We're Here to Help

Did you know that 99 percent of Lebanon Valley College students receive financial aid? We're here to be your partners and to help make The Valley experience possible for you. Here are some terms that may help you start this journey. Please contact us at any time for assistance.

Financial Need

Financial need is the difference between annual college expenses and a determination of what a family can afford to contribute toward those costs. It is a need, not income alone, that determines financial aid eligibility.

Cost of Attendance

The cost of attending an institution includes both "direct" and "indirect" costs. Direct costs are actually billed to the student, such as tuition, room, board, and required fees. Indirect costs are estimates of costs that may be incurred such as books, personal expenses, and travel.

 

Expected Family Contribution

The federal government established a formula, using the information you and your family provided on your application, to determine your financial strength. The result is an Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is used to determine your financial need: The cost of attendance minus your Expected Family Contribution equals your financial need.

 

Eligibility for Financial Aid

Eligibility for financial aid is calculated based on factors such as family size, number of students in college, income, and assets of both student and parents (if the student is dependent). Eligibility is also based on the school's cost of attendance. If your EFC exceeds the cost of attendance, you can still receive assistance through non-need-based programs.

 

Financial Aid Offer

The total amount of financial aid that a student receives is described in a financial aid offer letter. The letter outlines the amount and types of aid a student is eligible to receive, institutional charges and the out-of-pocket expense. The institution will send a financial aid offer to students who are admitted to LVC and complete the FAFSA.

Prospective full-time students: after admission and completion of the FAFSA, aid offers are mailed on a rolling basis beginning the first week in December.

Returning full-time students: after completion of the FAFSA by March 1 and Verification paperwork (if selected), aid offers are mailed on a rolling basis beginning the first week in July.

 

Dependency Status

Students are considered dependent or independent based on the idea that students and their families (which may include parents or their spouse) have the primary responsibility to pay for educational expenses.

For the 2020-21 academic year, a student is dependent unless he or she can answer "yes" to at least one of the following questions:

• Were you born before January 1, 1997?
• Will you be working on a master's or doctorate program during the academic year 2020-21?
• As of the application date, are you married?
• Do you have any children who receive more than half of their support from you?
• Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who live with you and who receive more than half of their support from you from July 1, 2020, through June 30, 2021?
• At any time since you turned 13, were both of your parents deceased, were you in foster care, or were you a dependent or ward of the court?
• Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training?
• Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
• Are you currently or were you an emancipated minor?
• Are you currently or were you in legal guardianship?
• Are you homeless or are you at risk of being homeless?