Apply for Financial Aid

Student Financial Services   |   Deadlines   |   Contacts

At Mount Holyoke, we believe a college education is one of the most important investments a student will ever make. The College is prepared to assist students and their families manage the cost of a Mount Holyoke education. While the College expects families to assume the primary responsibility for paying for their daughter's education to the level of their maximum capacity, Mount Holyoke has a substantial commitment to providing financial aid to those students who demonstrate financial need.

Whether you are applying for financial aid as a prospective or a current student, be sure to follow all directions and meet all deadlines. Select the appropriate category to the left to find detailed application instructions and policy information.  If you have any questions, we are happy to assist you.

Merit-Based Scholarships
As part of your financial aid package, Mount Holyoke offers a limited number of merit-based scholarships—awarded competitively—to first-year candidates who have an outstanding record of scholarship and extracurricular achievement in high school and who demonstrate noteworthy leadership skills. This determination is made through the office of Admission.

Other Scholarships

Current students (as well as first-year applicants) are encouraged to utilize reputable scholarship searches to expand their opportunity to reduce their need for educational borrowing or the family contribution. The following are just a few of the resources available.  All offsite links below are provided as a courtesy and do not imply endorsement by Mount Holyoke College.

Fellowships and Scholarships through the MHC Career Development Center
College Board Scholarship Search
NextStudent Scholarship Search
Scholarship Search by Specific Majors or Courses of Study
FastWeb Scholarship Search
Free Scholarship Searches

See the Outside Scholarship policy for more detailed information on the affect scholarships may have to the MHC Financial Aid Package.

For detailed information and techniques on scholarship searches, read the Scholarship Search Secrets e-book (this is an offsite link), published by the Student Loan Network.

All students should be mindful of scholarship scams.  Student Financial Services warns students to be cautious of scholarship search firms that have any of these elements:

• Must pay a fee
• Money-Back Guarantee
• Credit Card/Bank Account information required
• Offers exclusive information
• Promises cash if you pay a registration fee
• Pay a fee and you are guaranteed to win awards
• Pay a fee and receive a low interest rate education loan
• Promises to replace loans with grant if you pay a processing fee

Students, watch out for this scam!

For more information, see FinAid Scholarship Scams - If you have to pay money to get money, it's probably a scam.

The Orange County News posted an informative article on August 15, 2007.  Select the image below for the full article.