Am I Eligible for Financial Aid?

How is financial aid eligibility determined?

The U.S. Department of Education calculates your Student Aid Index (SAI) from the information you report on the FAFSA (Federal Application for Federal Student Aid). Most of the tax information used to calculate the SAI is transferred directly from the IRS into the FAFSA form if you provide your consent and approval. The SAI is not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college, but it is the number used by colleges and universities to determine the amount of and types of federal aid you may be eligible to receive.

You and your family are expected to make a maximum effort to finance college expenses. Financial assistance is meant to supplement that effort.

What if my income has significantly changed since the tax year used on the FAFSA?

If you feel your SAI number is not a true reflection of your ability to contribute to the cost of your education because of special circumstances (loss of a job, etc), the Financial Aid Office may be able to complete a professional judgment in order to adjust the data that determine your SAI or adjust your Cost of Attendance (COA) budget to better reflect your true need or ability to pay for college.

Please complete the applicable form listed below.  Once submitted, this form will automatically be sent to the Financial Aid Office and after review your Financial Aid Advisor will be in contact with you.  Additional paperwork, time, and documents are required for this process.

What if I have an unusual circumstance which prevents me from adding parental information on my FAFSA?

Unusual Circumstances refer to the conditions that justify an aid administrator making an adjustment to a student’s dependency status based on a unique situation (e.g., human trafficking, refugee or asylee status, parental abuse or abandonment, incarceration).

Please complete the form listed below.  Once submitted, this form will automatically be sent to the Financial Aid Office and after review your Financial Aid Advisor will be in contact with you.  Additional paperwork, time, and documents are required for this process.

Financial Aid Eligibility for Students Without a High School Diploma or its recognized equivalent through the Ability to Benefit Program

The Ability to Benefit (ATB) program allows students without a high school diploma to qualify for financial aid to pay for courses that are part of a career pathway program at Lewis & Clark. There are two ways to qualify. More information about how to qualify.

 

STUDENT AID POLICY INFORMATION

Students must submit forms and/or required documentation online through their Self-Service account. To get started, log into your account and navigate to "required documents."

Student Aid Policy Documents