Application Process

Once you are admitted to Stanford GSB, we will provide you with all the information and guidance you need to apply for financial aid.

You will renew your financial aid application each year you are enrolled.

Required Application Materials

Student Materials to Submit
US Citizen or Permanent Resident
  • Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
  • Institutional application
  • Federal tax returns from two prior years, including all forms, schedules,
    W-2s, and confirmation of tax filing status
  • Most recent pay stub
International
  • Institutional application
  • Most recent tax statements for the last two years from all countries in which you worked, including wage statements
  • Most recent pay stub

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

All US citizens or permanent resident aid applicants must complete the FAFSA. There is no processing fee and the FAFSA is required for all federal student aid eligibility. The FAFSA will ask you to report the prior year’s tax information.

Institutional Application

All admitted students who want to be considered for a Stanford GSB fellowship and/or loans must complete the institutional application. You are expected to provide information for yourself and, if applicable, your spouse. There is no processing fee.

Tax Returns or Statements

If you are a US citizen or permanent resident, you will provide signed copies of your completed US federal tax returns for the prior two years to the financial aid office, including copies of all schedules and copies of your W-2 forms. If applicable, you will submit copies of your spouse’s information as well.

If you are an international student, provide copies of your tax statements for the last two years from all countries in which you worked, including wage statements, to the financial aid office.

More details about submitting your tax forms will be provided once you are admitted to Stanford GSB.

Financial Need

Once you’ve completed the required forms, we determine your financial need and the amount of aid we can offer. The Stanford GSB Financial Aid Office defines “need” as:

You may be notified by our office to submit additional forms in order to complete the financial aid application process.

Federal law specifically states that we cannot include consumer debts (e.g., credit cards, consumer loans, car loans) in the student budget. Therefore, we are unable to increase your cost of attendance to demonstrate additional financial aid eligibility to assist you in making payments for such debt. Moreover, we will not be able to decrease the value of your assets by the amount of consumer debt.

While most U.S. government educational loans have deferment options for students enrolled at least half-time in an educational program, some educational loans may not. We cannot take these loans into consideration while determining your fellowship eligibility.