Financial Aid

• Verifies that they are the first in their family to graduate college; and
• Provides additional background information on their high financial need that may not be evident on their FAFSA.

Note that first-generation graduates who do not have high financial need (FAFSA SAI above $20,000) should apply to the JEDI Scholarship (below).

The Bard Center for Environmental Policy also offers the following scholarships for qualified MS in Climate Science and Policy or MS in Environmental Policy students:

• Rachel Carson Scholarship: U.S. students are eligible to apply for a merit scholarship as part of the Rachel Carson Scholars program. This program grants one $20,000 scholarship per year to a top applicant who shows promise of a leadership career in environmental policy. Interested students should submit a application of no more than 500 words with their application to the program on the following topic:
  Please define and explain leadership in the context of the sustainability challenges we face in the coming decades.
  Finalists will be reviewed based on this statement and their application materials.. Applicants must be accepted to the Bard CEP masters program and have completed a FAFSA in order to qualify. Applications are are reviewed as received, so early application to the program in encouraged.
• Wangari Maathai Scholarship: Funding is available for one outstanding international student as part of the Wangari Maathai Scholars program. This program grants scholarships offering 30-90% tuition discounts to international students who shows promise of a leadership career in environmental policy.
  Interested students should submit a application of no more than 500 words with their application to the program on the following topic:
  Please define and explain leadership in the context of the sustainability challenges we face in the coming decades.
  Finalists will be reviewed based on this statement and their application materials. Applicants must be accepted to the Bard CEP masters program and have completed an International Application for Financial Aid in order to qualify. Applications are reviewed as received, so early application to the program is encouraged.
• Arctic Climate Change Scholarship:
  The Bard CEP Arctic Climate Change (ACC) Scholarship will provide funding for two entering students per year for two years to train for a career tackling climate change issues in the Arctic. The ACC Scholarship will provide a 50% scholarship per year plus an internship stipend. The recipient of the scholarship must complete a literature review and Capstone Project on a topic related to climate change in the Arctic and an internship at an organization addressing Arctic climate change issues (either in the US or abroad). The internship funding will range from $4000-$10,000 per student and is intended to supplement any funding the student receives from the internship organization to cover travel and living expenses. Recipient students will submit an internship budget to the Associate Director for approval (that includes host organization's funding, if applicable) to receive internship stipend. 
   
  Interested applicants to the MS in Environmental Policy, MS in Climate Science and Policy, or MEd in Environmental Education programs should submit an essay with their application that speaks to the Arctic region they are interested in working in, the climate change challenge they are interested in addressing, and the environmental/social justice issue presented by climate impacts in this particular region. The essay should be no more than 500 words and should be submitted via the application portal at the time they apply.  
• Riverkeeper Scholarship: Under this program, the Riverkeeper Scholar (RS) will receive a scholarship equal to 30% of tuition for two years of full-time enrollment. The scholarship may be awarded with additional Bard support, such as fellowships, student employment, and loans. The RS will have the opportunity to work with a designated Riverkeeper mentor, who will meet with the student at least twice a year to discuss career interests and development. The RS will receive priority among Bard graduate students for potential internships and capstone projects/theses completed in conjunction with Riverkeeper. One RS is selected at the time of admission each year. Students interested in applying for this position should include a scholarship interest letter along with their application for admission stating their interest and/or experience with any of the following: advocacy, water policy, water ecology, or the Hudson River/Hudson River watershed.
  Riverkeeper is a member-supported organization that protects and restores the Hudson River from source to sea and safeguards drinking water supplies, through advocacy rooted in community partnerships, science and law. See more at riverkeeper.org. 

• ROMBA Fellowship: Bard MBA is proud to partner with Reaching Out MBA to support their mission of develop the out LGBTQ+ business leaders of tomorrow. Bard MBA awards two ROMBA Fellowships each year to incoming students. 
  
  To apply for the Fellowship, applications should submit a scholarship statement of no more than 500 words addressing the following prompt: please speak to the need for LGBTQ+ leadership in addressing the social, economic and environmental challenges we face in the coming decades. Statements should be uploaded into the general online application for admissions at the time of general application submission.
   
  Applications will be reviewed based on this statement, application materials, and financial need. Finalists will receive a 50-90% tuition discount.
• B-Corp Employee Scholarships: Full-time employees of Certified B-Corps and their immediate family members qualify for a 20% tuition discount at the Bard MBA.
• Clif Bar + B-Lab Scholar Programs: Full-time employees of Clif Bar and B-Lab and their immediate family members qualify for a 20% tuition discount at the Bard MBA.
• MBA Leaders Scholarship: Bard MBA awards a limited number of merit scholarships ranging in value from $4,000-$10,000 per year (for full-time students, reduced proportionately for part-time students) to top applicants to the MBA program. Recipients will bring strong professional and academic experience as well as demonstrated drive to create a more just, sustainable world. 
• C2C Fellowships: All C2C Fellows are eligible for partial scholarships to attend Bard MBA program. This scholarship guarantees a minimum financial aid award of $8000/year for full-time students (reduce for part-time students to members of the C2C Fellows Network. 

Bard GPS is proud to support those who have served in American service organizations as they pursue graduate education:

• Yellow Ribbon Program: Bard GPS is a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program for U.S. Military Veterans. Please contact the Admission Office for more information.
• Peace Corps Scholarship: As part of the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program, Bard CEP provides partial tuition fellowships in the first year worth at least 33 percent of tuition to returned Peace Corps volunteers admitted to the Bard Center for Environmental Policy. Applicants must provide verification of Peace Corps service by submitting a signed copy of their Description of Service to receive this fellowship. MS/MEd students who are using their Peace Corps service to count for their CEP internship are eligible for a fellowship of $10,500 in the second year.
• AmeriCorps Fellowship: Awarded to one or more exceptional AmeriCorps volunteers who have successfully completed their term of service, this fellowship assists public service–oriented individuals in continuing their work as professionals in through advanced educational training in the Bard Graduate Programs in Sustainability. To qualify, applicants must submit a description of service with application for admission, and if selected, Bard GPS will match any AmeriCorps Education Award funds that the student wishes to apply towards Bard’s tuition.
• City Year Scholarship: Bard GPS provides partial tuition fellowships worth at least 30 percent of tuition to City Year Alum. Applicants must provide an employment verification from City Year in order to receive this fellowship. 

Graduate students may be eligible for Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans. To be eligible, students must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States and file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

All eligible graduate students may borrow up to $20,500 per academic year in federal student loans. Students requiring additional financial assistance above their Bard-granted aid and Federal Direct Loans often apply for GradPLUS loans to cover additional costs associated with tuition, fees, and living expenses.

Applying for Student Loans:

• Federal Direct Loan 
• Federal GradPLUS Loan 

Repayment: 
Please note that the borrower of an Unsubsidized Stafford Loan is responsible for interest payments while in school. You have the option to defer payments of interest and principal until after you graduate. Repayment of the loan begins six months after graduation, or after a student ceases to be enrolled at least part-time.

The interest rate for the Direct Unsubsidized Loan is always fixed for the life of that loan. However, interest rates will be determined each June for new loans being made for the upcoming award year, which runs from July 1 to the following June 30. Please visit studentaid.gov for the most current interest rates and additional loan information.

Lastly, for those who are pursuing a career in public service, it is important to note that in the future, it may be possible to receive loan forgiveness. You can learn more here.