Applying for Financial Aid

New and Prospective Students

Your application to apply for need-based aid from Whitman College consists of three parts:

• CSS Profile
• FAFSA
• Complete copies of federal income tax returns (including any schedules, W-2s, corporate and/or partnership returns). 

If you are only interested in applying for achievement-based (merit) scholarships, you do not need to submit either need-based application form to be considered for this.  The Office of Admission will automatically let you know if you have been selected as a recipient of an achievement scholarship.

CSS Profile

The CSS Profile is the most important application students need to submit to apply for Whitman need-based scholarship.   Whitman's code for Profile is 4951. 

The deadlines for completing the CSS Profile are:

Please pay close attention to the deadline for submitting your CSS Profile.  If your forms are submitted late, you may be placed on a wait list for need-based scholarship. 

FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the second form that needs to be completed.  You cannot complete this form until after January 1.  Students who are applying Early Decision in November must wait until January 1 to complete this form.  For all incoming students this needs to be completed no later than February 1.  For returning students, the form needs to be completed by April 15.  Whitman's code for the FAFSA is 003803. If your FAFSA is selected for Verification, we will require some additional documentation.

Income Tax Returns

Income tax returns will eventually be needed to complete your need-based financial aid application.  Please send complete, signed copies of the federal tax returns for both you and your parents as soon as they are completed, but no later than May 1.  It is important that we receive a complete copy so please include all schedules, business returns and W-2 forms. If a tax extension has been filed, we will need a copy of that extension form by May 1.  

**Please note that if your family is self-employed or receives income from a corporation or partnership, we may require tax return information sooner than May 1.  We sometimes ask for prior-year's tax returns if the most recent documents are not yet available when we perform needs-analysis. 

For tips on applying for need-based aid please click here.

If you are considered an independent student for financial aid purposes, you will only need to complete the FAFSA and submit and copy of your federal income tax return.

Returning Students

Need-Based Aid        

In order to reapply for need-based aid from the College, students considered dependent for financial aid purposes must submit the CSS Profile by April 15.  Whitman's school code for the CSS Profile is 4951.

Students who also wish to apply for federal or state aid, including Perkins or Stafford Loans and Federal Work Study, must submit the FAFSA.  Our school code for the FAFSA is 003803.

In addition to the CSS Profile and FAFSA, you must submit a complete copy of your parents' federal income tax return.  Be sure to include any schedules, business returns, and W-2s.  If your FAFSA has been selected for a process called Verification, you must also submit some additional documents. The required documents for Verification can be found here.

All documents required for the financial aid file are due in the Financial Aid Office no later than May 1, or you risk a reduction to your gift aid.

For tips on applying for need-based financial aid please click here.

If you are considered an independent student for financial aid purposes, you will only need to complete the FAFSA and submit a copy of your federal income tax return.

Non-Need-Based Aid             

If you do not qualify for need-based aid and wish to apply for a Stafford Loan, you are only required to complete the FAFSA.  You may be asked to submit a some additional documents if your file has been selected for a process called Verification.