merit-based, full-tuition scholarships regardless of their financial situation. While these scholarships cover educational expenses, Curtis also offers need-based financial aid to help cover living expenses.

Full-Tuition Scholarship

Since 1928, the Curtis Institute of Music has provided merit-based, full-tuition scholarships to all students, regardless of their financial situation. For the 2023-24 school year, the annual value of this scholarship is $52,781 for undergraduate students and $65,536 for graduate students.

These scholarships cover educational expenses and are renewed each year of a student’s enrollment. No financial aid application is required for the full-tuition scholarship.

Curtis Need-Based Financial Aid

While merit-based, full-tuition scholarships cover the educational expenses for all Curtis students, the school offers need-based aid to assist with living expenses.

Instructions on how to apply can be found below under the Applying for Financial Assistance section.

Non-Curtis Supplemental Assistance

Before seeking need-based financial assistance from Curtis, students are encouraged to pursue funds from non-Curtis sources, including grants and scholarships available through private, public, and other sources. Private and alternative loans may be made available at parents’ request. Parents seeking loans should contact the office of Student Financial Assistance.

  • U.S. Government Financial Assistance

    Curtis students who are United States citizens or permanent residents of the United States and have a high school diploma may be eligible to receive U.S. Department of Education Title IV Higher Education Assistance (HEA) funding. Students must complete and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to establish eligibility. The web site is www.studentaid.gov. The Office of Student Financial Assistance is responsible for administering and certifying student eligibility for these aid programs.

    The programs are as follows:

    Pell Grant

    Pell grants are undergraduate, need-based federal grants administered and certified through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on a standard federal needs-analysis formula. Students must file the FAFSA to establish eligibility.

    Veterans’ Education Benefits

    The Department of Veteran Affairs administers a variety of education benefit programs; however, the GI Bill® and the Yellow Ribbon Program are the two most commonly used programs at the School.

    To determine which VA educational benefit is best for you and to discuss your eligibility, students and families should contact the GI Bill® hotline at 1-888-GIBILL1 (1-888-442-4551) or visit www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

    The Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-407) was signed into law on December 31, 2018. In compliance with this law, the Curtis Institute of Music allows GI Bill® and VR&E beneficiaries (Chapter 33 and Chapter 31 beneficiaries) to attend a course of education for up to 90 days from the date the beneficiary provides a certificate of eligibility, or valid VAF 28-1905. This allows a student to attend classes until VA provides payment to the institution. Curtis will not impose a penalty, or require the beneficiary to borrow additional funds to cover tuition and fees due to late payments from VA.

    Satisfactory Academic Progress

    Veterans who receive benefits must maintain the minimum grade level for undergraduate and graduate degrees and certificates. Curtis regulations require that a student complete the program of study within 150% of the published full-time enrollment calendar for the academic program. Any student whose course completion or GPA falls below the above requirements will be on academic probation during the subsequent semester. Students will be informed in writing if a probation period applies and will have access to academic support services including tutorial sessions. Failure to return from probation to satisfactory academic standing will constitute a violation of the Academic Honesty Policy with applicable sanctions.

    Exceptions to these policies for students receiving supplemental financial assistance will be addressed by the Curtis Financial Aid Committee. Students who wish to have any special circumstances considered must submit a written appeal to the Financial Aid Committee.

    Tip Sheet for Servicemembers and Veterans

    “GI Bill®” is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government website at www.benefits.va.gov/gibill.

  • State Benefits

    Many states offer financial assistance to their residents. Contact the appropriate agency in your state for information and application procedures.

    PA FosterEd Program

    In 2019, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania created the PA Fostering Independence Through Education Tuition Waiver (FosterEd) Program. FosterEd provides financial waivers at postsecondary institutions for eligible youth who are or have been in foster care. Under this program, postsecondary institutions in Pennsylvania are required to waive all institutional charges for tuition and mandatory fees that remain after all federal, state, and other gift aid has been applied to the accounts of eligible students.

    Information on PA FosterED eligibility

    Contact Veronica McAuley, director of student financial assistance, for additional information.

  • International Resources

    Many governments outside the United States provide financial assistance to their citizens who are studying abroad. International students should contact the ministry of higher education in their home country for information and applications.

  • Understanding Costs

    Explore an estimated budget to outline the potential costs of living in Philadelphia and attending Curtis Institute of Music. These items may vary by student and instrument.

    Estimated Student Budget

  • Student Fees

    Learn about student fees and costs, such as textbooks, facilities, healthcare, piano tuning, early withdrawal policies, and more.

    Student Fees

Applying for Financial Assistance

Supplemental Financial Assistance instructions for the 2024–25 academic year are now available.

Graduate students who are claimed as dependents by their parents must supply their parent(s) tax information as part of their financial aid materials.

For Federal purposes, you do not have to submit the information on the FAFSA, but in order to receive Curtis Grant funding all information for parents must be submitted on the CSS Profile.

CARES Act 30-Day Fund Report

As directed by the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Curtis Institute of Music provides the following information to satisfy requirements for the 30-Day Fund Report. This public notification serves to satisfy initial reporting requirements as provided by guidance from the Department of Education.