Common Financial Aid Questions

When determining your financial aid eligibility, we take into account multiple factors, including:

• Family income
• Family assets like savings, investments, businesses, and real estate
• Number of children in college or private school
• Household size and living expenses, based on the average cost of living in your zip code
• Special circumstances like loss of income, one-time income, or support to grandparents

We work with your family to understand your unique circumstances to determine what you can pay toward college costs. Then we cover the rest through need-based scholarships and work opportunities—money that doesn’t need to be paid back. To get started with the financial aid process, visit How to Apply for Financial Aid.

Yes. Early Decision applicants are eligible for the same need-based and merit scholarships as students who apply Regular Decision.

Our financial aid offers contain a combination of need-based scholarships and work opportunities to cover the difference between the total cost of attendance and your family’s contribution. We don’t include loans, but some families choose to borrow, in addition to seeking out private scholarships and taking advantage of our no-interest payment plans, as part of their strategy to cover college costs. Learn more about types of financial aid and consider which options are right for your family.

Yes. Student employment offers flexible hours, competitive wages, and the opportunity to get to know the Hopkins community better. Most students work 8-10 hours per week. Jobs range from lifeguarding to web design, and they’re located on the Homewood campus, other Hopkins campuses, or off campus.

Private scholarships reduce your summer savings and work-study expectations. If your private scholarships total more than these expectations, your need-based scholarship will be adjusted based on the leftover amount. See how private scholarships impact three example financial aid offers.

Even if you don’t think you’re eligible, we encourage you to apply. If we determine that you don’t qualify for need-based financial aid, there are still a variety of options to reduce your college costs, including:

• Monthly payment plans
• Part-time work opportunities
• Private scholarships
• Unsubsidized federal loans
• Parent PLUS loans

Yes. Need-based and merit scholarships are available for international applicants, although both types of assistance are limited. If you anticipate needing any financial assistance throughout your four years at Hopkins, you must apply for financial aid as a first-year applicant.

For more information, visit Tuition & Aid.

Currently, we do not offer financial aid to international transfer students.

Hopkins is need-aware for international students, meaning that financial circumstances are considered in the admissions process. Hopkins meets 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted students, including international students. About 10% of international students receive financial aid.

If you anticipate needing any financial assistance throughout your four years at Hopkins, you must apply for financial aid as a first-year applicant.

If you are an international student and think you will need financial aid, you must indicate this on the admissions application and submit the CSS Profile. See Application Deadlines & Requirements for a full list of important dates. If you cannot cover the cost of the CSS Profile as an international student, please reach out to your regional admissions counselor. We do not provide fee waivers for international applicants completing the CSS Profile.

International citizens who indicate that they are applying for financial aid must submit the International Student Certification of Finances (COF) form that they access through their application portal.

International citizens who are not applying for financial aid do not need to submit the COF unless admitted to the university. In that case, these students must submit the COF Form before the deadline. They will not be able to enroll in the university without the submission and acceptance of these supplemental materials.

International students who do not apply for financial aid as a first-year applicant will not be able to apply for aid later.

Need-blind means a student’s ability to pay is not a factor the admissions committee considers. Hopkins is need-blind for domestic applicants, which includes U.S. citizens, permanent residents, students with DACA or undocumented status, and other eligible non-citizens. If a student holds U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status while living outside of the U.S., they will still be considered in a need-blind review process where their admissions decision will be considered independent of their financial circumstances. 

Hopkins is need-aware for international citizens (who do not hold U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status) that apply for financial aid. This means financial circumstances are considered in the admissions process. Hopkins still promises to meet 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted students, including international students.  

Need-based scholarships are based solely on a family’s ability to pay for college. For all international citizens, we promise to meet 100% of a family’s demonstrated need—the difference between the total cost of attendance each year and what a family can pay. We also promise to meet this need without any loans. 

Merit scholarships are based on student achievement both in and outside the classroom. All applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships when they apply to Hopkins, regardless of citizenship or their ability to pay. 

Yes, Hopkins offers a small number of merit scholarships to international citizens each year.  

There is no additional application students need to submit to become eligible for merit scholarships. Our admissions committee automatically considers all applications for merit scholarships. 

No, international students cannot apply for financial aid after admissions decisions are released. If you are an international student and think you will need financial aid, you must indicate this on your admissions application and submit the CSS Profile by the required deadlines. International students who do not apply for financial aid as a first-year applicant will not be able to apply for aid later.

International students who do not apply for financial aid as a first-year applicant will not be able to apply for aid later. If a family anticipates potential changes in finances, the student should apply for financial aid as a first-year applicant to be considered for financial aid in the following years.

No, international students cannot apply for need-based scholarships after they receive their admissions decision. If you are an international student and think you will need financial aid, you must indicate this on your admissions application and submit the CSS Profile by the required deadlines. International students who do not apply for financial aid as a first-year applicant will not be able to apply for aid later.

The Certification of Finances form (COF) is a document the admissions committee uses during the need-aware review process for international citizens applying for financial aid. The form is less comprehensive than the CSS Profile and is intended to provide a snapshot of the family’s estimated family contribution. All international citizens requesting financial aid must submit the COF through their applicant portal before the deadline of the decision plan they are applying. 

The CSS Profile is a more comprehensive financial aid application that Student Financial Support uses. Financial aid advisers use information from the CSS Profile when determining a financial aid offer.  

International students applying for financial aid must submit both the COF form and the CSS Profile. 

Check our Application Deadlines and Requirements page to learn more about the deadlines to submit the CSS Profile. 

Any questions about the Certification of Finances form (COF) should be directed to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at intlhelp@jhu.edu. 

Inquiries about the CSS Profile and/or related financial aid documents (tax forms, income statements, etc.) should be directed to Student Financial Support. 

Applicants in all admissions plans receive the same consideration for financial aid. We promise to meet 100% of a family’s demonstrated need without loans for international citizens admitted in Early Decision I, Early Decision II, and Regular Decision. International citizens are also eligible for merit scholarships in all admissions plans.  

To learn more about the benefits of Early Decision, visit our Early Decision page.

If you are unable to complete the CSS Profile, we encourage you to complete our free alternative form, the Johns Hopkins University International Student Financial Aid Application. 

Please allow 5 to 7 days for us to process your application. You can check the status of your International Student Financial Aid Application on your Financial Aid Checklist in your applicant portal. 

Please note the CSS Profile will show as ‘Waived,’ and no further action is required. Student Financial Support will contact you directly if we need the full CSS Profile or any additional supporting documents.

Not all students will submit documentation through IDOC. Students will receive access to IDOC if it has been determined that additional documentation is required. You will be notified by email when IDOC access has been provided. 

Yes. You and your custodial parent (the parent you live with the most) will complete a CSS Profile together. Your noncustodial parent will also need to fill out their own CSS Profile. 

We realize that issues of college support may be complicated in divorced and separated families, and we evaluate each situation individually. If you believe special circumstances exist in your family, please review the CSS Profile Waiver Request for the Noncustodial Parent or contact Student Financial Support if you have additional questions. 

Hopkins does not include loans in our financial aid offers. If you choose to borrow from a lender as part of your financing plan, visit loans options for more information.

Students with an F-1 visa are eligible for on-campus employment but are limited to working a maximum of 20 hours per week during the school year. They may work full-time (40 hours per week) during the summer. On-campus employment may also include jobs with employers that are educationally affiliated with Hopkins, such as research work at a Hopkins affiliate.

For more information, visit IOS’ On-Campus Employment.

To continue receiving federal financial aid, you must meet the criteria outlined in the policy for Satisfactory Academic Progress. There isn’t a GPA requirement to continue receiving institutional need-based scholarships. If unique circumstances have impacted your academic performance, you can appeal a loss of eligibility through a special process. The minimum GPA for merit scholarships can vary, so be sure to review the individual scholarship pages.

If you withdraw, are dismissed, or begin a leave of absence before completing more than 60% of the semester, we’ll recalculate your eligibility for federal financial aid according to the Return of Title IV Funds Policy, and charge for tuition, room, and board according to the Refund Policy in the undergraduate catalog. We’ll also adjust your Hopkins need-based scholarship at the same rate as any tuition refund you receive. For example, if you receive an 80% tuition refund, your Hopkins need-based scholarship will also be reduced by 80%.

You must be enrolled full-time (or at least 12 credits each semester) to receive financial aid unless you have an approved exception through Student Disability Services or Student Financial Support. Changing your enrollment status may result in the adjustment or cancellation of your financial aid, depending on timing and your plan for the semester.

Yes, you may request a Technology Grant to receive one-time financial assistance of up to $2,000 to purchase a computer during your time at Hopkins. To get started, submit a Budget Adjustment Request.

All full-time students must maintain adequate health coverage. If you don’t show proof of comparable health insurance, we’ll automatically enroll you in the university-sponsored plan and charge the premium to your student account. Based on your financial aid status, we offer limited funding to cover the insurance premium. If eligible, you’ll receive the funding in October.

We recognize that unexpected events—such as loss of income, death, major illness, and disability—can affect your ability to cover costs. We’ll work with you to navigate changes to your financial circumstances to the best of our abilities. Please reach out to Student Financial Support so we can assist you. You may also learn more about our appeals process by visiting Request a Consideration.

Please Note: International students who do not apply for financial aid as a first-year applicant will not be able to apply for aid later. If your family anticipates potential changes in finances, you should apply for financial aid as a first-year applicant to be considered for financial aid in the following years.

Private scholarships benefit students by reducing the summer savings and work-study expectations. Since private scholarships are additional resources that reduce your financial need, your Hopkins Scholarship will be reduced dollar for dollar if they exceed your total summer savings and work-study expectations. See how private scholarships impact three example financial aid offers.

Employer tuition benefits, state-scholarships, Federal Pell Grants, and ROTC are considered entitlement grants, and these offers will reduce Hopkins Scholarships. For example, a student who receives a state scholarship of $500 will have their Hopkins Scholarships reduced by $500. The total amount of financial aid will remain the same.

Also known as the Summer Savings Expectation, this is how much Hopkins expects you to contribute toward your academic expenses from working during the summer before each academic year. The first-year student contribution is $1,800. For following years, the student contribution is $2,600 each year.

As an institution that meets 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted students, the FAFSA Simplification will not affect the amount of need-based scholarships we offer to a student, regardless of which admissions plan you are applying (Early Decision I, Early Decision II, or Regular Decision).  

This year, due to the implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act, the FAFSA will not be available until December. Early Decision I applicants applying for financial aid will still need to submit the CSS Profile by November 15. Students admitted in Early Decision I will need to submit the FAFSA after they enroll but no later than February 1. All Early Decision II and Regular Decision applicants should submit the FAFSA as soon as possible after it becomes available but no later than January 15.

International applicants do not submit the FAFSA and will not be affected by the changes. You will still have to submit the CSS Profile and Certification of Finances (COF) by the required deadlines.

Yes. If you’re admitted through Early Decision I, you will still receive a financial aid offer with your admissions decision as long as you have completed the CSS Profile and the required materials through IDOC. If you’re admitted through Early Decision II or Regular Decision, you will still receive a financial aid offer as long as you have completed the CSS Profile and FAFSA.

For all admissions plans, your total amount of financial aid offered will remain the same and still come from need-based scholarships that don’t need to be paid back. After we receive the FAFSA, the amount of money that comes from the federal government (as determined by the FAFSA) or directly from Hopkins (as determined by the CSS Profile) may change, but both amounts will still add up to the total financial aid offered.

For example, if the FAFSA determines you are eligible for a federal grant, we will reduce the Hopkins scholarship by the same amount to remain at the total financial aid offered.

Yes, both you and your parent(s) or guardian(s) can sign up for an FSA ID by creating a StudentAid.gov account prior to the FAFSA application’s release on December 1. The FSA ID is used to access and submit the FAFSA. We highly encourage you to complete this step ahead of time to avoid any processing delays.

Yes. We encourage you to use our financial aid estimators—MyinTuition and the Net Price Calculator—to get a ballpark estimate of your college costs and estimated financial aid offer before applying.  

These tools will still work to give you a general idea of college costs. Keep in mind that the official financial aid review is more comprehensive than the estimator tools, so your financial aid offer may look different from the estimates.