Eligibility

Financial assistance at Hampshire

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 its own financial resources. Need is determined by the financial aid office using a standard formula that is applied without regard to sex, gender, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or national and ethnic origin. Academic merit is not a consideration in granting need-based awards, but any merit award is included in the total need-based financial aid package. For example, if a student receives a merit scholarship through the admissions office, any need-based Hampshire Grant will be reduced by the amount of the merit scholarship

Cost of Attendance

The cost of attendance (COA) includes both direct costs (expenses billed to you and directly paid to the College), and indirect costs (expenses not billed to you but incurred as a result of attendance that the student/family may pay). The COA includes tuition, fees, books, course materials, supplies, housing, food, transportation, federal loan fees, and other miscellaneous expenses. These expenses are used and reviewed along with the FAFSA application (or CSS Profile for international students) to determine a student's financial need.

Total aid, including grants, outside scholarships, parent tuition benefits, work-study, and loans, cannot exceed the student's cost of attendance.

Students assigned to on-campus housing and not on a full meal plan will have a reduction in their Hampshire Grant. Students who have been approved to live off-campus will have a larger reduction in their Hampshire Grant. Please contact the financial aid office for more details.

We include estimated transportation costs in the COA which vary depending on a student's state of residence. The estimated costs for students from the northeast is $734 for the year; $978 from the mid-west, $902 from the southeast, $1,074 from the southwest, and $1,404 from the west. Students living outside of the U.S. have a $2,808 travel budget. Students approved to live off-campus have a budget of $1,538.

For a complete summary of fees and other charges, please visit our Tuition and Fees page.

Family Contribution

A family's estimated contribution consists first of the amount that we determine the parents can reasonably be expected to pay, based on the information supplied on financial aid applications. Consideration is given to the parents' income (taxable and non-taxable), assets, household size, taxes paid, and any unusual circumstances that may affect the family's financial situation.

Second is the amount the student is expected to contribute from earnings from work, potential summer earnings, and from their own savings and assets (trust funds, certificates of deposit, investments, savings, and checking accounts) as supplied on financial aid applications.

You can get an estimate of what the calculated family contribution is for your particular situation by using the Net Price Calculator.

Cost of attendance minus expected family contribution equals need. See our Financial Aid Offer section for information on what an offer may contain based on eligibility.

Availability of Professional Judgments

Section 479A of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, gives financial aid administrators the authority to exercise “professional judgment” to address the special circumstances that may arise for students and their families who apply for federal financial aid. The FAFSA Simplification Act distinguishes between different categories of professional judgment by amending section 479A of the HEA.

Special Circumstances refer to the financial situation (loss of job, reduction of income) that justify adjusting the data elements in the cost of attendance (COA) or in the Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation.
Unusual Circumstances refer to the conditions that justify making an adjustment to a student’s dependency status, commonly known as a dependency override. Situations may include, but are not limited to, homelessness, inability to locate parent, imprisonment of parent, abuse/neglect, etc.

Financial aid administrators may make adjustments that are appropriate to each student’s situation with appropriate documentation. It is possible for a student to have both a special circumstance and an unusual circumstance. Professional judgments must be made on a case-by-case basis.

Students may request an adjustment during the time they are applying for financial aid assistance to attend Hampshire College or when a change in circumstances arises. Adjustments made for special circumstances are only valid for one year — however, students can request a review for special circumstances each year they are enrolled. A student with a dependency override is assumed independent for subsequent years at the same institution unless there is a change in circumstances.

Timing of Determination for Special Circumstances

Within seven business days of a student notifying the financial aid office at Hampshire College of a special circumstance, the financial aid office will email the student and/or parent the Hampshire College Appeal worksheet and communicate to the student what documentation is needed for the special circumstance.
Within ten business days of receiving documentation, the financial aid office will review and notify student if additional information or clarification is needed to support their case. If file is complete, the financial aid office will review and make a determination on the adjustments needed to the FAFSA® application. If applicable, the FAFSA® application will be updated as necessary and student will be notified of adjustment to financial aid eligibility. If documentation is not sufficient to make an adjustment to the FAFSA®, student will be notified and no adjustment will be made. If we receive additional documentation we will review again.

Timing of Determination for Unusual Circumstances

Within 15 business days of a FAFSA® being received by Hampshire College with an indication of an unusual circumstance and/or the student notifies the financial aid office at Hampshire College of an unusual circumstance, the financial aid office will review and communicate to student what documentation is needed for the unusual circumstance.
Within ten business days of receiving documentation, the financial aid office will review and notify student if additional information or clarification is needed to support their case. If file is complete financial aid will review and make a determination on the student’s dependency status. The FAFSA® application will be updated as necessary and student will be notified of decision.
As previously provided by law, if a student pursues an adjustment for unusual circumstances and the financial aid administrator does not determine that the student should be considered independent, the student will only be eligible for dependent-level Direct Unsubsidized Loans unless they subsequently complete the FAFSA® form as a dependent student by providing parental information.

Please contact the financial aid office at 413.559.5484 or via email at financialaid@hampshire.edu to discuss your Special or Unusual Circumstance. We will guide you to the next steps and inform you of the documentation required to review your situation.