Understanding Financial Aid at Rollins College

Just started looking into Rollins College and I'm a little confused about their financial aid system. Can somebody break down how it works, and what kind of aid is generally available? Thanks!

Absolutely, glad you're interested in learning more about financial aid at Rollins College!

Rollins College offers both need-based and merit-based aid to eligible students. The first step in applying for need-based aid is completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which opens on October1 every year. Rollins' school code for the FAFSA is 001515. The FAFSA is used to calculate your expected family contribution (EFC), which is now referred to as the Student Aid Index (SAI) after recent changes.

After Rollins receives the FAFSA, the school's office of financial aid puts together a financial aid package based on the difference between the cost of attendance (COA) and your SAI. The COA includes tuition, fees, room and board, textbooks, personal expenses, and travel costs. Your aid package can include a combination of federal, state, and institutional grants, loans, and work-study opportunities.

In addition to need-based aid, Rollins offers merit-based scholarships, which do not require a separate application. When you submit your application for admission, you're automatically considered for these scholarships. They are generally awarded on the basis of academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement.

Also, Rollins has a couple of special scholarship programs like the Alfond Scholars program, which offers a select group of out-of-state first-year students full tuition, room, board, and any associated fees covered for all four years. The scholarship is renewable as long as the recipient maintains satisfactory academic progress.

So, while there's no one-size-fits-all answer to what sort of aid you'll get, know that it can come from various sources and be in the form of grants, loans, work-study jobs, and merit scholarships. It's recommended to utilize Rollins' Net Price Calculator to get an idea of what your individualized financial aid package might look like.As a side note, always remember to look out for outside scholarships and grants that you can apply for, since those could help supplement any institutional or federal aid.That should give you an idea of how the financial aid system works at Rollins. Feel free to ask if you have further doubts!