Commonly Asked Financial Aid Questions
What is an Expected Family Contribution?
The amount a family is expected to pay toward college costs. This amount is
determined by a needs analysis standardized formula established by the federal
government. The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is a starting point for
determining financial aid eligibility.
How is my financial need determined?
This is the difference between the expected family contribution and the total
cost of attending Linfield College. Students who receive less financial aid than
they are eligible to receive have an "unmet need". Linfield will award as much
aid and as many types of aid as possible to every student who demonstrates financial
need, however, it is not always possible to award enough financial aid to equal
the calculated financial need amount.
Cost of Education - Expected Family Contribution = Financial Need.
How will my financial aid award package change from year to year?
The financial aid package you receive your first year will be similar to
the package you will receive the following years as long as you meet the required
deadlines and conditions for the aid renewal. There is a "great myth" that colleges
use financial aid to attract students, then reduce the aid packages during the
students' second year. This is not the case at Linfield College. There are a
number of factors which could affect a student's aid package from year to year.
These factors include a change in financial need, occasional aid eligibility
criteria changes, not maintaining the minimum GPA requirement for an academic
scholarship to be renewed, and not meeting the FAFSA priority filing deadline.
What happens to my financial aid award package if I receive a private, local scholarship?
Linfield College will not change or reduce your financial aid package if you
receive a private, local scholarship. You can be assured that your Linfield
grants and scholarships will not be adjusted when we find out that you are receiving
other scholarships. Linfield College will only adjust your financial aid if federal
aid guidelines require an adjustment to occur. If an adjustment is required Federal
loans and work-study would be reduced before any other aid is adjusted.
How will my grant and scholarship aid compare to the amount I 'm awarded in loans?
It is difficult to determine exactly how much you will be awarded in grant,
scholarship, and loan aid before reviewing your financial aid application and
completing the awarding process. Many factors contribute to the amount a student
receives in grants, scholarships, and loans including a student's financial need,
high school GPA, and aid program eligibility. Keep in mind that you may decline
any type of aid awarded including loans without having it affect your other types
of awarded aid. It is true that there has been a significant increase in student
loan borrowing over the past decade as costs have increased and Federal and State
grant monies have not increased at the same rate. Linfield College is committed
to providing you with the best possible aid package.
Does Linfield College offer athletic scholarships?
Linfield has a rich athletic tradition of developing superior
athletic teams and making athletics a part of a student's educational experience.
As a member of the NCAA Division
III, Linfield does not offer athletic scholarships. Linfield uses its financial
resources to assist students based on their financial need, and many athletes
demonstrate financial need and therefore receive financial assistance. In other
words, financial assistance is not awarded based on athletic talent or participation,
but rather financial circumstances and academic performance.