We will meet 100% of the demonstrated need of all admitted financial aid applicants.
What is Need?
Cost of Attendance − Family Contribution = "Need"
Cost of Attendance includes direct and indirect expenses. Direct expenses are tuition, fees, food, and housing. Indirect expenses are travel costs, books, supplies, laundry, etc. Although students do not receive a bill from Campus Billing for these expenses, we do consider an average amount per student when determining aid eligibility.
Family Contribution consists of a parent and student contribution. Students who receive assistance are expected to contribute a minimum amount annually, which should come from leave term earnings, as well as a percentage of the student's assets. Leave term earnings expectations range from $1,000 to $2,500 per year.
Dartmouth meets this "Need" with a combination of work and scholarships. Financial aid packages will not include a student loan.
Zero Parent Contribution for Families with Annual Income Below $125,000
To ensure that students from low- to middle-income backgrounds can afford a Dartmouth undergraduate education, those students whose families have a total annual income below $125,000 can expect to receive a financial aid package that includes no responsibility for a parent contribution, provided their assets are typical for this income range.
Students will still be expected to contribute to the cost of their Dartmouth education by drawing on their summer (or leave-term) earnings, their part-time work during the school year, and/or their own savings.
To continue our commitment to affordability, families making over $125,000 and under $175,000 who possess typical assets can expect to receive scholarship and/or grants that cover the full cost of tuition.
In all cases, a student's full need will be met without the inclusion of a student loan.
There is no income cut off for scholarship consideration at Dartmouth.
We take an individual look at all applications and meet full need for all students, including those above the noted income thresholds for initiatives.
Families not eligible for need-based aid can still find help through parent loans, private alternative loans, and financing options.
There is No Expectation that you borrow a Student Loan
Dartmouth is committed to making a world-class education affordable to all families.
Regardless of income level, students who receive need-based financial aid from Dartmouth will have no expectation that they borrow a student loan. A student's demonstrated need will be met with student employment and scholarship or grant funding.
Students and parents may still decide to borrow loan to help with the calculated family contribution or additional expenses such as health insurance or a computer.