JD/MPP and JD/MPA/ID Financial Information

The JD/MPP and JD/MPA/ID joint degree programs offer students the opportunity to receive two degrees in four academic years. Students in this program will spend the first two years in full-time study at each of the two schools. In the third and fourth years students will be enrolled jointly at both schools.

Detailed program information can be found on the Academic Degrees Program page.

Please note that financial aid processes and funding will differ between schools. Be certain to consult with each school’s aid office when considering any joint degree program.

Financial Aid Information

  • Application Information

    The Law School Student Financial Services Office will process your aid for the year you are full-time at the Law School and in the final two years of the joint program. The Kennedy School will process your aid application for the year you are full-time at the Kennedy School only. The chart below demonstrates the two possible scenarios for all four years of the JD/MPP, MPA/ID program.

    Scenario 1

    YEAR IN ATTENDANCE SCHOOL IN ATTENDANCE SCHOOL PROCESSING AID
    Year 1 Law School Law School
    Year 2 Kennedy School Kennedy School
    Year 3 Law School / Kennedy School Law School
    Year 4 Law School / Kennedy School Law School

    Scenario 2

    YEAR IN ATTENDANCE SCHOOL IN ATTENDANCE SCHOOL PROCESSING AID
    Year 1 Kennedy School Kennedy School
    Year 2 Law School Law School
    Year 3 Law School /Kennedy School Law School
    Year 4 Law School /Kennedy School Law School
  • Your Student Budget

    You will be charged 100% tuition and fees for the school you enroll full-time during the first two years. These costs will be adjusted in the latter two years to 75% HLS tuition and 25% HKS tuition as well as a $300 program fee correlated to the number of courses required for each degree. All charges and financial aid credits will appear on the same student account notice. The Law School will also review the budget at each school for extra expenses related to your joint degree program. If a budget increase is required, the increased budget amount, labeled as JD/MPP, MPA/ID Allowance, is not eligible for HLS grant assistance. A sample budget is below for the 2023-24 academic year.

    BUDGET CATEGORY HOW TO CALCULATE AMOUNT FOR 2023-24
    Tuition* 75% HLS $55,200
    25% HKS $14,415
    Books & Supplies 75% HLS $1,238
    25% HKS $387
    Housing/Food/Personal Full HLS Housing/Food/Personal $28,497
    Fees Full UHS fee $1,408
    Harvard Student Health Insurance Plan* $4,120
    Joint Program Fee $300
    Transportation Full HLS Transportation $1,725
    JD/MPP, MPA/ID Allowance HKS Housing, Food, Personal, Transportation, Activity fee, Course Material MINUS HLS Transportation, Housing, Food, Personal               $26,284 – $30,222 = –3,938 $0
    Total Budget $107,290
    Total HLS Grant Eligible Budget $107,290

    Since the HLS Transportation, Housing, Food and Personal allowances are higher than the allowances at HKS, there is no additional borrowing eligibility for the 2023-24 academic year.

    *Tuition percentages are correlated to the number of courses required for each degree.

  • Budget Adjustments Due to Health Insurance Waiver

    Under Federal student aid regulations, an allowance for the Harvard Student Health Insurance Plan may be included in the student’s budget only for students who enroll in the plan. For students who waive this coverage, the allowance will not be given, and the total student budget will be reduced by the amount of the plan fee. this means that if you are an HLS grant recipient, your HLS grant will be reduced by the fee amount as well.

    Students may request, upon appeal, to have the documented cost of an alternate health insurance plan, for which the student pays, be added to the student’s budget.

  • Cash Advances and Refunds

    If you are eligible for a cash advance or a refund, you will receive it after you have registered (1L’s have the additional requirement of a completed entrance interview). All cash advance and refund checks are mailed to the official address on file with the Registrar’s Office unless you have direct deposit set up with the Student Accounts Office.

  • Summer Work Requirement

    You will be held to the same summer work requirements as all other Law School Students. See the Student Contribution from Income section for details on the summer work requirement.

  • 4th Year Student Loan Repayment Requirement

    Graduation Requirement: In April of your last semester at HLS, we will contact you regarding a Student Loan Repayment session. This session is required for all graduating students who have borrowed while attending law school. There will be several group sessions where you will receive details related to the repayment of your student loans.  You may choose to fulfill the attendance requirement of this session either HLS or HKS, however, both school may require differing online form completion.