Financial Aid FAQs

New students are automatically reviewed for scholarship eligibility by their admission counselor.

Students need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students and their parents will need to provide information, such as family income, assets, household size and number in college. The FAFSA can be completed and submitted online at www.fafsa.gov beginning Oct. 1.

Hood’s school code is 002076.

No, you may apply before you are accepted, but you will not receive a financial aid award letter until you have been accepted. 

Hood College has a preferred filing deadline of Feb. 15 for incoming first-year students. By filing early, you increase the chance of knowing your eligibility by early March. However, applications are always accepted.

Yes, each year Hood College awards more than $6 million in merit-based scholarships. Students are automatically considered for scholarships at the time of admission. No additional applications are required, except when applying to the Honors Program.

Hood College's code is 002076.

Financial need is determined by subtracting your EFC (Expected Family Contribution as determined by the FAFSA) from the total cost of education for the year.

Since costs vary among colleges and universities, your need will also vary from one institution to another. Your EFC, however, will stay the same at all colleges and universities. Therefore, it is likely that a student will receive more assistance at a higher cost private institution compared to a less expensive public college because the student's financial need will be higher at a private institution.

A student's financial aid package is a listing of all financial aid for which a student is eligible. It may consist of any combination of the following: grants, scholarships, loans and work-study.

No, there is no income cut-off for financial aid. While income is a factor when determining eligibility for need-based aid, other factors, such as household size, number of family members in college and the age of the oldest parent, are also taken into account. We encourage all students to apply for financial aid.

Award letters will be sent to students who have been accepted and completed a FAFSA. These letters are sent with the acceptance letter when possible. If a FAFSA has not been received, an estimated sheet will be sent.

The first step will be to contact the financial aid office. Do NOT attempt to make changes to your FAFSA.

The custodial parent is the parent that must complete the FAFSA. If the custodial parent has remarried, then the step-parent's financial information must also be provided.

Hood College scholarships will be renewed for each year that students are a full-time undergraduates, as long as that student continues to meet the scholarship requirements. Scholarships are available for use in the first eight semesters of enrollment. Eligibility for federal and state aid, as well as Hood grants, will be re-evaluated each year. Students are required to complete the FAFSA each year to determine federal aid, state aid and institutional aid. Eligibility may change as information on the FAFSA changes from one year to the next.

Students must notify the financial aid office of any outside scholarships you have been awarded. The source of the funds will submit payment directly to the accounting office. Outside scholarships may reduce the amount of a student's loan or work commitment. They may also reduce a portion of the College's grant aid.

Learn more about Hood College's residency requirement.

Please contact the Office of Financial Aid at finaid@hood.edu or by phone 301-696-3411.