Financing the Cost of an Eastman Undergraduate Education

Financial Aid at Eastman

Financing the Cost of an Eastman Undergraduate Education

Before you begin with estimating your costs, it may help to know more about how the financial aid process works here at Eastman.

The chart below is a quick reference guide. This chart is intended to give you an idea of the scholarship amounts awarded to students with different need levels and merit scores.

Scholarships awarded ranges

Student Aid Index (SAI) Range per the FAFSA Calculation	Average Award	Award Range
0-14K	$35,000	$20,000 – $55,000
14K–30K	$33,000	$20,000 – $55,000
30K–60K	$29,000	$18,000 – $49,000
60+K (incl. Merit Only and No FAFSA)	$26,000	$10,000 – $45,000

Our financial aid process is driven by merit (your relative ‘ranking’ within the current pool of applicants) and informed by need (the difference between your ‘student aid index’ per the FAFSA and the total cost of attendance: tuition, fees, housing/food, and other indirect expenses). As with many merit-based music schools, the only way to truly know what an Eastman education will cost you is to be admitted and receive a financial aid package. The calculator will give you an idea of what government aid you might be eligible for. It will ask you to anticipate whether you will rate in the upper, middle, or lower third of the merit range of our admitted applicants. This is, of course, an unknown variable, so we encourage you to submit your information three times choosing each answer. Also keep in mind that the division of merit ratings into three tiers is far less nuanced than our actual merit assessment process.

Tuition and Fees

No undergraduate student at Eastman pays their full Direct Cost.

** nearly 100% of our students receive some amount of merit scholarship.

Direct costs are expenses that are typically charged to a student’s bill by the Eastman School of Music. These direct costs are based on the best information we have to date. The 2024-25 Schedule of Charges is posted on the University Bursar’s Website.

All organists are charged an organ fee of approximately $300 per semester.

All senior students are charged a senior class fee of $38 each semester.

If a student takes a leave of absence, the student is charged $80 per semester.

If you live in a dorm room, all residence halls are assessed for damages beyond normal wear and tear at the end of each semester; damage fees are split between the residents of the room. Typically, fees are between $25 – $100.

All students are required to have health insurance:

International students must sign up for University Health Insurance.
Domestic students, who are not covered under their parents’ health insurance, must sign up for University Health Insurance ($3,720).

Tuition increases each year; typically by 4%.

2024-25 Direct Costs Undergraduate Domestic Students
Tuition	$65,870
Housing	11,820
Food	7,750
Orientation & First Year Program Fee	360
Activity Fee	346
Comprehensive Fee	492
Mandatory Health Fee	828
Total Direct Costs:	$87,466

2024-25 Direct Costs Undergraduate International Students
Tuition	$65,870
Housing	11,820
Food	7,750
Orientation & First Year Program Fee	360
International Student Fee	106
Health Insurance	3720
Activity Fee	346
Comprehensive Fee	492
Mandatory Health Fee	828
Total Direct Costs:	$91,292

Indirect costs are expenses that are typically incurred and not paid directly to the Eastman School of Music.

If you are borrowing Federal Loans, typically the average loan fee is $29 for first year students, $34 for sophomores and $40 for juniors and seniors.

2024-25 Indirect Costs Estimated Undergraduate Domestic Students
Personal	$1,080
Books, course materials, supplies & equipment	700
Transportation	600
Total Indirect Costs:	$2,380

2024-25 Indirect Costs Estimated Undergraduate International Students
Personal	$1,080
Books, course materials, supplies and equipment	700
Transportation	1,500
Total Indirect Costs:	$3,280

Continue to the Net Price Calculator to determine estimated costs, federal grant, work and loans:

Net Price Calculator

According to the Department of Education’s Student Financial Aid Handbook, “The Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of a student’s educational expenses for a period of enrollment”. A student’s COA is used to determine financial aid eligibility. The basic components of an Eastman student’s COA include tuition, fees, books, supplies, housing, food, transportation, loan fees, and miscellaneous expenses.

The COA may be adjusted on an individual basis with supporting documentation. These adjustments will only increase a student’s loan eligibility. Students who wish to explore a COA adjustment for any reason should contact the Financial Aid Office to discuss both the changes and the additional loan eligibility that may result.

Additional Information

With much appreciation to our generous donors, all students receive a need-informed merit award reducing out of pocket expenses, click here (Prospective Students page) for more information about eligibility and criteria for all merit and need based aid.
Click here (University Bursar’s Website) for more information about the costs of an undergraduate degree at Eastman.
Click here (University Health Services ) for information about University Health Insurance or the health insurance waiver process.
Click here (University Dining Services) for information about student dining plans.

Financial Aid at Eastman