Financial 2014

Financial Aid

Our investment in your student.

We understand the cost of college is a major concern for most families. Our cost of attendance does not reflect the total cost of educating a student at Dickinson; it already has been reduced by about $13,000 per student thanks to support from our endowment, alumni and foundation funds. This is in addition to $41 million in institutional grants and scholarships awarded (more than $60 million in total financial assistance processed) in 2013-14 to support our students. For examples of the value and affordability of a Dickinson education, look to the professional success of our graduates, our impressive 9:1 student-faculty ratio, the college’s outstanding campus resources and our four-year graduation rate.

WHAT TO EXPECT • We will review carefully each application for need-based financial aid including any additional information sent to us in the application process.

• If your student completes the financial aid application process on or before the deadline, you will know about aid eligibility when the offer of admission is made.

• Need-based awards usually are based on estimated income and may have to be adjusted after tax return information has been reviewed.

• If federal or state awards fall short of our estimates, we will replace them with Dickinson funds, provided you have filed an application for aid with accurate data.

Likewise, the Dickinson grant will be reduced if government grants are larger than anticipated.

• If your family’s financial situation changes, or if there are unusual circumstances we have not already considered, we will review requests for additional assistance at any time during your student’s four years. We cannot promise that the award will increase, but your concerns will be heard and reviewed.

• If your student receives a scholarship from an outside source (other than a government grant or an employee benefit), we will not reduce the Dickinson grant or scholarship unless your total gift aid from all sources exceeds our annual cost of attendance.

• Most need-based Dickinson grants will remain constant from year to year, although major increases in income or assets or a decrease in the number of students in college may result in a decreased award. In addition to grants and scholarships, most students who demonstrate need are offered a modest student loan and the opportunity to work on campus.

COST OF ATTENDANCE 2014-15 Tuition $47,242 Room and board $11,972 Activities fee $450 Total direct charges $59,664 Additional expenses (estimated) Books and supplies $1,090 Personal and transportation **$1,600 Total additional expenses $2,690 Total cost of attendance $62,354 **Transportation budget is higher for students living outside the Mid-Atlantic and New England region.

By the numbers.

• All students admitted to the class of 2018 who demonstrated financial need and met application deadlines received aid.

• The total need-based package for domestic enrolled grant recipients averaged $39,844 (grants, loans and work study).

• The average institutional award for those with need (including merit scholarships and need-based grants) was $31,478.

• Nearly 70 percent of the class received grant or scholarship aid from Dickinson.

• The average need-based loan was $3,800.

• Our four-year graduation rate is 81 percent for the class of 2014.

• The median student loan debt for those in the class of 2014 who borrowed was $21,000.

• Our most recent three-year cohort default rate for Federal Stafford Loans (FY 2011) was 1.7 percent, compared to the national average of 13.7 percent.

• One year after graduation, 91 percent of our graduates are either employed or attending graduate school.

COST OF ATTENDANCE We base eligibility for our financial aid packages on the total cost of attendance (see chart at left), not just direct costs, so that your student will have a more realistic budget and financial aid package.

Our standard budget includes both the fees billed by the college as well as supplies and personal expenses we anticipate you’ll encounter.

ACADEMIC SCHOLARSHIPS While the majority of the college’s financial aid is need-based, a modest number of scholarships is awarded in each first-year class.

All applicants, based upon credentials, are considered for Dickinson’s academic scholarships, which recognize top students in the incoming first-year class.

Students do not need to complete the need-based financial aid application or a separate scholarship application to be considered for these awards. For needbased aid applicants, the scholarship will be the first part of any need-based award.

We offer five primary merit scholarships: • John Dickinson Scholarship, $20,000 per year • Benjamin Rush Scholarship, $15,000 per year • John Montgomery Scholarship, $10,000 per year • Founders Scholarship, $7,500 per year • Deans Scholarship, $5,000 per year

Learn more about these scholarships and other special opportunities at dson.co/finaidscholarships.

How to apply for need-based aid.

CHECKLIST • CSS PROFILE: Available in early October, the College Scholarship Service (CSS) PROFILE is required to determine eligibility for Dickinson grant assistance and allows for earlier aid estimation and notification.

Register at profileonline.collegeboard.com.

Your student must list the colleges to which he or she plans to apply and will be charged a processing fee. Dickinson’s PROFILE code is 2186. Important note: The complete application, not just the registration, must be submitted on or before the application deadline. Those applying for federal aid only need to complete the FAFSA. • FAFSA: The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is necessary to qualify for federal and state financial aid programs.

The FAFSA can be completed at fafsa.gov after Jan. 1. Dickinson’s FAFSA code is 003253.

• IDOC Service: Dickinson has contracted with the College Board to collect tax returns and other verification documents through their Institutional Documentation (IDOC) service to reduce the number of places to which you need to send these documents.

Instructions will be provided by the College Board in February.

• Forms for noncustodial parents: Students whose natural parents are divorced or separated are asked to have the noncustodial parent complete a Noncustodial PROFILE to supplement the custodial parent’s PROFILE application. Each parent is expected to

contribute toward the student’s educational costs. A link to the form will be made available by CSS when the PROFILE is completed.

TIPS • Make note of deadlines. Meeting them will ensure that your student has access to all available aid.

• Ensure that your student provides us with a valid e-mail address and checks it often. Vital information and requests will be e-mailed.

• File the CSS PROFILE at least a week before the application deadline.

• Keep copies of all forms submitted.

• Let us know of special conditions such as loss of job or reduction in pay, high medical expenses, or other special circumstances.

• Check for scholarship opportunities in your hometown. Many clubs, religious and fraternal organizations, parent-teacher associations, businesses and industries offer aid to local students.

• Complete your income-tax forms in January even if you won’t file them until April. The information you gather will be critical to the accurate completion of your FAFSA application.

We’re here to help.

The Office of Financial Aid helps families to manage the cost of a Dickinson education by providing useful information, services and support. Do not hesitate to contact our helpful staff in financial aid or admissions if you have questions about the admission or aid application processes.

EARLY ESTIMATES The Net Price Calculator is designed to give you an early estimate of eligibility for need-based financial aid. While it can be a useful tool for college planning, it also has its limitations. Please read carefully the introductory and explanatory information that is provided with the calculator at dson.co/netcalculator.

ONLINE RESOURCES This brochure is simply a primer. Our Web site contains a wealth of information to help you through this process.

Below are direct links that you might find useful:

Tuition and Aid dson.co/tuitionaid

Net Price Calculator dson.co/netcalculator

Types of Assistance dson.co/finaidprograms

Scholarships dson.co/finaidscholarships

Please note that information in this brochure is for domestic families.

International families are encouraged to visit dson.co/intfinaid to learn more.

APPLICATION DEADLINES (FOR ADMISSION AND INSTITUTIONAL AID)

Early Decision I Early Action Early Decision II Regular Decision

November 15 December 1 January 15 February 1

CONTACT US Office of Financial Aid Dickinson College P.O. Box 1773 Carlisle, PA 17013-2896 717-245-1308 Fax: 717-245-1972 finaid@dickinson.edu www.dickinson.edu/financialaid Office of Admissions Dickinson College P.O. Box 1773 Carlisle, PA 17013-2896 800-644-1773 717-245-1231 Fax: 717-245-1442 admissions@dickinson.edu www.dickinson.edu/admissions

While the cost of a college education is a major investment, its value and the fit between your student and the institution are key factors. This brochure outlines our commitment to making a Dickinson education affordable and to ensuring that your student has access to our respected and accessible faculty, widely admired educational opportunities, state-of-the-art facilities, various co-curricular and extracurricular experiences and so much more.

We hope this brochure will be a useful tool to plan and manage the investment in your student and his or her college education.

The facts.

Dickinson is a premier four-year residential liberal-arts institution chartered in 1783 and widely recognized as a leader in global and sustainability education. We prepare our graduates to face the world’s challenges so they are always equipped and eager to collaborate with others to make an impact.

CAMPUS & FACILITIES • 180-acre campus • 60 general and specialinterest housing facilities • 4 LEED-gold-certified buildings ACADEMIC FEATURES • 9:1 student-faculty ratio • 15 student average class size • 43 majors plus minors, certificate programs, independent research • Army ROTC • Pre-professional programs and articulation agreements in business, engineering, health and law ENROLLMENT • 2,308 full-time students • States and territories: 43 plus District of Columbia • Foreign countries: 41 There’s more. dson.co/admissionsfacts

• TUITION & FEES (’14-’15) • Tuition — $47,242 • Room & Board — $11,972 • Student Activities Fee — $450 AID • $41 million in grants awarded in ’13-’14 • 68% of students receive merit or need-based aid ADMISSION & AID DEADLINES • Early Decision I – Nov. 15 • Early Action – Dec. 1 • Early Decision II – Jan. 15 • Regular Decision – Feb. 1

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