Can I afford to attend Sarah Lawrence College?

Yes. Approximately 70 percent of students at Sarah Lawrence receive some form of financial aid. The amount of aid received is determined by a student's demonstrated need.

How do I apply for financial aid?

Sarah Lawrence requires every student seeking financial aid to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile). Both forms are available online—just follow the links above.

In addition to these two forms, we require signed, completed copies of your and your parent's federal income tax returns for the year previous to that during which you are applying for admission

If your parents are separated or divorced, we also require that your non-custodial parent file and return the CSS Profile Non-Custodial Parent Statement (NCPS), which will be available to you directly from CSS upon receipt and processing of your application. The form may be accessed at ncprofile.collegeboard.com.

Please see Financial Aid Deadlines for the schedule of materials required.

All male students aged 18–26 (if required to do so) must register for Selective Service before any form of financial aid may be awarded. You can now register online for Selective Service.

How is financial need determined?

In determining a student's demonstrated need, Sarah Lawrence subscribes to the practice and procedures of federal and institutional methodology as published by the U.S. Department of Education and the College Scholarship Service. The formulas consider necessary family expenditures, including taxes, living costs, outstanding medical expenses and costs for siblings' college tuition.

Students are expected to contribute 50 percent of their income and 25 percent of their assets toward the cost of their own education. The minimum expected contribution from a first-year student is $1,350 and, from all others. $1,500. Financial need is determined by subtracting your family contribution from the total cost of education. In addition to tuition, room and board, we consider books, supplies, travel and personal expenses as costs related to attending college.

How is financial aid packaged?

Grants, employment and student loans are the three elements of a Sarah Lawrence financial aid package. You are not required to accept the loan or work offer in order to receive Sarah Lawrence Gift Aid.

What is Sarah Lawrence Gift Aid?

Sarah Lawrence Gift Aid is funded from various sources, including contributions from alumnae/i, parents, students, and friends of the College. Sarah Lawrence Gift Aid is directly applicable to any tuition, room and board expenses incurred while enrolled at Sarah Lawrence or one of its overseas programs. It does not need to be repaid.

What federal grants are available?

Federal Pell and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) are awarded to students who meet the eligibility criteria as established by the Department of Education. All financial aid applicants who are U.S. citizens apply by completing the FAFSA. Students eligible for Pell funding may also be eligible for the Federal SEOG. This grant is awarded after the Office of Financial Aid obtains the official results of your FAFSA from the Department of Education. For more information, check out the Federal Pell Grant site.

Pell Grant recipients who graduate(d) from a rigorous high school program may be eligible to receive the federal Academic Competiveness Grant (ACG).  New students will be notified of this award after the review of their final high school academic transcript has been done by the Office of Admission. Returning Pell Grant recipients who graduated from a rigorous high school program after January 2005 may also be eligible to receive ACG.

Pell Grant recipients who are third or fourth year returning students and are taking at least 25% of their coursework in selected math and science disciplines may be eligible to receive the federal National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (SMART). Students meeting the criteria for selection will be notified of this award after each drop-add period is over.

What state grants are available?

New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is available to all eligible New York residents attending Sarah Lawrence College. New York residents who complete the FAFSA will be sent a separate TAP application, which they must complete and file by the stated deadline. For more information, explore the New York State site.

Rhode Island, Vermont, Michigan, Washington DC and Oregon offer grant programs to their residents who attend New York colleges. Contact the state education department or your high school guidance counselor for further information.

How does student employment work?

If you receive financial aid, you may work on campus. The first four weeks of the fall semester are reserved for the hiring of Work-Study students. After this period, campus jobs are available to all students. The Office of Student Employment will be available to assist you in the job search process. You will receive a paycheck every two weeks for work already performed.

In addition to on-campus jobs, community employment opportunities in the vicinity of the College are posted on a bulletin board in MacCracken Hall. These jobs are usually part time, and most do not require transportation to the site.

What types of loans are available to students with financial need?

Sarah Lawrence commonly awards two types of federally administered student loans: the Perkins Loan and the Stafford Loan.

Federal Perkins Loans are awarded to students who demonstrate the greatest need. This loan carries a 5 percent interest rate, which accrues six or nine months after graduation or as soon as the borrower drops below half-time status. Repayment also begins at that time and usually continues over a 10-year period.

Federal Stafford Loans are available through the federal government and a lender of your choice. If you demonstrate "need," you are eligible for the subsidized Stafford Loan, on which the federal government pays interest as it accrues until six months after your graduation or the point at which you drop below half-time status. If you do not demonstrate "need," you are eligible for an unsubsidized Stafford Loan, on which the interest must be paid while you are in school. As with the subsidized loan, repayment of principle begins six months after you graduate or drop below half-time status. Repayment of either loan can be made over a 10-to-15-year period.

First-year students are eligible for up to $3,500 in Stafford loans, sophomores up to $4,500 and juniors and seniors up to $5,500. The variable interest rate on the Stafford Loan for new borrowers is based on the 91-day Treasury bill plus a 3.1 percent allowance, not to exceed 8.25 percent. The rate for students enrolling for the following school year is announced at the beginning of June.

The federal government may charge an origination fee for the Stafford Loan. The state guaranty agency may charge up to an additional 1 percent insurance fee as well. These fees are deducted from each semester's check.

A student loan is an obligation that must be repaid after you complete your degree or cease to be enrolled. For more information on how to apply for a Stafford Loan, see question #13.

What about loans for parents?

The Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) is a program whereby credit-worthy parents may borrow the total cost of their child's education minus any financial aid awarded to the student. The variable interest rate is capped at 10 percent based on the 52-week Treasury bill plus an allowance of 3.1 percent. Temporary credit will appear on each semester's bill until the PLUS checks are endorsed by the parent and Sarah Lawrence College. You can file online.

How will I receive notice of my financial aid award?

If you're an incoming applicant and you file the necessary forms by the stated deadlines, you will receive notification of your award in early April. Returning applicants will be notified in early May if the required financial forms and tax returns are received by the deadlines. Late applicants for financial aid will be notified upon completion of all required documents, and awards will be subject to fund availability at the time of completion. Since our financial aid resources are limited, funding may not be available to late applicants.

How do I accept my award?

To accept your award and have the aid credited to your student account, you must submit all documents requested by the Office of Financial Aid no later than the stated deadlines. Renewal of financial aid is not automatic. Forms must be filed by the stated deadlines each year of attendance. Recipients must continue to demonstrate financial need and maintain satisfactory academic progress to remain eligible for financial aid.

How do I apply for Stafford Loans once my eligibility is determined?

If you are eligible for Stafford Loans, you will be notified in your financial aid award letter from the Office of Financial Aid. You may then file online. Once you select the lender, you will receive a Master Promissory Note, which you must complete and return to your lender. Once this Master Promissory Note is filed with your lender, the funds from your loan will be made available to your account through the Sarah Lawrence College Bursar's Office. You should stay with the same lender throughout your academic career here.

What happens to my financial aid if I study off-campus?

If you are studying overseas on one of Sarah Lawrence's programs, all aid for which you are eligible will be applied to the cost of the program—including Sarah Lawrence Gift Aid. If you are studying at another college, or through another school's program, you and the Office of Financial Aid at the host institution will need to complete a Consortium Agreement with the Sarah Lawrence Office of Financial Aid. Through this agreement, the Stafford Loans, PLUS loans and Pell Grant monies will be applied to the cost of that program.

Whether or not I qualify for aid, are there other payment or loan options available to help my family meet college costs?

Yes. Sarah Lawrence offers a 10-month payment plan administered through the Sarah Lawrence Office of the Bursar. Please call 914.395.2550 for more information on this plan.

In addition, there are many private or alternative student loans available through various lenders which do not require that a student demonstrate need.

What about other non-Sarah Lawrence based financial assistance?

In addition to the aid components available to Sarah Lawrence for inclusion in your package, we recommend several other financing options.

Scholarships are awarded by many foundations, civic and religious organizations and affinity groups to academically talented students.

You should report any financial assistance awarded from a community organization, foundation or high school to the Office of Financial Aid as soon as possible. Adjustments to your financial aid award may be required according to the sources involved. In most cases, this office will reduce the loan portions of your financial aid award so that your total award does not exceed your need.

Application for assistance must be made annually. Awards, which may fluctuate, are continued on the basis of financial need and the student's satisfactory academic progress as determined each semester by the Committee on Student Work.

Does Sarah Lawrence offer need-based scholarships that are distinctive?

Yes. Unless otherwise specified, donor scholarships are awarded to returning students who have financial need and have demonstrated academic achievement.

How can I become an independent student?

Dependency is determined when you are admitted to the College.

If you are dependent at the time of admission, you remain so throughout your undergraduate years (for Sarah Lawrence funds only). Sarah Lawrence accepts the dependency criteria determined by the Department of Education (for federal funds only).

How is my aid affected when a sibling attends college at the same time?

As long as your sibling is enrolled at least half time in an undergraduate degree program, your family contribution is divided equally between the two of you. Siblings attending graduate or professional programs should not be reported as family members attending college.

What does “satisfactory academic progress” mean?

The federal government and Sarah Lawrence have policies governing who may continue to receive financial assistance. This determination is based on both how many credits you attempt, earn and what your grade point average is at the end of each academic year.

The Sarah Lawrence policy is easiest to understand. Sarah Lawrence resources are available for the first 120 credits you attempt. You’ll need to be aware that if you lose credit along the way, it may have an impact on our financial aid decision in your last semesters here.

The federal government policy is reflected in this chart:

You must continuously maintain a 2.0 or better grade point average at the end of your sophomore year.