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Financial Aid FAQs

Accessing Financial Aid

Financial aid is available to help students who need assistance covering the expenses of study away programs. Most federal, state and campus-based aid can be applied to the costs of studying on any study away program, much the same as if you were still on campus. However, you are not able to use your work study award the semester you are away. You can, though, work extra hours during the semester you remain on campus.

All students are eligible to apply for financial aid using the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) application. You may use loans, grants and scholarships toward your study away costs. If you have never applied or received financial aid before, you are strongly encouraged to consult with the Financial Aid Office. You may have student loan options even if you don’t currently receive financial aid. Contact the Financial Aid Office by email at [email protected] for more information.

Award Calculations & Timeline

Since your study away cost-of-attendance differs from your on-campus cost-of-attendance, your financial aid award will be adjusted accordingly for that semester. The Center for Study Away shares all study away program budgets with the Financial Aid Office in order to provide them with each Cost of Attendance, which allows them to include the billable (fees applied to your Macalester account) estimates as well as the non-billable (additional or out-of-pocket) estimates not covered in the program fees, such as meals not provided or personal expenses, when determining your financial aid award.

Once the Financial Aid Office calculates your financial aid award, they will send an updated financial aid notification mailed to your home address. You will receive your initial financial aid award letter in early summer if you are studying away in fall or in late fall if you are studying away in the spring. These can be reviewed at any time after that on 1600grand.

Looking to plan early? Financial Aid can give you an estimate in-advance. Contact them with your name, ID number, and your program of interest, and they will follow-up with a breakdown of your anticipated aid in relation to study away.

DTAP Benefits

ACTC DTAP benefits for students whose qualifying parent or guardian is not a Macalester employee are not applicable toward study away costs unless the program selected is administered by Macalester or is an exchange program. If you receive these benefits and do not attend a Macalester-administered or exchange program, you will be charged the actual study away program tuition rather than Macalester tuition. DTAP recipients also have the option of applying for need-­based financial aid for the semester of study away and should contact the Financial Aid Office directly at [email protected] for detailed instructions.

TREP Benefits

As of the 2022-2023 academic year, ACM Tuition Remission Exchange Program benefits can be used for study away costs as long as the student is attending a semester-long program approved by the Study Away Review Committee (SARC).

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