Determining Need

Financial aid eligibility at Dartmouth is dependent upon the determination of each family's "financial need". Financial need for a year is the difference between the family contribution and the student budget — including the direct and related costs associated with attending. The process of determining need includes four standard calculations:

1. Financial Aid Office will determine the expected "parent contribution" using financial information submitted by the family directly to Dartmouth and through the College Scholarship Service's PROFILE and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
2. Using information from the same sources, the Financial Aid Office will determine the expected "student contribution". This expectation is based upon personal savings the student may have accrued and anticipated earnings during the summer after high school graduation.
3. A student budget is developed, accounting for the direct costs of attending Dartmouth, book purchases and other anticipated expenses associated with attending the College.
4. The difference between the student budget and the student and parent contributions is referred to as financial need.

Special Circumstances

In addition to financial data required of all applicants and their families, some families submit information about special family circumstances such as unusually high medical expenses or significant expenses of some other kind. The Dartmouth Financial Aid Office will review this information along with the required submissions when determining the family contribution. Families are welcome to submit any information about particular family circumstances they believe will impact their ability to afford a Dartmouth education.