Financial Aid

All students receive full-tuition scholarships; need-based financial aid is also available.

All students at Curtis Institute of Music receive merit-based, full-tuition scholarships regardless of their financial situation. While these scholarships cover educational expenses, Curtis also offers need-based financial aid to help cover living expenses.

Full-Tuition Scholarship

Since 1928, the Curtis Institute of Music has provided merit-based, full-tuition scholarships to all students, regardless of their financial situation. For the 2025-26 school year, the annual value of this scholarship is $54,364 for undergraduate students and $67,502 for graduate students.

These scholarships cover educational expenses and are renewed each year of a student’s enrollment. No financial aid application is required for the full-tuition scholarship.

Curtis Need-Based Financial Aid

While merit-based, full-tuition scholarships cover the educational expenses for all Curtis students, the school offers need-based aid to assist with living expenses.

Instructions on how to apply can be found below under the Applying for Financial Assistance section.

Non-Curtis Supplemental Assistance

Before seeking need-based financial assistance from Curtis, students are encouraged to pursue funds from non-Curtis sources, including grants and scholarships available through private, public, and other sources.

  • State Benefits

    Many states offer financial assistance to their residents. Contact the appropriate agency in your state for information and application procedures.

    PA FosterEd Program

    In 2019, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania created the PA Fostering Independence Through Education Tuition Waiver (FosterEd) Program. FosterEd provides financial waivers at postsecondary institutions for eligible youth who are or have been in foster care. Under this program, postsecondary institutions in Pennsylvania are required to waive all institutional charges for tuition and mandatory fees that remain after all federal, state, and other gift aid has been applied to the accounts of eligible students.

    Information on PA FosterED eligibility

    Contact Veronica McAuley, director of student financial assistance, for additional information.

  • International Resources

    Many governments outside the United States provide financial assistance to their citizens who are studying abroad. International students should contact the ministry of higher education in their home country for information and applications.

  • Understanding Costs

    Explore an estimated budget to outline the potential costs of living in Philadelphia and attending Curtis Institute of Music. These items may vary by student and instrument.

    Estimated Student Budget

  • Student Fees

    Learn about student fees and costs, such as textbooks, facilities, healthcare, piano tuning, early withdrawal policies, and more.

    Student Fees

Applying for Financial Assistance

Supplemental Financial Assistance instructions for the 2025–26 academic year are now available.

Graduate students who are claimed as dependents by their parents must supply their parent(s) tax information as part of their financial aid materials.

For Federal purposes, you do not have to submit the information on the FAFSA, but in order to receive Curtis Grant funding all information for parents must be submitted on the CSS Profile.

CARES Act 30-Day Fund Report

As directed by the Certification and Agreement for Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Curtis Institute of Music provides the following information to satisfy requirements for the 30-Day Fund Report. This public notification serves to satisfy initial reporting requirements as provided by guidance from the Department of Education.