Financial Aid

Hampshire College understands financing a college education is a significant investment for students and their families. While it is the responsibility of both the students and their families to pay college expenses prior to the beginning of each semester, the college is aware that many families may require financial assistance. The college provides significant financial resources to help students who meet the required admission and financial need standards. Families anticipating the need for financial aid should submit a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov [1] by the deadline each year. The filing deadline for returning students is May 1st.

For detailed information about our aid programs and policies, our application process, due dates, and links to forms, outside resources, agencies, and federal websites visit the Hampshire College Financial Aid webpage [2]. A brief description of some of the most important financial aid features are included below.

Aid Eligibility

Financial aid offers are based on demonstrated need, academic progress, and fund availability. Financial aid is not automatically renewable; families must reapply for financial aid each academic year. Need is the difference between the cost of a Hampshire education and the amount a student and family can reasonably be expected to contribute. The expected family contribution consists of a contribution from the parents, a portion of the student’s savings and assets, and a summer earnings expectation from the student.

Students must be making satisfactory academic progress [3][285] according to the College's guidelines to be eligible for financial aid (federal, state, and institutional awards including merit scholarships). The center for academic support and advising (CASA) [4][11] and the financial aid office [5][30] will measure academic progress once per year at the end of the spring semester.

Aid Application Process

All financial aid students (except international students) need to reapply for financial aid each year. For U.S. citizens and permanent residents the FAFSA [6] [287] form is used to determine eligibility for federal, state, and institutional aid including federal student loans, federal and state grants, and federal work-study. Students applying for fall term institutional aid must provide the necessary financial aid forms to the financial aid office by May 1. Students applying for aid for the spring term only must submit these forms by December 1. Renewal application reminders are emailed in the spring; new applicants may notify the financial aid office that they wish to apply.

Be sure to review your online financial aid account on TheHub [7][54] to review the status of your aid application and check for missing documents; click on the "My financial aid" link; log in again; be sure the appropriate year is showing in the drop down box in the top right corner, click on the "menu" icon in the upper left corner, and then click on the "My Documents & Messages" tab.

Students selected for the verification process need to provide all required forms and data, including those for the verification process, before a financial aid offer is determined.

Aid Decisions

Hampshire College determines federal and institutional financial aid on the basis of demonstrated financial need. The first element in the determination of a student’s offer is the financial aid budget set by the College to cover the student’s cost of attendance, which includes tuition and fees, housing and food (or expenses for those not living on campus), books, supplies, travel, personal expenses and federal student loan origination fees.

From the information provided on the application form, the FAFSA determines a Student Aid Index (SAI). This is calculated by examining the income and assets of both the student and parents for a dependent student or the student or the student and spouse, if applicable, for an independent student. The SAI is deducted from the student’s cost of attendance, resulting in the family’s need.

After we receive all of your required documents and data for your aid application, we will review your application and determine if we can provide you with need-based aid. On-time applicants will be notified of their financial aid decisions by the end of June; late applicants will be notified after their aid application becomes complete. You will be sent an email to your Hampshire email account directing you to your online financial aid account onTheHUB [7] [54] to review your financial aid offers; instructions on how to view your account will be included in the email notification. You must also accept your offers onTheHUB [7][54] to authorize us to post them to your College bill and to originate and disburse your federal aid. The self-help (Federal Direct Student loan) component of your aid offer will increase each year as you progress toward your degree.

Aid Policies

All students must maintain satisfactory academic progress [3] to be eligible for financial aid including merit scholarships, need-based institutional aid, federal and state aid.

International students who did not receive a grant from the College upon their initial enrollment are not eligible during their Hampshire career, even if there is a change in circumstance or currency exchange rates.

Students not on a full meal plan will have a reduction in their need based institutional grant. Students living off campus in an apartment or at home will have a reduction in their cost of attendance and their corresponding institutional grant eligibility. Please contact the financial aid office for more details.

Please review our website for additional policies: https://www.hampshire.edu/aid-policies [8]

Types of Financial Aid

A financial aid offer may be composed of funds from federal, state, and institutional sources. Families are encouraged to apply for all types of aid.

Federal Pell Grant

Federal grant funds available to students who demonstrate high need. Students must apply each year for Pell grant consideration by completing the FAFSA application. The federal government determines eligibility and amount. Grants are considered gift aid and are not paid back.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

Federal grant funds available to students who demonstrate high need and have Pell grant eligibility. Students must apply each year for FSEOG consideration by completing the FAFSA application. Funds are limited and although a student may be eligible, the resources may not be available.

State Grants

Need-based and/or non-need based scholarships and grants may be available from a student’s home state. Currently, Massachusetts and Vermont grant programs can be applied to tuition at Hampshire College.

Hampshire Need-based aid

Need-based assistance is determined each year using the information provided on the FAFSA application and is awarded by the Financial Aid Office.

Federal Work Study

A need-based federal program that allows students the opportunity to work on-campus or with an off-campus partner. Eligibility is determined by federal and college regulations, and is intended to provide students with the ability to help defray educational costs during the course of the academic year. Funding is limited.

Hampshire also has institutionally funded work study for international students. For more information please refer to the Student Employment section on this handbook.

Federal Student Loans

Students are eligible for a student loan even if they are not receiving other assistance. Students not awarded but interested in a student loan must notify this office of the loan amount. Hampshire participates in the Federal William D. Ford Direct Loan Program [9][288]. The FAFSA [10][289] is the application for this loan program. Annual loan limits are $5500 for first-year students (0 - 6 successfully completed courses); $6500 for second-years (7 - 12 courses); and $7500 beginning with the third year (third year = 13 - 18 courses; fourth year = 19+ courses). After all of the loan paperwork is completed, the loan will be disbursed to your student account. First-time borrowers are required to participate in an online entrance counseling session and sign a master promissory note before their loans can be disbursed. These forms can be completed at www.studentaid.gov [11]. Students are also required to participate in an exit counseling session when leaving Hampshire. Student rights, responsibilities, and obligations will be explained during both entrance and exit sessions. Hampshire College adheres to a strict Code of Conduct [12] [290]related to student loans.

Other Aid

Additional assistance may be available through other resources. We recommend you view our website for more information: https://www.hampshire.edu/grants-and-scholarships [13]

Financial Aid Office

If you have any questions about the financial aid application process or our policies please contact us by phone at 413.559.5484; by email at financialaid@hampshire.edu [14][87], visit our website at http://financialaid.hampshire.edu [15][291] or drop by our office. We are located on the second floor of the R. W. Kern Center.

If you need to send documents to the financial aid office be sure to write your name and/or Hampshire ID number on each document. You may securely fax documents to 413.559.5585 or mail them to the Financial aid office, Hampshire College, 893 West Street, Amherst, MA 01002-3359. You may also upload your documents to your financial aid portal. For more information about uploading documents, visit https://www.hampshire.edu/sending-documents-us [16].

Student Employment

There are a variety of employment opportunities and experiences for students at Hampshire College. Eligible students can view the master job list [17] [292] and other job listings.

Students can work up to 7 hours per week in general work study positions (combined hours in all positions held) and are paid directly on a biweekly schedule according to the time submitted on the HUB. The wage rate for most positions is $15 per hour for the 2024-25 academic year. Students must apply for and secure their own positions, employment is not a guarantee. Students may need to utilize some of their work-study earnings to satisfy their tuition bills, and have the option to pay directly or to sign up for payroll deduction. The student accounts office [18] [293] allows students to deduct up to $500 per semester from work-study earnings.

Students are required to complete paperwork before they begin their employment. All first-time employees at the College must complete an I-9 Form (requires identification and citizenship or visa status) to certify their eligibility for employment. W-4, M-4, and work authorization forms are also required and are available in the student employment office [18] [293].

Students must submit their hours worked, by the payroll processing due date, electronically on TheHUB [19] [294]; click on the "Enter My Timecard" link. Students will not receive pay for hours not reported. The hours worked must also be approved by the student’s supervisor.

Students with federal work study funding may not earn more than the work-study offer listed on their financial aid offer letter. Students will be notified periodically of their award balance. If a student earns the maximum offer, the student will need to stop working even if the semester or year is not over. If the student earns more than the maximum offer, the financial aid office may need to reduce the student's institutional grant funding to keep their total aid within their financial aid budget.

For additional rights and responsibilities as a work-study employee please refer to your Work Authorization form(s) or contact the student employment coordinator or the financial aid office.

Questions or comments? Contact the dean of students office at deanofstudents@hampshire.edu.