Applying for Financial Aid
Eligibility & Amount of Aid
Paying Your Tuition

Applying for Financial Aid

How do I apply for financial aid?
To apply for financial aid, you will need to submit a CSS/PROFILE and FAFSA, as well as additional forms required by HMC. Learn more about applying for financial aid.

Do I have to apply for financial aid every year?
Yes. The Office of Financial Aid must re-assess your financial need every year. Once enrolled at HMC, the deadline to re-apply for financial aid is March 2, and the deadline to submit supplemental documents (biographical sketch, signed copies of federal tax returns, etc.) is April 15. Review the financial aid deadlines.

Why do I have to fill out forms in addition to the required financial aid forms (FAFSA, CSS/PROFILE, etc.)?
While the core of your financial aid application (FAFSA, CSS/PROFILE, biographical sketch, income tax returns) don’t change from year to year, there may be new requirements and regulations or differences in your financial situation. In these cases, the Office of Financial Aid will request the additional documentation. Be sure to read all correspondence and requests from the Office of Financial Aid carefully and respond in a timely manner.

Eligibility & Amount of Aid

Will my financial aid change next year?
If you receive need-based aid, your eligibility and amount of aid may change from year to year. The most common reason is a change in your family's financial situation. There may be other reasons that your eligibility may change, including changes to either the Federal or Institutional Methodology, changes in your financial need, the timeliness of your financial aid application, your grade level, and the availability of federal, state, and HMC funds. Because of this, we cannot guarantee your level of aid from year to year.  This is why you reapply for financial aid each year.

Additionally, students are expected to assume a greater share of their educational costs as they progress through college.  Here’s the level of contribution students are expected to make year by year at HMC:

*These amounts represent total annual need based loans. Due to individual loan program limits, some students may have to borrow from more than one type of student loan program.

What if I want to move off campus after my first year?
When you live on campus, we include the cost of your room and a meal plan in our determination of financial aid. If you move off campus, your cost of room and board will vary. To achieve a fair distribution of HMC's limited funds, we use a standard off-campus room and board budget for students living off-campus. We do not adjust room and board budgets for actual expenses.

For the 2007-2008 academic year, the off-campus room allowance was $6,444 and the off-campus board allowance was $2,844. If you are living with parents or relatives off-campus, the "at home" room and board budget is $3,474.

Generally, the off-campus allowance is less than the cost of on-campus room and board. Therefore, if your contribution remains the same, moving off campus may decrease the amount of your need-based Harvey Mudd Scholarship or other forms of aid.



What if I become a dorm proctor?
Dorm proctors receive a credit for 80% of their room charge and 60% of the largest meal plan (the 16-meal plan) regardless of what meal plan they select.

These Room and Board credits will lower the cost of attending HMC. The aid package we provide cannot exceed your federally calculated need, so we would adjust your financial aid package. This may mean a reduction in your Federal Work-Study and need-based student loans, followed by a reduction in scholarship or grant aid, if needed.

In many cases, however, the dorm proctor credits won’t result in a reduction of your other awards because your federal financial aid eligibility exceeds your institutional financial aid eligibility. As a proctor, you may still decline any Federal Work-Study or need-based student loans because of this additional funding.

What if I need a 9th semester of aid?
HMC students are only eligible for the equivalent of four years of financial aid. These eight semesters may be taken at any time; therefore, if you take a leave of absence and do not receive financial aid elsewhere, you’re still eligible for financial aid until your eighth semester. If you need additional aid beyond an eighth semester, you must make a written appeal to the Office of Financial Aid. Students requiring an additional semester are eligible for federal financial aid; however, HMC Scholarship and other college funding is contingent upon Office of Financial Aid approval of your written appeal.

What if my family’s financial situation changes?
If there are significant changes to your family’s financial circumstances, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.

If I win an outside scholarship, how will this affect my eligibility for aid?
Any scholarships or awards from private donors, civic organizations, corporations, foundations, or other group are considered outside awards. If you receive an outside award, your financial aid will be adjusted accordingly. This means that if you receive an outside award, the amount of your overall aid package will not increase.

What if my non-custodial parent refuses to cooperate?
If the parent with whom you do not live refuses to file the CSS Non-Custodial Parent’s Profile, please contact the Office of Financial Aid.

What happens to my financial aid eligibility if I get married?
You won’t necessarily receive more financial assistance if you get married. According to federal regulations, you’re still dependent on your parents for the academic year if you get married after you file the FAFSA. Dependency status cannot be updated based on marriage until the following academic year.

If you are married prior to filing the FAFSA, you’ll be considered an independent student for federal financial aid. This means that your parents won’t need to provide financial information on the FAFSA; they also won’t have to sign your application.

HMC does, however, require parental information on the CSS/ PROFILE application for all students under 24 years of age, regardless of marital status. HMC Scholarship aid will be based upon both the student's and parents' financial information, regardless of marital status. Thus, many married students receive the same amount of aid after they get married as they did before they got married.

If you’re married and won’t be receiving assistance form your parents but find that a parental contribution has been calculated for you, contact the Office of Financial Aid to discuss alternative financing options for the amount you’re unable to contribute from your and your spouse's finances.

How will my financial aid be affected if I study abroad?
You will normally continue to receive assistance while studying abroad for a semester or a year. You’ll pay a comprehensive fee to HMC that is equal to tuition, room, board, and fees. The fee covers the costs of the academic program, room and board in the host country, and an allowance for round-trip transportation to the program site.

If your HMC study abroad program is through Arcadia University, you may apply for a need-based scholarships ranging between $500 and $2,000 for a full-year, semester or term from Arcadia University directly. For further information regarding this opportunity, you may visit the Arcadia University online and download application materials.

Paying Your Tuition

How and when do I get a bill?
Bills are produced and mailed on the first of each month, beginning in July. They are mailed to the mailing address indicated on the Tuition Payment Agreement.

What if I don't receive a bill?
If you don't receive a bill and you believe you should have, contact the Office of Student Accounts at (909) 621-8107 during regular business hours, or email student_accounts@hmc.edu.

What do I do if my bill is wrong?
If you believe your bill is incorrect, contact the Office of Student Accounts immediately to determine the correct amount due. DO NOT WAIT FOR A CORRECTED INVOICE. Make sure payment is received by the due date (20th day of the month billed) to avoid late payment penalties.

When are the due dates?
Payments are due upon receipt and become delinquent on the 20th day of the month billed. Postmarked dates are not considered.

Does HMC offer a payment plan?
Yes, families have options for paying the amount due each semester. Learn about payment plans.

Do you accept credit cards?
We don’t accept credit card payments. Payments must be made in the form of cash, personal check, cashier's check, money order, or traveler's check.

Do you accept payment via electronic fund transfer (EFT)?
We do accept tuition payment by EFT. For more information, please contact the Office of Student Accounts.