Financial Aid Policies
Determining Financial Need
Verification
Appeal Policy
Stag Web
Outside Scholarships
State Aid
Study Abroad
International/Undocumented Students
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
Fairfield University uses the Federal Methodology (FM) and Institutional Methodology (IM) to determine a student's demonstrated financial need.
Federal aid (grants, loans, work-study) is awarded based on information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Federal Methodology calculates a student's financial need with a formula that was established by U.S. Congress.
Fairfield University's institutional aid resources (grants and scholarships) are awarded based on the information provided on the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE. Institutional Methodology calculates a student's financial need with a formula that was established by financial aid practitioners and economists.
Fairfield University believes that the IM needs analysis more accurately and equitably measures a family's financial strength and ability to pay for college. The formula assumes that educational costs will be paid using a combination of current income, savings, and future earnings. However, each family makes its own decisions on how to meet the costs of college.
Institutional Methodology provides:
- A realistic assessment of both parent and student income. Paper losses and income adjustments, which are legal in the federal tax system, are NOT considered in the IM definition of income. Although Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is important, it is not the sole determinant of a family's genuine economic strength.
- A comprehensive evaluation of all family assets - including investments, real estate and equity in the home, farm, and business.
Fairfield University considers the following variables when determining financial need:
1. Income of parents/students, which includes:
a. Adjusted Gross Income and taxable income
b. Paper losses from business, real estate properties, and capital losses
c. Untaxed income and benefits
d. Child support received
2. The following allowances may reduce the income of parents/students:
a. Federal income taxes paid
b. State and other taxes paid
c. FICA taxes
d. Elementary/secondary tuition allowance (an allowance for private elementary or secondary school tuition paid by the family)
e. Employment allowance (an allowance for expenses related to working outside the home if both parents are employed or if the parent is single)
f. Annual education savings allowance (an allowance for saving for future educational expenses for younger children while older children are in college)
g. Income protection allowance (an allowance that recognizes families have basic household expenses that must be met)
3. Assets: A portion of the following assets are included in the needs analysis for parents and students:
a. Cash, savings, and checking accounts
b. Home equity
c. Investment Equity
d. Other real estate equity
e. Adjusted business/farm equity
f. Parental assets in sibling's names
4. Asset Allowances: there are two major allowances subtracted from assets before determining how much of a family's net worth should be available to pay for college:
a. Emergency Reserve Allowance (ERA) protects assets for unanticipated expenses such as illness or unemployment.
b. Cumulative Education Savings Allowance (CESA) recognizes a family's need to save to finance their children's college expenses.
5. Number in College Adjustment
Families who have more than one child, regardless of the spacing of those children, have to pay more for college than families who have one child. However, Fairfield University recognizes the particular strain on families who have two or more children in college at the same time and reduces the Expected Family Contribution for each child when more than one is enrolled. If two children are enrolled, Fairfield expects the family to pay only 60 percent of the parent contribution for each child; if three children are enrolled, Fairfield expects the family to pay 45 percent of the parent contribution for each child.
6. Noncustodial Parent Information
Fairfield University requires that the custodial parent (if applicable, a step-parent, with whom the student resides 50% or more) is responsible for completing both the FAFSA and CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE applications. In cases of divorce or separation, the University also requires that the noncustodial parent complete the Noncustodial PROFILE application in order to be considered for institutional need-based aid. It is recommended that the noncustodial parent (NCP) complete this application by the stated deadline(s) in order to receive a complete financial aid award.
While divorce, separation, or the unmarried status of parents may complicate the extent to which one or both parents can contribute, it does not absolve either parent of this obligation. Our policy for determining the financial need of students whose parents are divorced or separated derives from the central principle that both parents are responsible for the support of their children to the extent that they are financially capable.
In an effort to reduce the number of items a returning student needs to provide, noncustodial parent information is not required from returning students, unless the student is a first-time aid applicant or has had a change in their parent's marital status. However, if the noncustodial parent's financial conditions have changed significantly since the prior year, he/she can request a formal review or appeal. Unless our office is otherwise advised by the student or noncustodial parent, the prior year's financial data will be used as a basis for determining the noncustodial parent's financial contribution.
If the noncustodial parent is unable to complete the Noncustodial PROFILE on a student's behalf, Fairfield will only waive this requirement in extraordinary circumstances. In order to start the waiver appeal process, students must complete and submit the appeal form below, with all required supporting documentation, to the Office of Financial Aid no later than March 31.
2012-13 Noncustodial Parent Waiver Appeal
All financial aid awards are estimated until the Office of Financial Aid receives all required federal tax and other applicable documents and verifies the income and asset information provided on both the FAFSA and CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE. Financial aid awards may change after an original offer has been made as all aid adjustments are based on verification results.
First year students only will be notified of changes made to their financial aid award by mail until they begin school in the fall. Students will be notified of financial aid changes through Stag Web and University e-mail. All students will be notified of financial aid requirements for the federal and institutional verification process.
Once notified of any verification requirements, the student (and/or parent) should submit the required documentation to the Office of Financial Aid by the July 1 deadline, if not sooner. Once all required documents are received, the verification process should be completed in approximately six to eight weeks. Failure to submit verification documents by the deadline may result in the cancellation of need-based financial aid.
Fairfield University's objective is to offer students the best financial aid award possible considering its policies (as described above), the federal financial aid funding levels, and the availability of institutional financial aid resources. Therefore, we are unable to address appeals based on any disagreement with any of our financial aid policies. Fairfield University does not negotiate financial aid offers, nor is the University able to match financial aid offers made by other colleges and universities.
However, if you believe that there are special conditions or extenuating circumstances that were not considered in your financial aid application(s) or you can now document a significant change in your family's financial circumstances. Use the form below that applies to the financial aid year in which you would like to appeal:
2011-2012 Special Conditions Appeal Form (Sept. 2011-May 2012)
2012-2013 Special Conditions Appeal Form (Sept. 2012-May 2013)
Please follow all instructions provided in this form to ensure a complete review by the Office of Financial Aid.
Submission of a special conditions appeal neither guarantees an adjustment to a student's award, nor prevents the accrual of late fees on any unpaid student account balances.
Federal regulations and institutional policies require that special conditions or circumstances fall within certain parameters and that they are accompanied with supporting documentation. This form is designed to assist you in providing information critical to the review of your special conditions appeal. The special conditions appeal decision will be based on the circumstances as detailed in this form and from the quality of additional documentation provided.
StagWeb is the official form of communication between Fairfield University and the student. Students are responsible for checking both Stag Web and University e-mail accounts regularly.
After the first year orientation in June each year, the Office of Financial Aid sends all important notices and messages to the student, ONLY via Stag Web and University e-mail. It is the responsibility of the student to read and/or reply to financial aid correspondence in a timely manner.
Students may forward any pertinent financial aid information to a parent(s) if desired, but ultimately, the student is fully responsible for all financial aid and financial obligations at the University. In StagWeb, students are able to manage financial aid awards, view financial aid requirements, contact his/her financial aid counselor, as well as several other financial aid-related options. In the beginning of the sophomore year, all financial aid awards will be offered via StagWeb and all financial aid correspondence sent via University e-mail to the student ONLY.
Generally, Fairfield University does not reduce institutional aid (merit or need-based) or adjust the financial aid award offer when a student receives an outside scholarship(s). However, adjustments will be made when the following conditions exist:
- The combined institutional aid (merit or need based) AND the outside scholarship(s) totals exceed the cost of attendance. The institutional aid will be reduced to an amount that brings the total combined scholarships to the cost of attendance.
- A federal Title IV student aid over-award is created and the University is required to reduce federal need-based aid per federal regulations.
Students from Connecticut, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont may be eligible for state grant assistance. Eligibility criteria and amounts are determined by each state. It is the responsibility of the student to meet all application deadlines set by their resident state.
International & Undocumented Students
Full-time day undergraduate international and undocumented students are encouraged to apply for financial aid using the College Board's 2012-2013 CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE. This application should be submitted by February 15, 2012. Recipients of the Fairfield Tuition Grant will be notified during the first week of April. Students will be automatically considered for any merit-based scholarships on the basis of their admission application.
Financial Aid & Study Abroad Programs
An international learning experience has become an invaluable part of a complete undergraduate education. To help students fulfill this experience, Fairfield University allows federal, state, and institutional aid, scholarships, and monthly payment plans to be applied toward Fairfield University affiliated programs only.
Note: Athletic scholarships, tuition remission, FACHEX, tuition exchange and federal work-study cannot be applied to study abroad programs.
Institutional aid will be awarded for one semester abroad, except for international studies, international business, and modern language majors, where coursework requires two semesters abroad.
For the students participating in the following programs: Florence and Syracusa, Italy, Rouen, France, Managua, and Nicaragua, where the program fee is less than the corresponding Fairfield University fee, Fairfield University tuition grants and merit scholarships will be reduced by a comparable percentage. Awards will be updated in StagWeb and students will be notified via University e-mail.
Students can contact the Study Abroad Office or visit Study Abroad online for more details on program costs.