Applying for Aid

As with many new experiences, the financial aid application may seem complicated. However, if you meet the application deadlines and complete all of the required forms, you will find the entire process straightforward. The GMC financial aid staff is available by phone, online or in person to assist you every step of the way.

Applying for financial aid is an annual process with many factors contributing in determining financial aid eligibility. Changes in family financial circumstances might affect eligibility for need-based student aid each year.

Deadlines
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) cannot be filed before January 1 of the calendar year for which the student is seeking financial aid. The preferred deadline for first year applicants is March 1, while it is required of returning students to submit theirs by April 15.

Green Mountain College accepts both paper and electronic applications on a rolling basis. To request a paper application, please call or email our Admissions Office at (800) 776-6675 or admiss@greenmtn.edu for an application. In addition, we are pleased to work with students who have chosen to utilize any of the common application forms now in use nationwide, in either print or electronic format.

How Aid Works
At Green Mountain College, we believe that students and parents should assume primary responsibility for meeting college costs and that financial aid should supplement a family's own resources. We expect that parents will contribute to the extent that they are able, according to federal and institutional guidelines, and that the student will share in the cost of education through working, borrowing, and saving. If a family's resources are not sufficient to cover the student's total budget, the student may receive a financial aid award to assist with the difference.

The data reported on the FAFSA determines the expected family contribution (EFC). The EFC is then subtracted from the cost of attendance for the academic year. The resulting figure is called demonstrated financial need.

COST OF ATTENDANCE - EFC = DEMONSTRATED FINANCIAL NEED

The result determines a student's eligibility for various financial aid resources. Once the specific types of financial aid are determined, a financial aid award notification is prepared and sent to the student.