Hampshire College

Financial assistance at Hampshire is based on demonstrated financial need, defined as the difference between the cost of attendance and what a family can contribute toward that cost from their own financial resources. Need is determined by the financial aid office, using a standard formula that is applied without regard to sex, race, color, religion, or national and ethnic origin. Academic merit is not a consideration in granting need-based awards.

COST OF ATTENDANCE
The comprehensive cost of a Hampshire education includes the direct expenses for tuition, room and board, fees, and health insurance, as well as indirect expenses of books, supplies, personal needs, and travel. The cost, or "budget" used to determine need at Hampshire is listed below. When estimating costs, you should also consider an allowance for two round-trips home during the year.

COST OF ATTENDANCE FOR 2008-09

FAMILY CONTRIBUTION
A family's estimated contribution consists first of the amount that we feel the parents can reasonably be expected to pay, based on the information supplied on financial aid application forms and documented by tax returns. Consideration is given to the parents’ income (both taxable and non-taxable), assets (including equity in the family home), household size, the number of children enrolled in college, taxes, medical expenses, provision for younger children who will enroll in college in later years, and any unusual circumstances that affect the family's financial situation. The number of children in college is a large factor in the analysis. A separate calculation is performed on each parent’s information when they are not together.

Second is the amount the student is expected to contribute from his or her own savings and assets as well as summer earnings. Each year, 25 percent of any personal assets a student may have—trust funds, certificates of deposit, investments, savings accounts—is expected. We also expect that students generate $1,600 - $2,000 from summer employment.

You can get an estimate of what the calculated family contribution is for your particular situation by going to the College Board’s website. They have a family contribution calculator page where you can enter all of the pertinent information, choose calculator, and get an estimated family contribution result. You should choose the “institutional methodology” option as that is the methodology used to determine eligibility for Hampshire Grant aid.  College Board calculator

Cost of attendance minus expected family contribution equals need. See Award Packages section for information on how we meet a student’s need for assistance.