Financial Aid Eligibility

Financial aid is available to help Whitworth students meet the cost of their education. Students do not have to be in a low-income category to qualify, but they do need to apply to be considered for financial aid. There is no set income cutoff to be used in determining eligibility.

A student enrolled in an approved Whitworth study abroad program is considered enrolled at Whitworth for federal aid purposes and is eligible for federal financial aid.

Cost of Attendance

The breakdown of the cost of attendance for students varies with each program. The cost of attendance, or budget, that we use is only an estimate. Actual costs may vary.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

The expected family contribution is based on formulas developed by the federal government that take into account a variety of factors, including family size, number of family members in college, income, assets, etc. Several types of financial aid are based on need, which is determined by using the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to calculate the expected family contribution referred to as the EFC. The EFC is not necessarily the amount the student/family has in reserve for education.

The dependent student and his/her parents, or the independent student and his/her spouse if he/she is married), are expected to contribute toward expenses. To be considered independent, a student must be able to answer yes to at least one of the independence questions listed on the FAFSA.

Calculating Need Based Financial Aid

Cost of Attendance - Expected Family Contribution (calculated from FAFSA) = Eligibility for Financial Need-Based Aid