Financial Aid

The decision to invest in a quality higher education may be one of the most important decisions you and your family will ever make. At Lewis & Clark, we believe that the quality of the academic program and cocurricular opportunities available to you here are worthy of such an investment. We also understand the challenge in meeting the costs associated with obtaining a quality higher education. While the primary responsibility for funding an education rests with students and their families, we are committed to working in partnership to identify financial options and strategies that will make a Lewis & Clark education an attainable goal. For more detailed information, please contact the Student Financial Services Office.

Need-Based Financial Aid

Lewis & Clark's primary funding commitment is to a need-based financial aid program. Eligibility for need-based funds is based primarily on an analysis of the income and asset information submitted on financial aid applications such as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and CSS Profile. Household size and the number of students in college (excluding parents) are also considered in the analysis. The analysis is applied consistently to all applicants and calculates a minimum expected family contribution. The cost of attending Lewis & Clark is also considered in determining your eligibility for assistance. Additional information such as copies of your and your parents’ federal income tax returns, documentation of untaxed income and benefits, and documentation of college enrollment by other family members reported on either financial aid application may be requested and used in the determination of need-based aid eligibility.

Applying for Need-Based Aid:

First-Year and Transfer Students

As an incoming student in the academic year 2010-11, you should do the following:

1. Apply for admission to Lewis & Clark. Only students who are admitted to the College will be considered for financial aid.
2. Complete the 2010-11 FAFSA with the federal processor no later than February 15, 2010, to receive priority consideration for aid. The FAFSA is available online beginning January 1, 2010 at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Be sure to list Lewis & Clark College, Portland, Oregon, as one of the recipients of your FAFSA analysis. The Federal School Code for Lewis & Clark is 003197.
3. Complete the 2010-11 CSS Profile no later than February 15, 2010. The CSS Profile is available on-line beginning October 2009 at https://profileonline. collegeboard.com. Be sure to have your Profile form sent to Lewis & Clark College (CSS ID#4384).

Note: You should file the FAFSA and CSS Profile with estimated income information, if necessary, rather than risk missing the priority date of February 15th.

Merit-Based Scholarships

Lewis & Clark offers a number of merit-based scholarships for incoming students whose admissions application demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and/or outstanding contributions to the community. These scholarships may be renewed based on continued academic achievement.

Helpful Hints in the Application Process

1. Keep copies of all documents submitted in case questions arise concerning your application.
2. Complete the admission process, but do not wait for notification of admission to apply for financial assistance. You should apply for admission and financial assistance simultaneously.
3. If you miss the priority deadline of February 15, you can still apply for financial assistance. Complete the application materials as soon as you can. Late applications will be reviewed in the order they are received. Financial assistance will be offered based on funding levels at the time of review.
4. If there is any information submitted on the financial aid application forms that you feel needs further explanation, please submit written clarification directly to the Office of Student Financial Services–not to the federal processing center. Be sure to include your name and Social Security number on all correspondence.

After the Forms Are Filed

You may receive a request for additional information to determine your eligibility for need-based financial aid. Please respond as quickly as possible—a delay in responding will delay our ability to provide you with an offer of financial assistance.

Once we receive your FAFSA and Profile and you are admitted to Lewis & Clark, the Office of Student Financial Services will send you an Award Notification. This Award Notification will indicate the programs and amounts of assistance being offered to you by the College. A need-based financial aid award typically consists of gift aid in the form of grants and/or scholarships, subsidized student loans, and an offer of work-study. If you do not qualify for need-based aid, you will receive an Award Notification indicating your eligibility for an unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan in addition to any merit-based scholarships awarded through the Office of Admissions.

You will be asked to review the Financial Aid Guide that accompanies the Award Notification and take the additional steps to secure the loan funds and/or work study funding offered to you on the Award Notification. We assume you will accept all grant and scholarship aid offered to you.

You must also pay a tuition deposit to the Office of Admissions to reserve your place in the entering class and to secure your financial aid award. Instructions about the tuition deposit will be included in your letter of acceptance from the Office of Admissions.

Continuing Students

Continuing undergraduate students must reapply for aid each year and adhere to the March 1 priority consideration date.

1. Continuing students must file a 2009-10 FAFSA to be considered for federal need based financial aid and are encouraged to file a FAFSA on the Web at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov no later than March 1, 2009.
2. Continuing students admitted Fall 2008 and later must submit the 2009-10 CSS Profile to be considered for institutional need based aid. The CSS Profile is available on-line beginning October 2008 at https://profileonline.collegeboard.com. Be sure to have your Profile form sent to Lewis & Clark College (CSS ID#4384) by March 1, 2009 for priority consideration.
3. Continuing students selected for FAFSA verification must submit the requested documents before a financial aid award can be prepared for you. You need to submit either the Dependent Verification Worksheet or the Independent Verification Worksheet, depending on your FAFSA filing status.

Merit-Based Scholarships

Continuing students whose GPA places them in the top 10% of their class may be invited to apply for additional scholarships for continuing students.

Helpful Hints in the Application Process

1. Keep copies of all documents submitted in case questions arise concerning your financial aid application.
2. If you miss the priority deadline of March 1, you can still apply for financial assistance. Complete the application materials as soon as you can. Late applications will be reviewed in the order they are received. Financial assistance will be offered based on funding levels at the time of review.
3. If there is any information submitted on the financial aid application forms that you feel needs further explanation, please submit written clarification directly to the Office of Student Financial Services–not to the federal processing center. Be sure to include your name and Social Security number on all correspondence.
4. You may receive a request for additional information to determine your eligibility for need-based financial aid. Please respond as quickly as possible—a delay in responding will delay our ability to provide you with an offer of financial assistance.
5. You will be asked to review the Financial Aid Guide that accompanies the Award Notification and take the additional steps to secure the loan funds and/or work study funding offered to you on the Award Notification. We assume you will accept all grant and scholarship aid offered to you.

Further Information

Office of Student Financial Services - 503-768-7090
Office of Admissions - 503-768-7040
Office of Campus Living - 503-768-7123
Office of the Registrar - 503-768-7325
Office of Student and Departmental Account Services - 503-768-7829

Oregon Student Assistance Commission
http://www.osac.state.or.us

Federal Student Aid Information Center
General Information - 800-433-3243
Application status - 319-337-5665
Information for the deaf and hard-of-hearing (TDD) - 800-730-8913
http://studentaid.ed.gov