Juilliard School Scholarships are need-based and merit-based awards funded by The Juilliard School in New York City. They provide financial support to approximately 90 percent of admitted students across all music, dance, and drama programs, with several programs offering full-tuition scholarships to all admitted applicants.
The Juilliard School's official YouTube channel offers a look at daily life for scholarship recipients. Here is "A Day in the Life" following a jazz studies student through classes, private lessons, and performances at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola:
How Juilliard Scholarships Work
The Juilliard School is committed to enabling all admitted students to attend regardless of their ability to pay. Juilliard's admissions policies are need-blind. Applying for financial aid will not hurt an applicant's chances of being admitted.
Approximately 90 percent of Juilliard students receive scholarship support. Scholarship decisions are made by the Juilliard Scholarship Committee upon admission. Awards are based on a combination of financial need and artistic merit.
The committee considers:
- Student and parent income and assets
- Total educational debt
- Availability of outside funds
- Special circumstances such as loss of employment
- Merit determined by entrance audition and academic history
Several programs offer full-tuition scholarships to all admitted applicants:
- Artist Diploma program (any major)
- Doctor of Musical Arts program (any major)
- Historical Performance program
- Master of Fine Arts in Acting program
For all other programs, scholarship amounts vary based on individual financial circumstances and artistic merit relative to other admitted students.
To apply for financial aid, prospective students must complete:
- The CSS Profile application
- Income documentation for themselves and their parents
- The FAFSA (for U.S. citizens and permanent residents only)
- Juilliard's school code for FAFSA is 002742
The deadline to apply for financial aid and scholarships is February 20 for prospective students. Continuing students must reapply each year by May 1.
Juilliard also offers a Net Price Calculator on its website. This tool provides an unofficial estimate of potential financial aid based on median amounts awarded to recent incoming first-year students.
The Kovner Fellowship Program
The Kovner Fellowship is Juilliard's most prestigious scholarship. Established in 2014 by Bruce and Suzie Kovner, it provides comprehensive merit-based support covering the full estimated cost of attendance (tuition, room, board, and additional expenses) for outstanding undergraduate and graduate classical music students. Kovner Fellows also receive enhanced programmatic opportunities designed to develop future leaders in the arts.
The fellowship is merit-based, not need-based, and is awarded to a small number of students each year (typically 15 to 20). It covers the full cost of attendance for the duration of the student's degree program, provided they maintain academic and artistic standing. The Kovner family has been among Juilliard's most significant donors, also funding the Historical Performance program and endowing the Drama Division MFA program.
Notable Scholarship Recipients and Alumni
Juilliard does not publish a public list of individual scholarship recipients by name, citing privacy policies. However, the school notes that approximately 90 to 95 percent of all enrolled students receive some form of scholarship or financial support. Notable Juilliard alumni who have spoken publicly about receiving scholarship support include:
- Yo-Yo Ma (cello, attended 1972 to 1976): Received scholarship support as a child prodigy entering at age 16
- Itzhak Perlman (violin, studied at Juilliard Pre-College and later): Received full scholarship support
- Wynton Marsalis (jazz trumpet, attended 1979 to 1981): Left Juilliard to join Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers but received scholarship support during his studies
- Audra McDonald (drama, BM 1993): Received scholarship support and went on to win six Tony Awards
- Miles Davis (trump, attended 1944 to 1945): Studied at Juilliard on scholarship before leaving to play with Charlie Parker
The Kovner Fellowship, since its launch in 2014, has supported approximately 15 to 20 students per year, meaning more than 150 students have received full-cost-of-attendance support through the program.
Real-World Example
A violinist admitted to the Bachelor of Music program would submit the CSS Profile and income documentation by February 20. If their family demonstrates significant financial need, they might receive a scholarship covering 70% of annual tuition. Juilliard's tuition for 2025-2026 is approximately $54,400 per year. A 70% scholarship would reduce their annual cost to approximately $16,320, saving roughly $38,080 per year or $152,320 over four years. A student admitted to the Artist Diploma program would receive a full-tuition scholarship automatically, saving the entire $54,400 per year.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
Juilliard is one of the most prestigious performing arts schools in the world. The fact that 90 percent of students receive scholarship support means that cost should not be a barrier to attending if you are talented enough to be admitted. The need-blind admissions policy means you should apply regardless of your financial situation.
File the CSS Profile and FAFSA (if eligible) by the February 20 deadline. Missing this deadline can significantly reduce your aid package. Provide complete and accurate financial information. If your family has special circumstances not reflected in standard forms, submit a supplemental explanation. Use the Net Price Calculator early in your college search to understand what you might receive.
Drawbacks / Things to Consider
Juilliard is one of the most competitive schools in the world. The acceptance rate is approximately 7 percent across all programs. While 90 percent of admitted students receive aid, the school cannot meet the full financial need of all who apply. Scholarships are based on both need and merit, so two students with identical financial situations may receive different awards. International students must also purchase the mandatory health insurance plan. Living expenses in New York City are among the highest in the United States. The February 20 deadline is firm. Late applications may result in reduced or no aid.
Related Opportunities
- Music Scholarships Directory
- National YoungArts Foundation for young artists (many YoungArts winners attend Juilliard)
- Avery Fisher Career Grant for post-graduation career support
- Presser Foundation Music Award for music students at participating US institutions
- From the Top for young classical musicians (many recipients attend Juilliard)
- Sphinx Organization for classical musicians of color
- Naumburg Foundation Competitions for competition-based career launch
- Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award for high-achieving young musicians with financial need
- Carnegie Hall Royal Conservatory Exchange for international study opportunities
- Visit Juilliard Financial Aid to apply
