The main component of Yale's undergraduate gift aid is the Yale Scholarship, a type of need-based grant, but a financial aid award may include other grants and outside scholarships. For costs not covered by scholarships and grants, students and their families have options such as campus jobs and education loans.
Scholarships and grants
Scholarships and grants are often referred to as gift aid, because they do not need to be repaid. They fall into one of three categories in the Yale financial aid award:
- Yale Scholarship is a grant provided to Yale undergraduates from the University's own funds. Its award is based solely on financial need.
- Merit-based scholarships may be funded by private companies, employers, and nonprofit organizations; they are not offered by Yale. Their award is based on criteria directly related to a student’s performance in academics, sports, music, or another field of special interest. Merit scholarships may reduce or replace the Student Share component of the Yale financial aid award.
- Entitlement grants are awarded based on criteria such as federal need, city or state of residence, or affiliation with an employer. Sources may include federal or state government and other agencies not affiliated with Yale. Entitlement grants reduce Yale Scholarship grants dollar for dollar.
Read more about scholarships and grants
Term-time jobs
Term-time jobs include Federal Work-Study and other types of student employment opportunities during the academic year. Students can find paid work in academic departments, research laboratories, residential colleges, administrative offices, and athletic facilities, just to name a few. Most jobs offer flexible hours, and all university employers understand that a student's academic obligations take precedence over work.
Most campus jobs are available to all students regardless of their work-study or financial-aid status; see Student Employment's work-study FAQs for more information. However, during the first two weeks of each term, hiring preference for student jobs is given to undergraduates receiving Yale financial aid.
For more information on student employment opportunities, please visit the Student Employment website.
Education loans
Yale's financial aid policies ensure that 100% of every student's demonstrated need is met with a package that does not include loans. But some students and families find it more convenient to defer some costs until after graduation and to take advantage of their eligibility for education loans.
Students may use loans to cover some or all of their Student Share instead of taking a term-time or summer job. Families may be eligible for certain types of loans regardless of whether a student receives Yale Scholarship. Student Financial Services can help guide students and families through the process of applying for and receiving a variety of loan options.
Read about loan options for undergraduates and their families