Financial Aid
Dominican College offers a variety of Financial Aid funds including: institutional academic and athletic scholar-ships, awards, and grants, as well as need-based funds. Institutional aid is awarded on the basis of demonstrated scholastic achievement, athletic ability, and/or financial need.
In addition, Dominican College students are eligible to apply for a wide range of financial assistance offered by federal and state agencies. The Financial Aid Office is committed to providing students with information, application review, and advising to help make the Financial Aid process a smooth and beneficial experience. Financial Aid at Dominican College is administered in accordance with program guidelines established by the appropriate state and federal agencies.
Federal financial need is defined as the difference between the family contribution (as measured by an analysis of family income and assets) and the cost of attendance, which includes tuition, fees, dormitory charges or commuter living allowance, and allowances for books and supplies, travel, and personal expenses.
Dominican College subscribes to the principle that the first responsibility for meeting educational expenses rests with the student and his or her family. All students are therefore advised to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (F.A.F.S.A.) available on the web (www.fafsa.ed.gov). Family financial information reported on that form is subjected to a nationally applied analysis that results in an assessment of each family's contribution towards college costs. The Financial Aid Office reviews the financial information of all applicants selected for verification by the federal processor. These students must therefore submit supporting documentation before aid can be disbursed. We encourage all students to file the F.A.F.S.A.; students and their families should not make assumptions about their eligibility for aid.
To supplement the family contribution (derived from analysis of the information provided on the F.A.F.S.A.), Dominican College participates in a wide variety of aid programs, including grants and scholarships, loans, and work opportunities. Every effort is made to equitably distribute limited institutional, state, and federal funds in order to provide access to the educational opportunities at Dominican for eligible students. In 2009-10, 97% of the student body applied for and received some form of financial aid.
Financial aid is awarded annually and disbursed by credit to student accounts equally across the terms of the academic year (with adjustments as necessary if there are differences in enrollment status). Financial Aid is not automatically renewed. Annual reapplication is required for all programs. For priority consideration, freshman applicants should apply as soon after January 1 as possible. Returning students should send the F.A.F.S.A. to the Federal Processor no later than March 15th for priority consideration.
In order to be considered for Financial Aid, students must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States, be accepted for matriculation in a degree or certificate program, and be registered for at least 6 credits per semester or trimester/quarter (except for the Aid for Part-Time Study Program of New York, for which the minimum number of credits is 3 in a semester or 4 in a trimester). Students must also, if required by law, be registered for Selective Service. Additionally, students are required to meet the Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid in order to continue on aid. Recipients of Dominican College scholarships, grants, and awards must meet further criteria, explained below and in their award letters from the Office of Admissions.
