A Message from the Director of Student Financial Services

Dear Prospective Students and Their Families,

Gordon College dedicates significant levels of college resources to making a Gordon education affordable. We know that no two families are exactly alike, and our professional staff is committed to working with you individually to address your specific financial needs.

Here are some important Gordon Financial Aid facts:

• Over 90% of our students receive some type of financial assistance.
• Gordon admissions decisions are made regardless of financial need (need-blind).
• Gordon offers both merit-based and need-based financial aid. Merit scholarships are awarded by the Admissions office at the time of admission and are based solely upon achievement. No separate application is required. Selected students will be offered the chance to apply for the competitive A.J. Gordon Scholarship program (admissions application due Dec 1 to be considered).

To apply for need-based financial aid other than merit scholarships, the following documents must be completed:

• Free Application for Federal Student Aid
• Signed parent's and student's federal tax forms (1040's) and W-2s for the most recent tax year sent directly to Student Financial Services

Apply for Loans on the Web
Parents and students can apply for Federal Stafford and Plus Loans here.

Gordon Grant and Scholarships
For 2008-2009 Gordon awarded nearly $12 million in institutional scholarships and grants.

Federal Financial Aid
Gordon participates in all federal financial aid programs. This includes the Pell Grant, FSEOG, Perkins Loan Program, Stafford and PLUS Loan Program, Federal Work Study, Academic Competitive Grant and the SMART Grant. In 2008-09 Gordon has administered $9.6 million from these federal programs.

State Financial Aid
State scholarship and grant funds are accepted by Gordon from most states. Massachusetts has reciprocity with all New England states, PA, and a few others.NOTE: New York residents are not eligible to use their state scholarship outside of New York state. Please abide by state deadlines to receive consideration.Gordon students received $360,000 from state grant and scholarship funds for 2008-09.

More Information
For more specific financial aid information, please contact our office to speak with a counselor.
Our office hours are:
M--F: 8 a.m.--4:30 p.m.
*Appointments are recommended: 978.867.4246
p: 1.800.343.1379
p: 978.867.4657
e: sfsgordon.edu

Thanks! We're looking forward to working with you.

Sincerely,

Dan O'Connell
Director of Student Financial Services

How Can I Get in Contact With Student Financial Services?

You can call: 978.867.4246; fax: 978.867.4657; or email: sfsgordon.edu. For a complete list of staff and how to get in touch with them, click here.

What Additional Information do I Need to Provide the Student Financial Services Office?

Your financial aid award is based on the information you submitted to the Student Financial Services Office. Therefore it is your responsibility to notify the Student Financial Services Office when there is a change in your enrollment status or family/financial situation that may reduce your financial aid award. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Receiving private scholarships or grants
• Enrolling for less than 12 credits
• Not certifying that all the financial aid funds will be used for the payment of tuition, required fees, room, board and other educational-related expenses
• Submitting inaccurate or incomplete information on your aid application
• Defaulting on an educational loan or filing for bankruptcy

What is the EFC (Expected Family Contribution) and How is it Calculated?

In the download section on the right of this web page, you'll find a power-point presentation on the Expected Family Contribution.

What if I Have a Special Circumstance that has Affected my Financial Situation?

If your financial situation has changed for reasons such as a loss of job, disability and excessive medical expenses, you may submit an appeal. An appeal for reconsideration for aid funds must be submitted to the Student Financial Services Office in the form of a signed letter with any necessary supporting documentation. An appeal will be reviewed only if it is based on an extreme change in the information presented on the FAFSA. Consumer debt such as credit cards, car loans or personal loans will not be taken into consideration.

If an appeal was present in the file before the student was awarded, the appeal was reviewed. Appeals will be handled on a case-by-case basis, and every effort will be made to identify any additional available resources.

What is Verification?

Verification is a quality-control method used by the U.S. Department of Education to check the accuracy of information submitted on the FAFSA. All schools that disburse federal Title IV funds are required to participate in the verification process. Gordon College verifies all new incoming students applying for financial aid. All students and their parents need to send Gordon College's Student Financial Services

In order to verify all family financial information submitted in the application process, the award letter may ask that you submit certain documentation within the next two weeks, including the following:

• Gordon Financial Aid Supplemental Form
• Gordon Verification Worksheet must be completed.
• Signed copies of parents' 2008 Federal Tax Returns with all schedules and W-2s
• Signed copies of student's 2008 Federal Tax Returns with all schedules and W-2s
• Documentation of untaxed income such as 551, child support, housing allowance or VA benefits
• Other information as requested in individual circumstances

Financial aid funds cannot be disbursed until verification has been completed. Failure to supply the information requested will result in loss of all aid funds.

What is the Gordon Financial Aid Supplemental Form?

In the past, like many other private colleges, we required prospective students and their families to complete an additional on-line application known as the CSS Profile. This step lengthened the application time-line and had a fee requirement. We have decided to terminate that requirement to save you time and money.

In an effort to obtain the information we need to award eligible students in a timely manner, we have sent our incoming students the 'Gordon’s Financial Aid Supplemental Form'. Students and their families who are applying for need-based financial aid must complete this form and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) before a tentative financial aid award letter can be sent. You will still be required to submit other supporting materials before a final award can be sent.