Financial Aid FAQ

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be completed by April 1. Complete the Renewal FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

Complete the entire student section and, if dependent, the parent section of the form. Both the student and, if dependent, parent must electronically sign the FAFSA before submission.

Your FAFSA ID is your electronic signature that lets the government know you are who you say you are when filling out this FAFSA. As the student attending Champlain, you will need a FAFSA ID and at least one of your parents will need one. You don’t have to wait for the FAFSA to open to create your ID.

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If your family earns under $100,000 a year, the CSS Profile is free. If your family earns more than that, there is a cost, but you can request a waiver from Champlain College. So, if you feel like that is something that you can’t do, contact us for a waiver.

There is no cost to the FAFSA.

Merit aid is based solely on your application that includes your academic history, skills, etc.
Need-based aid is based on financial need which is determined by your FAFSA application.

This Champlain College guarantee means that your merit scholarships are guaranteed for 4 years (or until you finish your bachelor’s degree). Those Champlain merit scholarships will never decrease as long as you maintain full-time enrollment.

Aid that doesn’t get repaid:

• Scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.
  • Awarded based on a variety of factors, including academic achievement, talent, leadership, field of study and demonstrated need.
  • More than 95% of Champlain students are paying part of their educational costs with Champlain grants and scholarships.

Aid that DOES have to be repaid:

• Loans must be repaid with interest.
  • Champlain College participates in the Federal Direct Student Loan Program, and students may apply by completing their FAFSA.
  • Repayment of loans usually begins about 6 months after graduation.

Other aid:

• Student Employment
  • Employment, including work study, is paid directly to the student so it will not appear on your student account.

Every student financial aid package looks different because it’s individualized, based on your application for merit aid and on your federal FAFSA that determines your expected family contribution.

Federal loans can generally be borrowed at a lower interest rate and with more flexible repayment options. Find out much you can borrow in federal as an undergraduate, and graduate student at https://studentaid.gov/understand-aid/types/loans/subsidized-unsubsidized#how-much.

You can fill this out online at https://studentaid.gov/mpn/

You fill this out online at https://studentaid.gov/entrance-counseling/

If you were already admitted and awarded a financial aid package, so long as you don’t go to another school and need to transfer credits, Champlain College will honor your merit aid when you decide to attend. Your Federal aid (determined by your FAFSA application) changes annually based on your most recent FAFSA, so that could change.