Keeping Dartmouth Accessible
"Dartmouth continues to be committed to ensuring that students from all
socioeconomic backgrounds have access to higher education. Through a series of
enhancements to our financial aid programs, first begun in 1999, Dartmouth now
offers its students and their families one of the most comprehensive financial
aid packages in the Ivy League. 48% of the Class of 2011 are receiving
need-based scholarships from Dartmouth, totaling over $16 million, with the
average scholarship of $30,341.
On January 22, 2008, Dartmouth College President James Wright announced a
number of exciting new enhancements to Dartmouth's Financial Aid program for
current and prospective students. This latest initiative provides free tuition
for students who come from families with annual incomes below $75,000 with
typical assets, replaces loans with scholarships for all scholarship
recipients, assures need-blind admission for all students, and replaces one
"leave term" earnings expectation with additional scholarship dollars. For more
information on Dartmouth's Financial Aid Initiatives, please visit our "Latest News"
pages.
Early Decision Questions
Can I enter into Dartmouth's binding Early
Decision plan if I am also applying for financial aid?
Yes. If you are planning to apply for financial aid, you should complete the
CSS Profile online at www.collegeboard.com and submit
2006 Federal Tax Returns directly to the Dartmouth Financial Aid Office no
later than November 1, 2007.
Will I get less aid if I'm admitted Early
Decision?
No. Dartmouth has extensive and comprehensive need-based financial aid policies
that enable students to attend regardless of family income. In recent years the
financial aid policies have been expanded to reduce loans for low income
students. All of these policies are in full effect during early admission.
When will I know what my financial aid package
looks like?
If Financial Aid has received your CSS Profile and copies of 2006 Federal Tax
Return by November 1, 2007, a tentative financial aid award will accompany your
acceptance letter to Dartmouth College in mid-December. Your finalized award
will arrive after April 1, 2008.
What happens if the financial aid package
doesn't seem as though it will work for my family?
You should submit a Request for Financial Aid Review, (which will be included
with the award letter), to the Financial Aid Office as soon as possible. No
student admitted to Dartmouth through Early Decision is “locked in” and unable
to receive the best financial aid package. If a student and family cannot
manage the financial arrangements, we routinely release them from the early
commitment so they can apply to other colleges in a timely fashion. In recent
years only a tiny handful of Early Decision students have been unable to attend
for financial reasons.
What forms do I need to submit? And when are
the financial aid deadlines?
For Early Decision applicants the Financial Aid Office requires the following
forms to be submitted by November 1, 2007:
• CSS Profile. Available online at www.collegeboard.com
• Copies of 2006 Federal Tax Return, all schedules, and W-2 Statements
• Noncustodial Profile Application (if applicable). Available online at www.collegeboard.com
After January 1, 2008, you must also submit:
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Available online at www.FAFSA.ed.gov
• 2007 Federal Tax Return, all schedules, and W-2 Statements no later than
March 1, 2008.
Who should I contact if I have
questions?
Questions should be directed to the Financial Aid Office. We are open
Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Our toll free number is 1-800-443-3605. You can
also reach us by email at Financial.Aid@Dartmouth.EDU.
General Questions
Who should apply for financial
aid?
All students who anticipate needing financial assistance should file an aid
application within the stated deadlines prior to the upcoming academic
year.
What is the "family
contribution"?
Although students and parents are primarily responsible for college costs, we
know that each family's situation is unique and, often, complex. Our goal is to
determine a realistic expectation from each family, based on federal
regulations and Dartmouth's own policies. This expectation includes a parents'
contribution, a student contribution based on prior year earnings, and a
portion of the student's savings and assets. The College uses the Federal
Methodology need analysis formula to determine eligibility for federal funds.
In measuring need for Dartmouth scholarship assistance, the Financial Aid
Office will review both the impact of home equity plus the family's asset
liquidity in determining an equitable family contribution.
What can admitted students do if they're not
happy with their financial aid award?
A student should first contact the Financial Aid Office. In many cases, more
information from the student or from his/her family, including copies of better
packages from other schools, will result in award adjustments consistent with a
fair and equitable treatment of all applicants. The Financial Aid Office will
talk with families about financing options such as parent loan plans and
monthly payment plans.
Will my aid change after the first
year?
Students reapply for aid each year, submitting updated applications and
financial documents. Awards are adjusted to reflect changes in family financial
circumstances, while self-help (job and loan) increases moderately in the
upperclass years.
What do you mean by a financial aid
"package"?
When determining if a student is "needy," the Financial Aid Office assesses the
family's ability to contribute to educational costs. This "family contribution"
includes the parents' contribution, the earnings expectation from the student,
and 20 - 25 percent per year of the student's savings and assets. The
family contribution is then subtracted from the cost of education to arrive at
the student's need. Some students with low need might be offered a package
consisting of only job and loan assistance. Those with higher need will receive
a package with grants/scholarships (which do not have to be repaid),
employment, and loans. Additionally, the amount of a loan a student will
receive is dependent upon the family's total income.
How will my financial aid award by adjusted if
I receive an outside award?
So that students can receive the full benefit of outside (merit) awards,
Dartmouth will reduce a student's loan and/or employment eligibility by the
full amount of the outside scholarship.
Am I eligible for a state grant at
Dartmouth?
The states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, and Vermont have state grants that are portable to Dartmouth
College. Pennsylvania and Vermont residents should file separate state
applications. Those living in the other states with portable grants can file
through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
What about students whose parents are divorced
or separated?
Dartmouth's policy for calculating the financial need of students from divorced
or separated families is based on the principle that both natural parents have
an obligation to contribute to their children's educational costs, despite any
legal documents or decrees to the contrary. According to federal regulations,
the financial aid information of the custodial unit must be used to determine
eligibility for federal funds. However, for Dartmouth scholarship purposes, we
request additional information from the noncustodial parent to assess overall
family support available to a student. A contribution is not expected from more
than two parents.
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