Many students and their parents assume that attending a private college will cost too much or that their income is too high for them to qualify for financial aid. Often these assumptions are not correct. Financing a college education is not easy. It involves a significant commitment on the part of students and parents, but in most instances financial aid will make it possible for a student to attend a private college often at a cost similar to costs at state colleges or universities. In any case, you will never know whether you can afford to attend Unity College unless you apply for admission and financial aid.
Unity College will continue to do everything possible to make it financially possible for qualified students to attend. Approximately 80 percent of Unity students receive financial assistance.
Some financial aid is in the form of grants and scholarships, which do not have to be repaid; but Unity College, like most colleges and universities, is not able to meet the entire financial need of its students with grants and scholarships alone. Therefore, we make self-help assistance, such as student jobs and loans, available to qualified students. A college education is an investment in which students as well as their parents have a financial stake. An important way for students to learn financial responsibility is to help pay for their education. In recent years, the generous interest and repayment terms of federally sponsored Stafford Loans have made these loans a manageable way for students to pay for part of their education.
The Financial Aid Office
All students are encouraged to come to the financial aid office to discuss their financial problems and to ask questions. Those having only a quick question should stop by at any time. For more complicated issues, an appointment may be required. The financial aid office staff can answer questions about application procedures, eligibility for financial aid, need and award calculations; and descriptions of individual federal, state, and college financial aid programs.
Financial Aid Awards
Financial aid is awarded at Unity College on the basis of documented financial need, which is measured by the difference between the cost of attending college (tuition and fees, room and board, transportation, books and supplies, and an allowance for personal expenses) and the expected family (parent(s) and student) contribution. An estimate of family contribution is obtained by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and mailing it to the processor – Federal Student Aid Programs. This form is available from high school guidance counselors and from the financial aid office at Unity College. The analysis of the FAFSA results in an estimate of family contribution based upon annual income and accumulated assets, with allowances for the number of dependents, the number of children attending post-secondary educational institutions, health and emergency expenditures, retirement needs and other relevant factors. The FAFSA provides the College with a common denominator for estimating a family’s financial strength. Unity College believes that use of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an objective and equitable method of estimating a family’s ability to finance a student’s education. The estimated family contribution is reviewed by the financial aid staff, taking into account any additional information provided by the parent(s) or student. Where appropriate, the estimated family contribution determined by the FAFSA is revised. Any changes in the parents’ or student’s financial circumstances after the FAFSA has been submitted should be brought to the attention of the financial aid staff. It may be possible to adjust a student’s award.
