Performances + Events
Financing Your NEC Education
NEC is committed to providing financial support to the world’s best emerging musicians, with scholarships based on a combination of financial need and artistic merit.
There are many programs available to help you pay for education-related expenses — including NEC scholarships, federal and state grants, part-time student employment, and loans from federal and private agencies. Most applicants will be offered a financial aid package that combines several of these awards.
Financing Your NEC Education
90% of NEC students are supported by scholarships
Contact Financial Aid
Tuition and Fees (2025-26)
Tuition
$61,561
*Tuition for the 1-Year Undergraduate Certificate is $49,240
Room + Board
$21,000
Assumes on-campus housing in a double-occupancy room.
An additional cost applies for suite and single-occupancy rooms.
Comprehensive Fee
$1,097
Health Center
$752
Health Insurance
$2,528
Total Billed Costs
$86,938
Tuition
$17,145*
*Tuition for years 1-4 (subject to change each academic year)
Dual-degree Students are not eligible for federal financial aid during years 1-4
Total Billed Costs
$17,145
Tuition
$61,561
*Tuition for the 1-Year Graduate Certificate is $49,240
Comprehensive Fee
$1,097
Health Center
$752
Health Insurance
$3,042
Total Billed Costs
$66,452
Key dates
Estimated October 1
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) first available
February 15
All applicants: NEC application for institutional scholarship + financial assistance due
February 15
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) filing deadline (U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens) for new applicants
April 15
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) filing deadline (U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens) for returning students
Financial Aid
Know your options. Make a plan. Our Financial Aid Guide breaks down the basics for students and parents.
The Financial Aid Office at NEC is committed to helping students and families balance the educational possibilities and financial responsibilities of studying at NEC and plan for this profoundly influential life experience. NEC offers generous merit-based and federal need-based aid. To receive any financial assistance, applicants must complete the institutional aid application and, if eligible, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Our Financial Aid Guide covers topics including:
- The types of financial aid available to you
- What to do after you’ve received your financial aid letter
- How to remain eligible for your financial aid
- When your funds will disburse
- Student loan terms and repayment
Key dates
Estimated October 1
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) first available
February 15
All applicants: NEC application for institutional scholarship + financial assistance due
February 15
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) filing deadline (U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens) for new applicants
April 15
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) filing deadline (U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens) for returning students
Applying for FAFSA
Any student who is a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen can complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application is available at studentaid.gov and allows eligible students to take advantage of Federal Financial Aid.
Starting 2024-2025, each person who enters information into the FAFSA is considered a “contributor” and must have their own FSA ID. This means that any parent/guardian or spouse must have their own FSA ID in order to enter information.
Each contributor will receive separate links to complete their designated sections of the FAFSA. In addition, they must sign the application each time they enter information. If a contributor does not have an FSA ID, they will need to create one. A social security number is required, but for those who do not have one, there are other methods of obtaining an FSA ID. Please visit this link for more information about contributors.
The 2024-2025 FAFSA will ask for financial data from 2022. The Financial Aid Direct Data Exchange (FA DDE) is a new system implemented in the 2024-2025 academic year. This system transfers tax information from the IRS directly to a contributor’s FAFSA application.
All contributors must provide consent and approval to:
- Disclose their personally identifiable information (PII) provided on the FAFSA form to the IRS for matching purposes.
- Obtain their federal tax information from the IRS via direct data exchange.
- Allow the Department of Education (ED) to use federal tax information to determine a student’s eligibility and amount of Federal Student Aid.
- Allow ED to share their federal tax information with colleges, career/trade schools, and state higher education agencies for use in awarding and administering financial aid, and
- Allow ED to reuse federal tax information on another FAFSA if applicable (a family with multiple dependents attending higher education institutions that offer Federal Financial Aid).
Even contributors without a social security number, those who did not file, and/or those who filed outside the U.S. must provide consent.
IMPORTANT: If a contributor does not provide consent, the student will not be eligible for any Federal Financial aid – even if information is manually provided on the FAFSA.
*For security purposes, no federal tax information will be displayed on the FAFSA website, and it will not appear in the FAFSA submission summary.
Please visit this link for more information.
Once the FAFSA is submitted and processed, New England Conservatory uses policies and procedures outlined by the Department of Education (ED) to award Federal Financial Aid.
Starting in 2024-2025, the term Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) will be replaced by Student Aid Index (SAI).
Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) was an eligibility index number generated from the FAFSA and used to determine Federal Financial Aid. It was not the amount a family would need to pay for higher education, nor the dollar amount a student would receive in Federal Financial Aid.
Student Aid Index (SAI) is the new eligibility index number that comes directly from the FAFSA and is used to determine how much Federal Financial Aid a student is able to receive. It is still not related to the amount a family will need to pay each year, and does not relate to how much a student may receive.
Students in undergraduate programs may be eligible to receive federal grants (Pell, SEOG), loans (Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized, Direct PLUS), and work-study. Eligibility may change each year due to SAI, year in school, and enrollment.
Students in graduate programs are not eligible for federal grants. Graduate students may be eligible for federal work study based on their SAI. All graduate students can expect to be packaged with both a Direct Unsubsidized and Direct PLUS loan pending a completed FAFSA.
If there are any questions, please refer to our Financial Aid Guide. You can also visit this link.
Please note: FAFSA requirements are subject to change. We strongly advise you to check studentaid.gov for the latest information and for assistance in completing all requirements.
