Current Students

To be considered for need-based financial aid, U.S. citizens and permanent residents must apply each year. International students do NOT reapply for financial aid.  Students do not reapply for merit aid; merit aid is automatically renewed if the student is in good academic standing.

Application Requirements

To receive full consideration for need-based institutional funds be sure to follow the Application Requirements carefully:
  1. Check document requirements often. To view your specific document requirements go to financial aid online.  Requirements may change; it is your responsibility to review your requirements often and share this information with your parent(s), if applicable.
  2. Look for email reminders in your MHC email.  Review these application reminders carefully. Note: we do not mail or email reminders to parents.
  3. Meet the Deadline: May 1, 2012. Late applications are subject to a decrease in grant and an increase in student loan. Applications completed after July 15, 2012 may not receive full consideration for institutional funding.

Documents

Check your MHC email regularly for important correspondence.

  1. FAFSA: File by April 15th so that we will receive the FAFSA in our office electronically by May 1.
    (MHC Code 002192) Filing the FAFSA is necessary to determine eligibility for federal assistance.

    NEW!
    IRS Data Retrieval Tool Option:     Choosing this option enables income information to be transferred directly into your FAFSA application.  If you and your parent(s) choose this option and successfully transfer your IRS data when completing your FAFSA, your chances of being required to submit tax documents to us will be significantly reduced. To use the option, file the FAFSA at least two weeks prior to filing your tax return electronically with the IRS; six weeks if you file via paper.  If you have already filed your FAFSA but did not select the IRS data retrieval option, you may return to your FAFSA and select that option now or at a later date. (Be sure to file your FAFSA before May 1st  in any case.)
  2. CSS / Financial Aid PROFILE:  File by April 15th so that we will receive the PROFILE electronically in our office by May 1. 
    (MHC code 3529)  Filing the PROFILE is necessary to determine your eligibility for institutional assistance.

    Noncustodial PROFILE (NCP)
    If your parents are separated, divorced, or never married, we require the Noncustodial parent to submit a web-based Noncustodial PROFILE (NCP).  Please review our non custodial parent policy.
  3. Federal Tax Documents

    NEW!
    IDOC    : Sending documents to IDOC is no longer required of all students. Students who are required to submit tax documents to IDOC will be emailed detailed instructions from the College Board.  Please look for this important email notification.

    IRS Data Retrieval Tool Option: Choosing this option may eliminate our need to collect tax documents from you. Please see FAFSA, IRS Data Retrieval Tool Option, above. (Important note: If you are notified to submit documents to IDOC you will still be required to send tax documents to IDOC even if you select the IRS data retrieval option.)

Federal Verification Information 
NEW!
In order to comply with revised federal regulations, we must collect additional documentation from students who have been “selected for verification.”  (Selection occurs after the FAFSA has been filed.) This documentation will consist of a completed 2012-2013 Verification Worksheet and a Tax Return Transcript, if the IRS data retrieval option was not used. If you have been selected for verification, the 2012-2013 Verification Worksheet will appear as a required document in your financial aid online documents’ tab. You may click on the document link in your documents tab and then print and complete the document. If a tax return transcript is required from you and/or your parent(s) those documents will be listed as well with instructions on how to obtain Tax Return Transcripts from the IRS.  Please make sure all federal verification documents are submitted directly to our office by May 1, 2012.

Please keep in mind!

  • Frequently check financial aid online for document changes and messages
  • Share our email reminders with your parent(s)
  • The deadline will be extended if new information is requested from you after May 1
  • Make sure the FAFSA and the PROFILE are signed
  • Use correct social security numbers

Notification of Aid Eligibility

Students who have completed their aid application by May 1 will receive an email notification regarding their financial aid eligibility in mid June.

Questions about the Application Process?

Contact us:
Phone:  413-538-2291, phone hours are 9:00am to 4:00pm
Stop by: Walk-in hours are 8:30am to 5:00pm. We are located at 16 Skinner Hall.
Email:    sfs@mtholyoke.edu