Financial Aid as a Transfer Student
Smith College welcomes and supports qualified students from all economic backgrounds. As part of the college’s commitment to access, affordability and equity, Smith has eliminated loans from its undergraduate financial aid packages for those students receiving institutional need-based aid, replacing those funds with institutional grants. The college will meet the full documented need, as determined by college policy, of all admitted students who apply for aid by the published deadlines.
Applying for Aid
When to Apply
You must not wait until you have been accepted to Smith to apply for aid. Any student who may need institutional financial assistance during tenure at Smith should apply for aid by the financial aid deadlines.
International Applicants
If you are an international transfer student, please see the forms and deadlines in our international financial aid section.
Ada Comstock Scholar Applicants
If you are a nontraditional transfer student, please see the forms and deadlines in our Ada Comstock Scholars financial aid section.
Applying for Aid After Deadlines
Transfer students who do not apply for financial aid by the published financial aid deadlines will be required to complete 32 credits at Smith before they are eligible to apply for institutional financial aid. This means that a student would be eligible to receive only federal, state, and outside aid; no Smith Grant aid would be available until the credits are completed at Smith.
International Applicants
International students who do not apply for aid prior to admission are not eligible to receive institutional aid at Smith at any time.
Ada Comstock Scholar Applicants
If you are a nontraditional transfer student, see our policies in the Ada Comstock Scholars financial aid section.
Forms & Deadlines
Document | Due |
---|---|
CSS PROFILE (2023-24) Smith College Code: 3762 |
November 15, 2023 |
Noncustodial PROFILE (2023-24), if applicable Smith College Code: 3762 |
November 15, 2023 |
FAFSA (2023-24) Smith College Code: 002209 |
November 15, 2023 |
2021 signed parent federal tax returns, including all schedules (custodial and noncustodial, if appropriate). If your parents are not required to, and did not file taxes, please complete the Parent Non-Filer Form Parent Non-Filer Form (2021) - Form available on IDOC or Net Partner |
November 15, 2023 |
2021 parent W-2s (custodial and noncustodial, if appropriate) | November 15, 2023 |
2021 parent business tax returns, if appropriate (custodial and noncustodial) | November 15, 2023 |
2021 signed student federal tax returns, including all schedules If you are not required to, and did not file taxes, please complete the Student Non-Filer Form Student Non-Filer Form (2021) - Form available on IDOC or Net Partner |
November 15, 2023 |
Trust Information Request (if applicable) - Form available on IDOC or Net Partner | November 15, 2023 |
Where to Send Forms
- Forms should be sent to College Board's document imaging service Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC). Financial aid documents are to be uploaded electronically to IDOC or mailed directly to IDOC, where they will be scanned and sent electronically to Smith. College Board will send IDOC instructions via email to applicants who have completed the CSS PROFILE. To ensure deadlines are met, please complete the CSS PROFILE prior to the deadline so that documents can be uploaded to IDOC by our deadline. For more information, please visit the IDOC website.
- Net Partner (Smith's financial aid portal). Instructions will be emailed to the applicant after admission application is received by Smith Office of Admission.
Any documentation that is sent to the SFS Office through Net Partner should be sent in PDF format. Other formats may be incompatible with our system.
Document | Due |
---|---|
CSS PROFILE Smith College Code: 3762 |
March 10, 2024 |
CSS PROFILE for Noncustodial Parents Smith College Code: 3762 |
March 10, 2024 |
FAFSA Smith College Code: 002209 |
March 10, 2024 (Residents of MA, VT): You must file FAFSA by state aid deadlines*) |
2022 signed parent federal tax returns, including all schedules (custodial and noncustodial, if appropriate). If your parents are not required to, and did not file taxes, please complete the Parent Non-Filer Form Parent Non-Filer Form (2022) - Form available on IDOC or Net Partner |
March 10, 2024 |
2022 parent W-2s (custodial and noncustodial, if appropriate) | March 10, 2024 |
2022 parent business tax returns, if appropriate (custodial and noncustodial) | March 10, 2024 |
Trust Information Request (if applicable) - Form available on IDOC or Net Partner | March 10, 2024 |
All students are required to apply for state aid if eligible. Failure to complete all of the state requirements will result in a loss of state grant eligibility. Smith College will not replace this lost assistance due to failure to complete the necessary state requirements. For more information on state aid, see Grant Aid.
Where to Send Documents
- Documents should be sent to College Board's document imaging service Institutional Documentation Service (IDOC). Financial aid documents are to be uploaded electronically to IDOC or mailed directly to IDOC, where they will be scanned and sent electronically to Smith. College Board will send IDOC instructions via email to applicants who have completed the CSS PROFILE. To ensure deadlines are met, please complete the CSS PROFILE prior to the deadline so that documents can be uploaded to IDOC by our deadline. For more information, please visit the IDOC website.
- Net Partner (Smith's financial aid portal). Instructions will be emailed to the applicant after admission application is received by Smith Office of Admission.
Any documentation that is sent to the SFS Office through Net Partner should be sent in PDF format. Other formats may be incompatible with our system.
Types of Aid
Grants are need-based and do not need to be repaid. Students may receive grants from a variety of sources, including Smith College and federal and state sources. In order to be considered for Smith College grants, you must apply for financial aid by the published deadlines, prior to admission.
The student employment component of a financial aid award represents the opportunity to have a job on campus or through one of our off-campus employment partners. You are responsible for finding a position that aligns with your preferences and schedule, and are encouraged to apply early for the best selection of jobs.
You may work to earn money for books and supplies, to put towards your tuition accounts, or for personal spending money. There is no obligation to work all or any of the hours awarded, though income not earned is not replaced with other aid.
For information about work-study at Smith College, see Student Employment.
Learn about the various financing options available to transfer students.
How We Determine Need
Each financial aid application file is personally reviewed by experienced staff in the Office of Student Financial Services. In addition to submitting the required documentation, you are welcome to include any information that you feel will help us understand your family's financial status. Remember to complete your admission application, since only accepted students can receive a financial aid decision.
Three steps are used in documenting your level of financial need:
1. Calculating the family contribution
The Office of Student Financial Services evaluates each student's application using federal and institutional methodologies to assess a family's financial resources. During the review, attention is given to individual family circumstances. Standard factors involved in the review include income, assets, family size, the number of family members in college, unreimbursed medical expenses, taxes paid and tuition for siblings in elementary or secondary school. Staff will determine what each family is expected to contribute toward the student's annual educational expenses following the appropriate federal and college policies.
2. Determining the cost of attendance
An educational expense budget is calculated for each student. Tuition, fees, room and board, and standard allowances for books, supplies, personal expenses and travel are included.
3. Financial need
The difference between the cost of attendance and the calculated family contribution is the student's documented financial need.
Smith College recognizes the diversity of the modern family and requires the submission of information regarding both parents, as well as spouses and domestic partners of each parent. Exceptions to this policy are made on a case-by-case basis.
Merit scholarships are considered a resource when determining eligibility for need-based financial aid. For example, if a student has $22,000 of calculated need and receives the Zollman Scholarship for $25,000, this student would not receive need-based aid since the scholarship exceeds the need. Students who have need-based aid eligibility above and beyond the amount of merit scholarships will receive need-based aid to cover the difference. Merit aid is not awarded on top of need-based aid, but is also considered to meet a family's financial need.
Allowance for Others in College
The fees of undergraduate institutions attended by siblings of traditional students or children of Ada Comstock Scholars are considered in our aid calculations. The enrollment status of each person is verified in the fall. A change in institution or enrollment status may affect your grant aid. For future planning, contact us for the allowance amount used this year.
Living with Relatives
There is a grant reduction if you live with relatives. Please contact us for the amount of the reduction if you are considering living at home or with relatives in the area.
Traditional Undergraduate Cost of Attendance 2023-24
Students are billed for one-half of the annual charges at the beginning of each semester. The Cost of Attendance includes allowances for out-of-pocket expenses that most students incur during the year.*
Cost of Attendance for Other Housing Arrangements for Traditional Students
Students who are approved by the Office of Residence Life to have a non-traditional housing or food arrangement have a modified Cost of Attendance. Learn more on the Traditional Students page.
Direct Billed Costs |
Cost (U.S. dollars) |
---|---|
Tuition |
$61,260 |
Food & Housing |
$21,310 |
Student Activities Fee |
$308 |
Health Insurance (domestic students may waive) |
$3,014 |
Indirect Costs Not Billed |
Cost (U.S. dollars) |
---|---|
Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment |
$800 |
Transportation |
(domestic average) $560 |
Personal expenses |
$1,728 |
Contact Student Financial Services
College Hall 106
10 Elm Street
Smith College
Northampton, MA 01063
Phone: 413-585-2530 Email: sfs@smith.edu
Call Center Hours: Monday through Friday 10 a.m.–noon and 1:30–3:30 p.m. (EST)