Planning

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Earlham’s costs?

For the 2007-08 academic year, tuition and fees are $31,514, and room and board charges are $6,504. We estimate books, supplies and personal expenses at $1,850. Travel expenses vary from student to student. If the student is not covered by a parent’s health insurance, s/he must enroll in the student health insurance plan which costs $199 per year (this figure is subject to change). There is also a $250 Enrollment Deposit collected with your acceptance of admission to Earlham.

Is there any way to cut these costs?

Earlham’s tuition and fees are fixed once they are set each year by the Board of Trustees. The charges are the same for in-state and out-of-state residents. Room and board costs can be reduced very slightly by selecting a meal (board) plan which costs less. A student may be able to buy used books instead of new ones. Personal expenses will depend on a student’s interests and their own budgeting skills. Keep in mind that many activities on Earlham’s campus (concerts, sporting events, etc.) are free for students. For many families, applying for financial aid is the most effective way to “cut” college costs

What types of financial aid does Earlham offer?

Earlham awards three different types of financial assistance: grants and scholarships, student employment, and loans.

• Grants & Scholarships: Grants and scholarships are funds which students don’t have to pay back. These kinds of funds can come from the federal government, state agencies, Earlham and local or corporate agencies.

• Student Employment: At Earlham, work-study students can earn money by working in positions on campus or for certain non-profit community service agencies, for an average of 10 hours per week. Earlham co-funds this program with the federal government.

• Loans: Earlham offers federal educational loans for students and parents through the Perkins and Direct Loan programs

How do I apply for these funds?

There are detailed instructions in the Applying for Financial Aid at Earlham section of this guide, but essentially students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (also known as the FAFSA) and the Earlham Application for Financial Aid. When these forms are completed, a family will have applied for federal and Earlham aid funds. Deadlines are important, so be sure to complete these applications on time

What about state grants?

Indiana residents apply for state funding when they complete the FAFSA (by March 1). Other states may have different application processes, and you should check with your state agency or high school guidance counselor to learn the procedures. Be aware that some state grant funds will not transfer to another state. For example, Ohio’s state grant programs stipulate that you must attend a school in Ohio to receive their grant, but Pennsylvania state grants do transfer out of state

How do I find out about local or corporate scholarships?

These are called “outside” scholarships, because the funding comes from sources other than a state agency, a federal program or from Earlham. There are many students each year who use funding from outside scholarships to help pay for their education. There are several sources for researching this kind of funding. High school guidance counselors may have information about local and community scholarships in your area. Check with parents’ employers, unions, civic organizations, churches, professional organizations or agencies where you volunteer. If you or your parents are Veterans, check with the Veterans’ Administration. Public libraries often have publications like “The Complete Scholarship Book” which lists over 5,000 scholarship and grant sources. If you have access to the World Wide Web, http://www.finaid.org/ is a great site for finding free and low-cost scholarship databases. Again, deadlines are often crucial in these application processes, so be sure to complete applications on time.

What should I know about commercial scholarship search services?

You may find your mailbox filling up with solicitations from companies offering to find you funding “that goes unawarded year after year.” Unfortunately, there are many companies charging significant amounts (over $100) to tell you about funding which aid offices would have awarded automatically (federal or state funding) or about scholarships at schools which may not offer the programs or major you want. There are several low-cost (free or less than $30) scholarship search databases on the Web (start with http://www.finaid.org/), or you can do your own research at the library. There are many “search scams” being investigated by the Federal Trade Commission, and we recommend you research a commercial scholarship service from a “buyer beware” perspective before sending any money.

I don’t think my family will qualify for financial aid. Why should I apply?

We provide a chart that shows the range, by income groups, of the families who receive financial aid at Earlham. We encourage everyone to apply and give us the chance to show you how we can help. The only cost to you is the time to complete the forms and a few stamps. If you complete the application process, we will be able to respond more quickly to financial emergencies as well (e.g., unexpected loss of parent’s employment).