The Longy School of Music has several forms of financial assistance available to students. While the primary responsibility for financing the cost of education remains with students, their families, and sponsors, Longy's aid programs help qualified students finance their education after their own resources have been fully utilized.

Sources of assistance include the following:

Institutional: Longy Scholarship
Federal: Pell Grant, ACG, Stafford Loan, PLUS Loan, Grad PLUS
State: MassGrant, Gilbert Grant, Mass No-Interest Loan and other state grants that travel with out-of-state student to Massachusetts
Private Loan: Students must meet with Student Financial Assistance to ensure they have used Title IV funds first, if eligible, and to explore alternative financing options. 

To be eligible for the full range of financial aid available, students must apply for financial aid each year. Students must make Satisfactory Academic Progress to retain Longy scholarships and federal and state funds.

Prospective students should apply for privately funded scholarships at least a year before they intend to enroll at Longy. Applications should be made for all local, state, and federal scholarships awarded to graduating high school seniors, residents of particular states or areas, and national scholarships and foundations, in the case of foreign applicants. Many fraternal, industrial, community, and religious organizations sponsor scholarship and loan programs. Financial plans should be made well in advance of any payment deadlines.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

• All applicants for financial aid must complete the Longy Financial Aid Application.
• U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Longy's school code is 021430. Returning students must meet the priority date for applying, which is the last Friday in February for the following academic year.
• Written notification of scholarship awards and loan eligibility will be mailed to incoming and returning students.
• Loans and scholarships will be credited to the student's account at the beginning of the term or as funds are received, whichever is later. All proceeds received by the School are disbursed in a timely fashion.
• All Federal and Commonwealth of Massachusetts student aid programs are administered in accordance with applicable regulations concerning eligibility, awards, and disbursement.
• Financial aid and scholarship recipients must re-apply for aid each year.

Longy Scholarships

All Longy scholarship decisions are made by the Scholarship Committee and are based on one or more of the following criteria, in order of priority: the student's artistic and academic accomplishments, the School's programmatic needs, and the student's need. To be considered for scholarship, the Financial Aid Application must be completed in full at least two weeks before auditioning; students are urged to apply for financial aid when submitting the Application for Admission.

The Scholarship Committee reevaluates awards each year. Scholarships are not awarded for semesters beyond the normal length of residency for any program (see "Maximum Residency" below).

Scholarship awards are based on full-time enrollment. Master of Music and Undergraduate Diploma candidates approved for half- or three-quarter-time enrollment by the Dean of the Conservatory may retain a pro-rated portion of their scholarship. Scholarships are not awarded to half- and three-quarter-time students past the equivalent of the normal length of full-time residency. For example, a half-time Master of Music candidate may retain eligibility for a pro-rated scholarship for a maximum of eight half-time semesters (the equivalent of four full-time semesters).

Named Scholarships

Longy designates named scholarships to students who meet the eligibility requirements of each award. No separate application is required. All financial aid applicants are considered for the awards for which they are qualified. The following scholarships have been expressly established to aid Longy Conservatory students.

• Richard Gilmore Appel Scholarship: An endowed scholarship in memory of musician Richard Gilmore Appel, established by his daughter, Eleanor Appel.
• Denise Bacon Scholarship: Established by Longy Trustee John Carey in honor of Longy alumna and piano teacher Denise Bacon. Awarded to a student working toward a Master of Music Degree or Diploma.
• Virginia Payton Bacon Scholarship for Cello Studies: This endowed scholarship honors the memory of Virginia Payton Bacon, cello and chamber music faculty member at Longy from 1944-1986.
• Nadia and Lili Boulanger Scholarships (2): A tribute to renowned pedagogue Nadia Boulanger, who taught at Longy between 1938 and 1944, and her sister, composer Lili Boulanger.
• Cherubini Scholarship: Endowed by Barbara and Julian Cherubini, this award was established to assist a student working on a Master of Music Degree or Diploma who is Italian or of Italian descent.
• Elise Coolidge Hall Scholarship: Established by Charlotte Salisbury, the granddaughter of Elise Coolidge Hall, a pioneering American concert saxophonist, this scholarship is awarded to a female wind musician.
• Hoover Scholarship: Established by Henry Hoover to assist a Master of Music Degree or Diploma student.
• Janet Irving Scholarship for Vocal Studies: A tribute to the late Janet Irving's career of more than thirty years on the voice faculty of Longy, this endowed scholarship was established by Longy alumna Nancy Peery Marriott.
• Natasha Jacoff Scholarship: Endowed by Richard Jacoff and his daughter Rachel in memory of his wife Natasha. Awarded on an annual basis to a student working toward a Master of Music Degree or Diploma.
• Rosanne Kumins Scholarship: This award was established by Rosanne Kumins to assist an international undergraduate or graduate student in instrumental performance.
• Alfred and Joseph Leonard Special Needs Music Fund: A tribute to visually impaired pianist Joseph Leonard, and his brother Alfred, a leading figure in classical music in Los Angeles in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s.
• Nancy Peery Marriott Scholarship: An endowed scholarship established by Longy alumna, Nancy Peery Marriott.
• Lia G. and William J. Poorvu Scholarship: An endowed scholarship established to support a current Conservatory student.
• Victor Rosenbaum Fellowship: Established in recognition of former Longy Director and President, Victor Rosenbaum. This fellowship provides full tuition remission for a student working toward a Master of Music Degree.
• Ted Twohig Memorial Flute Scholarship: This award honors the memory of flutist Ted Twohig, longtime Longy friend and student.
• Sharon Weiss Washburne Scholarship Fund: This endowed award was established by Longy Trustee Bonny Boatman in honor of her mother, piano instructor Sharon Weiss Washburne.
• Charles and Frances Webb Scholarship: This award was established by former Longy Trustee Charles Webb, and his wife, Frances, to fund a Master of Music Degree or Diploma student.

Partnership with the Sphinx Organization

The Longy School of Music has partnered with the Sphinx Organization and its Music Assistance Fund to identify talented African- and Hispanic-American string students for scholarship assistance. Sphinx's mission is "to increase the participation of Blacks and Latinos in music schools, as professional musicians, [and] as classical music audiences, and to enhance K-12 music education." Students must be nominated by Sphinx and must subsequently apply, audition, and be admitted to Longy. For more information, see www.sphinxmusic.org/programs/maf.html or contact the Admissions Office.

Pell Grants

This Federal program provides grants to U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents who have not yet completed an undergraduate program. Applicants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a Longy Financial Aid Application. Grant amounts are based upon the expected family contribution as determined by the FAFSA.

Academic Competitiveness Grant - ACG

ACG is a federal grant awarded to Pell-eligible freshman who are U.S. citizens and have completed a "rigorous high school program" as defined by the Department of Education. U.S. Permanent Residents are not eligible. Final transcripts, AP scores and/or IB verification are required for disbursement.  To receive ACG for a second year, first-year recipients must maintain a 3.0 GPA.

PLUS Loans

This Federal program provides loans to parents of dependent undergraduate students who are U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents. Loan amounts range up to the student's full Cost of Attendance, which includes non-billed expenses such as living expenses, books and supplies, travel, and miscellaneous personal expenses.

Grad PLUS

Beginning July 1, 2006, eligible graduate students may borrow up to their Cost of Attendance. The Grad PLUS loan is based on the student having applied for the annual loan maximum eligibility for the subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans and the student's credit history. Repayment begins on the last disbursement date of the loan, at a fixed interest rate of 8.5% in the FFEL program.

Massachusetts No-Interest Loans/Mass Grant/Gilbert Grant

These programs serve Commonwealth residents registered for at least twelve credits in an undergraduate program. Applicants must complete the FAFSA and Longy Financial Aid Application. Awards are based on the expected family contribution as determined by the FAFSA. The Department of Education will forward your FAFSA results to the Mass Grant program. The Mass Grant deadline is normally May 1.

Federal Stafford Loans

Federal Stafford Loans are low-interest, long-term loans made to U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents enrolled in graduate and undergraduate programs. Students must be enrolled at least half-time, demonstrate financial need as determined by the FAFSA, and satisfy all other Federal Title IV eligibility guidelines. The annual loan limits for subsidized Stafford loans are based on academic levels as follows:

In addition, unsubsidized Stafford Loans are also available to graduate students and independent (as determined by the FAFSA) undergraduate students. The annual loan limits for unsubsidized loans are based on academic levels as follows:

Freshman/Sophomore: $4,000
Junior/Senior: $5,000
Graduate: $12,000

• Standard: monthly payments for 10 years.
• Graduated: initial payments are lower then increase gradually during the repayment period.
• Income Sensitive: Available through Direct Loans only, the monthly payment is based on the student's income.
• Extended Repayment: Allows a longer repayment period.

Minimum Enrollment Level

For Stafford and PLUS loans, students must be enrolled at least half-time. The definition of half-time for Longy's programs, for financial aid purposes, is as follows:

Program: minimum attempted credits per semester
Undergraduate Diploma: 6
Master of Music Degree: 4
Graduate Performance Diploma*
Artist Diploma*
*Students must be enrolled full-time in these programs.

For the Pell program (undergraduates only), students do not have to be enrolled half-time, but their enrollment level, which determines their award eligibility, will be based on the following:

Number of Credits: Enrollment Level
12: Full-time
9-11: Three-quarter-time
6-8: Half-time
1-5: Less than Half-time

Return of Title IV Funds (Federal Student Loans and Grants)
Loans and grants issued by the Federal Government are classified by the Government as Title IV Funds.
When a student leaves school a Return of Title IV calculation is required to be completed by the Financial Aid Office. If a student withdraws (officially or unofficially) after the start of classes, and is receiving federal financial aid, a Return of Title IV calculation determines the type and amount of aid that must be returned to the Department of Education (DOE). 

The amount of Title IV aid that is "earned" by a student is based on the percentage of the semester which a student completes. This percentage is computed by determining the total number of days in the semester (excluding breaks that are five or more consecutive days in length) and then dividing this number by the number of days in the semester.  

For example, if there is 106 days in the semester and a student withdraws after attending 30 days, the percentage of Title IV funds earned is 30/106= 28.3%.  After a student has attended more than 60% of the semester, that student is considered to have earned the aid awarded for the semester.

The Dean of the Conservatory is responsible for notifying Financial Aid of a student’s withdrawal.  The Dean will take into account unofficial withdrawals especially in situations when the circumstances are beyond the student’s control as in illness, accident, grievous personal loss; and determine an appropriate withdrawal date. 

Rights & Responsibilities of Students Receiving Federal Funds

• Students have the right to receive full information about the financial aid programs available, how to apply for aid, and the process by which aid is awarded.
• Students have the right to information about costs of attendance, the tuition refund policy, academic programs, faculty, and the physical facilities at Longy.
• Students have the right to discuss their financial aid eligibility, award, or cancellation with the financial aid officer.
• Students who borrow money have the right to know what their loan obligations are.
• Students are responsible for applying for financial aid for each academic year. Applications for returning students should be submitted by the last Friday in February for the subsequent year.
• Students are responsible for the accuracy of their application for financial aid. Misrepresentation is considered a serious infraction and may result in withdrawal of aid, repayment of funds already dispersed, permanent disqualification in the future, fine, and/or imprisonment.
• Students are responsible for understanding their loan obligation(s) and for repaying their loan(s) promptly.
• Students are required to make satisfactory academic progress.
• Any financial assistance received by a student must be used solely for expenses related to attendance at Longy. Law prohibits any other use of funds.
• Students are responsible for meeting all deadline requirements and for submitting all documentation requested by Longy.
• Students must notify the Financial Aid Office of any change of address; marital status; academic, financial, or enrollment status; or outside financial award. Changes may result in a revision of a student's financial assistance package.

Notices & Disclosures

• The Longy School of Music does not discriminate against applicants for financial aid on the basis of race, color, religion, national and ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender, age, or disability.
• Contact the Dean of the Conservatory for consumer information as required under the Higher Education Act of 1965 and the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act.
• The Longy School of Music complies with the Campus Security Act of 1990.
• Students may obtain graduation, completion, or transfer-out rates for the general population of undergraduate students. The School maintains this information in an annual report, and specific information is available upon request.
• Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act: The Longy School of Music does not participate in intercollegiate athletics.

Links

FAFSA, Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid

top