Financial Clearance

The Six Financial Clearance Processes

• 1. Back Balance – June to August

  This process generally applies to returning students (rising 2Ls and 3Ls). However, entering students coming from another Harvard School, please note that you may not carry balances into HLS for expenses incurred at your former school.

  For a balance to be considered a “back balance”, either of the following must be true: 1) you have an outstanding balance from the previous academic year and/or 2) you have charges incurred during the summer months. For example, any outstanding balance from the previous academic year left unpaid by June, combined with any charges incurred during the summer, would be considered your back balance. This includes Harvard Real Estate summer rent charges, but not academic year charges.

  Things to know about your back balance and HLS policy:

  • Students may not carry prior year and/or summer balances into the new academic year.
  • Students may not use the next academic year’s financial aid credits to resolve their back balance.
  • Back balances may only be cleared by making a payment.
  • Back Balances must be cleared before any financial aid (loans and grants) can be anticipated towards a student’s account.
  • If a student does not clear their summer account balance by the due date listed in their account, he or she will be blocked from all Registration processes, including the Add/Drop process.
  • If a student’s back balance is not resolved by the first day of classes, he or she will be assessed a $250 late payment fee.

  In June, your student account will include any remaining charges from the academic year and July rent if you are an HRES student. In July and August, students will see charges of the new academic year and Fall term charges (tuition, health insurance, etc.). However, students living in Harvard Real Estate may also see additional summer rent charges on their student account, which must be paid as part of their back balance.

• 2. 1L Clearance Process – June to August

  This process applies to entering students (rising 1Ls).

  “Financial clearance” is the process through which Student Financial Services ensures that incoming students have secured sufficient funding to cover all billed charges before the start of Fall term classes.

  In order to obtain financial clearance, you must demonstrate that you have secured funding or made payment sufficient to cover all charges reflected on their student account in July and August, which typically include HLS tuition, applicable health fees and applicable dormitory or Harvard Real Estate housing fees. You may obtain financial clearance for the Fall term through one of the following methods:

  1. Secure your financial aid and supplemental loans by completing Step 3 of our financial aid process. If you are covering your remaining outstanding balance with supplemental loans, be sure to apply for the entire loan amount that you will need for the academic year. We will apply half of your loan amount to the Fall term and half to the Spring.

  2. Make a payment in full for the semester’s charges, or make a payment sufficient to cover the remaining balance due after your anticipated financial aid credits have been applied to your student account.

  3. Enroll in the Student Accounts Office’s monthly payment plan and make a payment for the first installment.

  To ensure that you will be able to participate in the fall registration process, you should take one of the above steps to obtain financial clearance as soon as possible after you receive an account notice. Students who do not meet 1L registration requirements (including financial clearance, transcripts, immunization, and check-in with the Harvard International Office if you are an international student) will be charged a $250 late fee.

• 3. 2L and 3L Fall Registration – July to August

  This process generally applies to returning students (rising 2Ls and 3Ls).

  “Financial clearance” is the process through which Student Financial Services ensures that incoming students have secured sufficient funding to cover all billed charges before the start of Fall term classes.

  In order to obtain financial clearance, you must demonstrate that you have secured funding or made payment sufficient to cover all charges reflected on your student account in July and August, which typically include HLS tuition, applicable health fees and applicable dormitory or Harvard Real Estate housing fees. You may obtain financial clearance for the Fall term through one of the following methods:

  1. Secure your financial aid and supplemental loans by completing Step 3 of our financial aid process. If you are covering your remaining outstanding balance with supplemental loans, be sure to apply for the entire loan amount that you will need for the academic year. We will apply half of your loan amount to the Fall term and half to the Spring.

  2. Make a payment in full for the semester’s charges, or make a payment sufficient to cover the remaining balance due after your anticipated financial aid credits have been applied to your student account.

  3. Enroll in the Student Accounts Office’s monthly payment plan and make a payment for the first installment.

  Things to know about Fall Registration Financial Clearance:

  • Back balances must be cleared before any academic year financial aid (loan and grants) can be anticipated towards a student’s account.
  • If a student does not clear their summer balance by the due date listed on their student account, he or she will be blocked from all registration processes, including the Add/Drop and Wait List processes.
  • If a student does not obtain financial clearance by the first day of classes, he or she may be assessed a $250 late payment fee.
  • Students will be ineligible to receive their cash advance until they are financially cleared.

  In July and August students will see charges of the new academic year and Fall charges (tuition, health insurance, etc.). However, students living in Harvard Real Estate may also see additional summer rent charges on their account, which must be paid as part of their back balance.

• 4. Spring Add/Drop – December

  This process generally applies to ALL students.

  The Spring Add/Drop financial clearance process occurs in December. The main items that are charged on your account in December, include your Spring semester tuition charges, Student Health Insurance, Mandatory Student Health fee along with any dorm or Harvard Housing charges.

  The due date to resolve their student account balance is January 15. Keep in mind that our office is closed during the Winter Recess.

  It is best for students to resolve their student account balance as soon as they receive notice in December before they leave for Winter Recess. This allows for extra time for payment processing and ensures that the student will neither incur a $250 late fee nor be placed on registration hold for any Spring Add/Drop Registration Processes.

  The total outstanding balance in December has already taken into account all financial aid that a student has in place. Although your financial aid may not have been disbursed to your account we anticipate your credits to offset outstanding charges on your account.

• 5. Pre-Registration – March

  This process generally applies to 1Ls and 2Ls.

  The Pre-Registration financial clearance process is tied to the month of March. Remaining up to date with financial obligations is a required condition to participate in the pre-registration processes for Clinical, Legal Profession, Multi-Section and General Course Selection process. Students who have not resolved their account balance in February will be blocked from the fall course selection process.

  It is a goal of Student Financial Services to assist you in meeting your financial obligations. We try to incorporate financial clearance processes throughout the year so that a large balance is not carried over extended periods of time. We do not want students to accrue large balances overtime and find themselves in a tough financial situation which could have been resolved easily if it was handled earlier.

  The Pre-Registration financial clearance process also helps to remind students that their summer break is approaching and that all balances must be resolved prior to the start of the new academic year.

• 6. Graduation Clearance – May to June

  This process is for the graduating class only (generally 3Ls).  

  The Graduation financial clearance process is tied to both March degrees and Commencement. It is Harvard policy that all student account balances must be paid in full in order to be financially cleared for graduation.

  All 3Ls will be allowed to participate in graduation activities; however, those who do not have financial clearance for graduation will not receive their diploma and will have their commencement tickets withheld until they become current on their student account.

  Student Financial Services, for this process, works with the Dean of Students office to ensure that financial clearance is obtained prior to Commencement.