Financial Assistance to Students

Manhattan College provides the maximum financial aid available to qualified students to make their attendance at Manhattan financially possible.

To this end, the College administers a wide range of scholarship and financial aid programs designed to enable the student to pursue his/her studies to graduation. The basis of selection is ability and/or need. Students are advised that program guidelines and funding levels, especially State and Federal, are subject to change without enough advance notice to be corrected in this publication.

All financial aid is renewable on a yearly basis provided the student remains eligible; i.e., files the FAFSA by April 15th, is enrolled in a matriculated program, is in good academic standing and continues to demonstrate need (for need based aid). Please check scholarship requirements listed under each type of scholarship.

Meeting the complete costs of college, however, usually requires a cooperative effort from several possible sources of funds: student and family, Manhattan College, state and federal government agencies and independent sources of aid. Manhattan College attempts to meet a significant portion of need but is unable to meet full need due to financial limitations.

Application Procedures

Students who wish to apply for any type of need based financial assistance through Manhattan College must file a Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA 002758) as early as possible after January 1st preceding the academic year for which they wish to be considered for aid. Incoming freshmen should file by February 15^th to ensure timely handling of their admissions application. FAFSA applications are no longer made available by the Department of Education, therefore, families must file on the web at: www.fafsa.ed.gov. Continuing students must file by the April 1^st deadline and filing with completed federal taxes is recommended. Financial aid will be awarded on a “first time first serve basis” after that time. Applications received after April 30th may be subject to a 20% reduction or possible cancellation of any need based institutional aid.

The Federal Student Aid Program performs a needs analysis service which computes the family contribution toward educational costs. Manhattan College then determines financial need based on the total cost of attendance at the college. The cost of attendance includes tuition and fees, room and board (even if a student will commute an allowance is given for room and board at home), books, transportation and personal expenses. The Student Financial Services Office deducts the family contribution as determined by the FAFSA from the Total Cost of Attendance to arrive at a family financial need. All attempts are made to help fill this need (also known as the Gap) with a combination of gift (scholarships and grants from Manhattan College, federal and state grant programs and outside scholarships), loans (Federal Stafford and Perkins) and work programs (College Work Study and Campus employment).

Award Letters

Applicants will be advised of all possible awards via a Financial Aid Award Letter when all pertinent forms and applications are complete.  Award letters are sent out to incoming applicants on a rolling basis. Students already in attendance will begin to receive their Award Letters in late June or July.

The financial aid awards on your award letter are “estimated.” A financial aid award may be reduced or cancelled. The most common reasons for an award adjustment include changes in enrollment (change to part-time status, residency status, not maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress, or over-awards due to receipt of additional aid and/or scholarships from other sources. An award may also be adjusted due to changes or inaccuracies in the information on which your award is based. If your financial aid has been disbursed, you may be responsible for partial or full repayment of funds regardless of the reason for the adjustment.

Students are advised to visit the Student Financial Services Office to discuss any changes in family circumstances. A student should never withdraw from a class or a semester without visiting the Student Financial Services to discuss the impact on future financial aid.