Common Questions

Yes. Middlebury meets a student’s full need, as determined by Student Financial Services, with a combination of work, loans, and grants.

Middlebury’s admission process is “need blind.” This means that Admissions does not know of your family’s finances when your application is being assessed. In the case of international students, Middlebury follows a need-blind admissions policy to the extent that financial resources allow.

No. All financial aid at Middlebury is based solely on financial need, as determined by Student Financial Services.

Yes. Middlebury meets the full need, as determined by Student Financial Services, of any accepted international student, with a combination of work, loans, and grants. Generally, there is at least a minimum Expected Family Contribution (EFC) as well.

Middlebury requires information from both natural parents, whether they are married or divorced. The custodial parent (parent with whom the student lives), and current spouse if applicable, must complete the CSS Profile and the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The noncustodial parent (parent with whom the student does not live), and current spouse if applicable, must complete a noncustodial profile statement. Please contact Student Financial Services if there are extenuating circumstances.

No. Although consumer debt (car loans, credit card payments) is a very real expense for families, it is not considered in the analysis. We make every effort to treat all families equally, and allowing for consumer debt would give families who owe money an unfair advantage over families who do not.

Yes. If the student applying for financial aid at Middlebury has a sibling in college at the same time he/she will be at Middlebury, we adjust the expected family contribution (EFC) to include 60 percent of the original parent contribution to be paid to Middlebury. If there are two siblings in college at the same time as the Middlebury student, we include 45 percent of the original parent contribution in what we expect to be paid to Middlebury. More than one child in college at the same time does put a heavier burden on the family, and Middlebury recognizes this with the splits we make. We do not make any adjustment to the family contribution when a parent is in college at the same time as the student; this is a family choice.

There is no cutoff to determine eligibility for aid since much more that just income is included in the calculation. For example, some families with incomes under $100,000 might not qualify for aid because they have high assets, and conversely, some families with incomes exceeding $150,000 might qualify for aid because they have no assets and more than one child in college simultaneously. We cannot estimate a family’s eligibility for aid without receiving all of the necessary application materials. However, you can utilize our Net Price Calculator, which could provide you an estimate of your family contribution and sample financial aid award.

Financial aid at Middlebury College is need based, and because we meet full need, based on an analysis of family resources, we must adjust the aid package if assistance is received from another source, thus reducing need. Need-based federal Pell grants and state grants reduce College grant aid dollar for dollar. Middlebury College allows outside scholarships, such as local scholarships, high school awards, subsidies from parents’ employers or National Merit funds, to first replace the need-based self-help (work and loan) component of the financial aid award. Any outside scholarship aid exceeding the self-help will then reduce Middlebury grant aid dollar for dollar. Outside aid cannot be used to reduce or replace your Expected Family Contribution (EFC).  For more information, refer to Outside Scholarships and Benefits.

No. Students are paid directly when employed at Middlebury.

Each year Middlebury’s aid decisions take into consideration the updated exchange rates for each country. We use that rate consistently throughout the academic year.

There is no additional charge for J-term.