Financial Aid Policies

Yale University recognizes one Federal Pell Grant recalculation date per term.

Undergraduate Financial Aid recalculates a student’s Federal Pell Grant anytime there is a change in the student’s Student Aid Index (SAI), enrollment status, or Cost of Attendance (COA).

A student must start at least one day in each enrolled course in order for it to count toward their enrollment and must attend after the recalculation date of each term to prevent an award adjustment. If the student completes a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after the recalculation date, Undergraduate Financial Aid will use the enrollment at the point federal eligibility is confirmed, even if it is after the original recalculation date.  The recalculation date used will be the published midterm date for Fall and Spring.  Summer recalculation is the start date of Session B.

If, as a result of the recalculation, the student has received more than their award amount, then the student has received an overpayment. The University will return the over award or overpayment on behalf of the student to the appropriate funding source and/or will reduce or adjust any future payments.

Summer Pell Grant and Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant Policy

Undergraduate Financial Aid will review a student’s federal eligibility prior to awarding the Federal Pell Grant and the Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant (IASG) for summer terms. Students who have eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant/IASG over the summer will be awarded the grant based on their eligibility as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) belonging to the academic year. For example, the FAFSA for 2024-2025 will be used to determine eligibility for Summer 2025. At least half-time enrollment is required for students eligible to utilize the 150% Federal Pell Grant/IASG award.

coming soon

For students on financial aid, outside merit scholarships may reduce or replace a student’s Student Share portion of a financial aid offer - in most cases $3,700. If an outside scholarship exceeds the standard Student Share, Yale Scholarship is reduced dollar-for-dollar, but a student may make a one-time technology purchase of a computer, laptop, or tablet, with related accessories, up to $2,500 using the outside scholarship. 

Important information about one-time technology purchase:

• The (up to) $2,500 technology purchase can include:
  • Laptop, Desktop Computer OR Tablet (only one device is permitted)
  • Extended warranty for the laptop, desktop computer or tablet
  • Case/protector for the laptop, desktop computer or tablet
  • External Hard Drive
  • External Monitor
  • Keyboard and Mouse
  • Earphones or Headphones
  • Printer/Scanner
  • USB cable
  • Consumables such as ink, paper, the cost of internet connection, etc. are NOT allowed
• Technology purchases must be made out-of-pocket using your own funds, and then receipts of the purchase should be submitted to our office for processing by using this weblink. 
• If the technology purchase is less than the student’s eligibility in a given academic year, the student cannot request the difference in a subsequent academic year. 
• Examples of one-time technology purchase eligibility:
  • Example 1: $5,000 outside aid would reduce a $3,700 standard student share to $0 and the remaining $1,300 would replace Yale Scholarship dollar-for-dollar, or, the student could use the excess $1,300 towards a technology purchase.
  • Example 2: $10,000 outside aid would reduce a $3,700 standard student share to $0 and the remaining $6,300 would replace Yale Scholarship dollar-for-dollar, or, if utilizing a technology purchase, the student would have eligibility up to $2,500, with the excess replacing Yale Scholarship.
  • Example 3: $1,500 outside aid would reduce a $3,700 standard Student share to $2,200, with no Yale Scholarship being displaced and no eligibility for excess funds to be put towards a technology purchase.

Other Helpful Information:

Some merit scholarships, such as the Gates Millennium Scholarship and NCAA Grant, may also cover the cost of Yale Health Hospitalization & Specialty Care coverage. If allowed by the awarding agency, a merit scholarship may also cover the cost of a computer for incoming students whose outside aid exceeds the Student Share. 

coming soon

For student’s receiving financial aid, tuition benefits reduce Yale Scholarship dollar for dollar.