Many students who consider college today look at the costs and wonder if a college education is possible for them.
At Dordt College, 98 percent of our students receive financial aid. During the 2007-08 school year, our 1,300 students received over $24 million in total financial aid.
This site outlines the types of financial aid that can help you become a part of Dordt College. Use the links on the left to explore the different types of financial aid that are available to you. As we work together, a quality Christian education may become a reality for you.
Follow the links below to find out more.
There are four basic types of financial aid:
- Scholarships. A scholarship is an earned gift. You earn it by achieving excellence in academics or extracurricular activities. It never has to be repaid.
- Grants. A grant is a gift that is based on the financial need of your family. It never has to be repaid.
- Loans. A loan is not a gift. However, student loans provide money for schooling at the lowest possible interest rates, and under many loan programs, interest does not accumulate while the student is in school.
- Work. The employment programs provide part-time jobs that are funded by either the federal and state governments or by Dordt College.
There are three basic sources of financial aid:
- Federal and state governments
- Dordt College
- Outside sources
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The majority of students who apply for financial aid receive it. Regardless of your income, there is only one way to know if you qualify: you need to apply.
The agencies that process applications for financial aid calculate a figure called "Effective Family Contribution," or EFC. This is the amount that your family (parents and student) is expected to contribute to the cost of education for the upcoming school year. EFC is based on the following:
- net income
- untaxed income
- income taxes paid
- cash and savings
- business assets
- value of real estate and investments
- emergency expenses
- number of dependents
- number in college
Your family's financial need is calculated as:
Cost of Education - Effective Family Contribution = Financial Need
Financial need is met by the varying types of financial aid available from Dordt College and other sources. Therefore, the amount you and your family would pay for a year of study is calculated as:
Tuition, room, and board - Financial Aid = Amount Payable To Dordt College
If you are interested in knowing how much financial aid you might receive, the FAFSA4caster may help you. Using the FAFSA4caster, you and your family will receive an early estimate of eligibility for federal student aid. This Web site provides you with an opportunity to increase your knowledge of the financial aid process; become familiar with the various types of federal student aid that are available; and investigate other sources of aid, such as grants and scholarships. Please realize you will not receive an actual award letter, but you will have a better idea of how the process works and what you might receive as aid. To make use of the FAFSA4Caster, go to http://fafsa4caster.ed.gov/
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- Complete the application for admission to Dordt College. Don't forget to include a copy of your high school transcript and the $25 application fee. (This fee is waived if application is received by December 31.)
- Complete all Dordt College scholarship applications and send them to us by January 15. Applications are available by contacting the scholarships coordinator, your admissions counselor, or your high school guidance counselar. Applications may also be printed from this website.
- If you are a U.S. citizen, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This form can be obtained from your high school counselor or from the Dordt College Financial Aid Office and may be submitted after the first of January. Students who wish to apply online should go to www.fafsa.ed.gov. Remember after applying online you and your parents must sign the form either by submitting a hardcopy signature or signing the form electronically.
If you wish to apply using a paper FAFSA you can call 1-800-4FED-AID and request the paper form. Or, you can print out a PDF FAFSA by going to www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov
- If you are a U.S. citizen, you must also complete the Dordt College Supplemental Data Form and if interested in working on campus the Application for Employment Form. These forms should be printed, completed, and returned directly to the Financial Aid Office by April 1.
- If you are a Canadian citizen, you must complete the Dordt College Canadian Financial Aid Form. This form should be printed, completed, and returned directly to the Financial Aid Office by April 1 to be included in the first round of awards. Canadian students who wish to work must also complete the Application for Employment Form. This form too should be printed, completed, and returned directly to the Financial Aid Office.
- You will receive notification of scholarship awards by March 1. A complete summary of all federal, state, and college financial aid will be sent to you after we have received your financial information and the Dordt College Supplemental Data Form. To be included in the initial round of awards, you must get this information to Dordt by April 1. Later awards will be made to eligible applicants on a first-come-first-served basis as funds are available.
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For information on admissions and financial aid, contact Quentin Van Essen, Director of Admissions.
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We are here to assist you! If you're serious about receiving a quality, Christian education at Dordt College, please call our offices of admissions and financial aid toll-free from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST Monday through Friday.
Toll-free: 1-800-343-6738
Local: 722-6087
| Or write to: |
Financial Aid Office or
Scholarships Coordinator
Dordt College
498 4th Avenue NE
Sioux Center, Iowa 51250-1606 |
| Or email us at: |
finaid@dordt.edu |
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Other financial aid links that may be useful:
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