Understand Your Award

The guide below will walk you through our financial aid process. We are here to help, so if you have additional questions, please contact us. Welcome to Gordon College!

What Types of Aid Will I Find on My Award Letter?

Grants & Scholarships
Scholarships and institutional grants are our way of helping make your education and campus experience affordable to you, and do not require repayment.

Please note that 31% of your institutional aid is tied to living on campus.

Federal Work Study (FWS)
Each year the government provides funds to schools offering federal work-study opportunities for on-campus jobs and these funds are paid directly to students for hours worked in an on-campus job. If you do not qualify for FWS, you are still eligible to apply for on-campus work.

Federal Direct Student Loans (Subsidized and Unsubsidized)
The U.S. Department of Education’s federal student loan program is the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. Under this program, the U.S. Department of Education is your lender. Click here to learn more about the Federal Direct Loan.

Additional Loan and Payment Options:

For Parents: Click here to learn more about the Federal Parent PLUS Loan.
For Students and Parents: Click here to learn more about Alternative loan options.
Payment Plan Information: Click here to learn more about payment plans offered by Gordon.

How is My Award Letter Calculated?

Determining Your Award
Financial aid awards are determined using the information reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and supporting documents. Completing the FAFSA allows the government to generate your Student Aid Index (SAI).

By estimating expected educational expenses (such as tuition, fees, books, and food and housing) your Cost of Attendance is determined. The difference between the Cost of Attendance and the SAI is a student's demonstrated financial need. Gordon uses the financial need to help determine the award. Many families use a combination of current income, payment plans, parent and alternative loans, or home equity loans to cover the SAI and any unmet need.

COST OF ATTENDANCE - SAI = FINANCIAL NEED

Cost of attendance includes the following:

2024-2025	PER SEMESTER	PER YEAR
Tuition (12-20 semester hours)	$14,750	$29,500
Comprehensive fee	$600	$1,200
Housing	$4,200	$8,400
Food	$2,450	$4,900
Unbilled costs (books, transportation, miscellaneous)	$1,100	$2,200
Total	$23,100	$46,200

Click here to view payment plan options.

As A Financial Aid Recipient, What Are My Responsibilities?

Eligibility for Financial Aid
To be considered for financial aid, students must be matriculated, degree-seeking candidates. After the first term, students must be making satisfactory academic progress. Awards are calculated based on full-time attendance (at least 12 semester hours per term).

Awards are reduced if a student enrolls part-time (6–11 semester hours), and/or lives off-campus. Students enrolled in fewer than 6 credit hours do not qualify for institutional money, and only certain types of federal aid are available.

Notification of Changes
There are certain factors that may result in an adjustment to your financial aid award. Examples include:

Correcting or changing information on your FAFSA
Defaulting on a previous educational loan
Living off-campus*
Enrolling for fewer than 12 credits*
Receiving private scholarships or grants*

*It is the student's responsibility to notify the SFS Office of these changes

Special or Unusual Circumstances
At Gordon College we realize special circumstances arise. In an extreme change, such as a parent job loss, disability or excessive medical expenses, we want to hear from you and show you what options are available. Please complete this form to be considered for special circumstances at any time during your educational journey at Gordon. If you believe you qualify for consideration due to unusual circumstances (refugee or asylee status, parental abandonment and other similar situations), please email [email protected].

Reapplying for and Renewability of Your Aid
Students must reapply for financial aid each academic year. Eligible students may receive financial aid for a maximum of eight semesters while pursuing an initial undergraduate degree at Gordon College. Special circumstances may be considered for those taking up to 10 semesters to finish. Please contact the Student Financial Services Office if you have questions on renewability.

Financial aid is renewed at approximately the same dollar amount provided that:

You meet our priority filing date for the FAFSA and Renewal Application of April 15 (If you file after the priority deadline, you will still be considered for institutional aid based on availability).
You meet the requirements for any academic scholarships you are receiving from Gordon (visit www.gordon.edu/renewscholarship for more information)
There are no significant factor(s) that change your eligibility (such as an increase in income, changes in the number of siblings in college).

Verification
If you are selected for verification, Gordon will require additional documentation.

Still Have Questions?

Information and Assistance
The Gordon College Student Financial Services office is available to assist with your questions about financial aid and the financial aid process. Our office is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Appointments are recommended but not required.

Gordon College is in compliance with both the spirit and the letter of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and with Internal Revenue Service Procedure 75-50. This means the College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, or national or ethnic origin in administration of its employment policies, admissions policies, recruitment programs for students and employees, scholarship and loan programs, athletics and other College-administered activities.