How to Apply for Financial Aid

Students applying to NYU Shanghai from outside of China must follow the instructions below if they wish to be considered for financial aid.

The College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile)

The CSS Profile is required for all applicants who are U.S. or international citizens (non-Chinese nationals) who would like to be considered for financial aid, including any scholarships and/or need-based grants from NYU Shanghai. The CSS Profile must be filed by the appropriate deadline and students are only required to file the application once, prior to admission. Application deadlines are listed below under the First Year Applicants Financial Aid Deadline heading.

The New York University CSS Profile school code number is 2785.

Applicants with divorced, separated, or unmarried parents will need to have both parents submit their own separate CSS Profile application online. Failure to submit an application/waiver request for your noncustodial parent directly to NYU will make you ineligible to be considered for institutional scholarships/grants while you pursue your studies at NYU Shanghai.

Under certain circumstances, NYU will consider waiving the CSS Profile for the noncustodial parent if the information cannot be obtained. In these instances, the Office of Financial Aid will require students and their families to provide supporting documentation. It is important that you contact our office well in advance of your application deadline for additional guidance.

 

Click here to complete the CSS Profile. Every October 1st, the CSS Profile becomes available for submission for the following academic year. The Fall 2025/Spring 2026 Profile will ask for 2023 income/salary information (that is income earned between January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

NYU Shanghai is approved by the U.S. Department of Education to provide federal financial aid to eligible students who are U.S. citizens or official permanent residents of the United States. Therefore, any U.S. citizens or official permanent resident applicants, who would like to be considered for federal financial aid, must submit the FAFSA in addition to the CSS Profile.

  • The FAFSA application should be completed online on the Federal Student Aid website, here.
  • You must list New York University as a recipient and include our federal school code number (002785) when completing your FAFSA.
  • The 2025-2026 FAFSA should become available in December 2024. This FAFSA will ask for 2023 income/salary information (that is income earned between January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023).

First Year Applicants Financial Aid Deadline

By 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time Early Decision I Early Decision II Regular Decision
CSS Profile and FAFSA (for U.S. eligible applicants) November 10* January 10** February 1
CSS Profile for noncustodial parent (if applicable) November 10 January 10 February 1
Estimated Notification Mid-December Mid-February April

*Early Decision I admitted students may not be able to submit the 2025-2026 FAFSA by the time their admissions offer is released. We encourage admitted Early Decision I students to file the FAFSA as soon as possible once it becomes available. Early Decision admitted students who file the FAFSA after the stated deadline will have their federal aid eligibility awarded upon NYU’s receipt of the FAFSA.

**Early Decision II admitted students who file the FAFSA by the stated deadline will receive a financial aid offer that includes federal financial aid eligibility at the time of admission. Early Decision admitted students who file the FAFSA after the stated deadline will have their federal aid eligibility awarded upon NYU’s receipt of the FAFSA.

Types of U.S. Federal Financial Aid

If you submit a FAFSA you may be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and Federal Direct Loans. You may choose to accept or decline the Federal Direct Loans that are offered to you. More information about interest rates and other loan details will be provided via your To Do List within NYU Albert, and you can visit here for more information. Additional information on how to secure the loans, if you decide to accept them, can be found here.