Apply for Financial Aid
New Students
As a first-year applicant, you must visit the following secure web sites to enter financial information for yourself and both parents:
- CSS PROFILE (profileonline.collegeboard.com)
- FAFSA (fafsa.ed.gov)
- IDOC (idoc.collegeboard.com)
Financial aid applicants who submit all requirements by the specified deadlines and are accepted under Early Decision or Regular Decision may expect to receive their financial aid notification along with their admission decision.
Lafayette College guarantees to meet the demonstrated financial need of students admitted under Early Decision and Regular Decision who adhere to the following deadlines.
Early Decision Applicants
- Submit PROFILE and mail 2010 tax returns and W-2s to Lafayette College by November 15 for Early Decision I, or within two weeks of submitting the Early Decision II Agreement, but no later than January 15.
- February 1: Submit FAFSA
- March 1: Submit 2011 federal tax returns through IDOC
Regular Decision Applicants
- January 15: Submit PROFILE
- February 1: Submit FAFSA
- March 1: Submit 2011 federal tax returns through IDOC
International Applicants
- December 15: Regular Decision applicants submit PROFILE online. Priority consideration will be given to international students applying for financial aid by the admission application priority deadline of December 15, but applications will be accepted until January 15.
Lafayette meets the full demonstrated financial need of international students through a combination of loan, job, and grant aid. Aid is extremely competitive and may impact the admission decision.
Transfer Applicants
- April 1: Submit PROFILE and FAFSA for fall admission
- October 1: Submit PROFILE and FAFSA for spring admission
Your expected family contribution is determined using information from the PROFILE and your tax returns. The FAFSA determines eligibility for federal and state programs. The College Board IDOC service collects federal tax returns and schedules and transmits the information to all the colleges that use the service.
Lafayette requires financial information from both parents, so when a student’s parents are divorced, separated, or never married, the custodial parent must file the PROFILE and FAFSA and the noncustodial parent must file the Noncustodial PROFILE. Both must submit 2011 federal tax returns along with schedules and W-2s through IDOC. Business owners must also submit corporate/partnership tax returns.
If you are seeking federal loans only, the FAFSA is the only required document. If selected for federal verification, you will be asked to submit additional information.
Athletic Scholarship Recipients
First Year Students
- File the FAFSA by Feb. 1
Returning Students
- File the FAFSA by April 20
Returning Students
Financial aid recipients must reapply for aid each academic year
Returning International students
- February 15: Submit the Profile
Study Abroad
Financial aid consideration is based on the approved costs for a full year of study at Lafayette College. Aid for study abroad is limited to faculty–led and approved affiliated programs and is capped at Lafayette’s cost. Some programs may be more expensive than Lafayette College; students selecting such programs will be responsible for any amount beyond Lafayette’s costs. The Financial Aid and Study Abroad offices will be happy to review financing options.