Financial Aid through Sorensen
The Sorensen Institute has a limited amount of financial aid to offer applicants accepted to participate in its programs who might require some financial assistance in order to attend. If you are interested in applying for financial aid, please review this page carefully.
- Requests for financial aid or scholarships should be submitted with the application to the program by the deadline for supplementary materials.
- While program fees cover required lodging and those meals provided by Sorensen during programs, the program participants are responsible for their own travel and all other expenses including meals not provided by Sorensen. Financial aid applies only to program fees.
- Sorensen has a limited amount of financial aid available. Financial aid is need-based and is typically no more than 25% of the program fee and may be lower.
- The financial aid process consists of filling out a short application describing a participant's financial needs and planned contribution toward their program fees.
- ELP
If you need additional information about the financial aid process, please contact Sarah Campbell: sc9ef@virginia.edu
- HSLP
If you need additional information about the financial aid process, please contact Sarah Campbell: sc9ef@virginia.edu
- PLP
The deadline for submitting Financial Aid Applications is : November 17, 2025
The application can be found here -> Financial Aid Application
The program fee for 2026 is $6500.
The program fee payment for the programs is due before the program begins. As a form of financial assistance, accepted participants may opt into a payment plan when they complete the program acceptance packet after admittance. The payment plan will include an additional $300 deferral fee.
The payment plan for the 2026 Political Leaders Program allows for four payments of $1,700 on the following dates: January 21, April 21, June 20, and August 21, 2026. Participants who receive financial aid will have any payment plan payments adjusted for any financial aid awarded.
We request that participants ask whether their employers will pay part or all of the program fee as a professional development expense. Participants may also seek funding from outside sources to cover part or all of the program fee. In either event, please coordinate with Sorensen staff so the funds can be properly allocated to the participant's account. However, the ultimate responsibility for payment of the program fee lies solely on the participant.
If you need additional information about the financial aid process, please contact Sarah Campbell: sc9ef@virginia.edu