Trinity College

Note: failure to meet published deadlines will result in a decrease in Trinity Grant assistance of $300 per month until all required documents have been received.

2. WHAT ARE TRINITY'S PUBLISHED DEADLINES FOR REAPPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID IN FUTURE YEARS?

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS    DUE DATE

Renewal FAFSA      March 1

Trinity College Aid Application      April 15

Student & custodial parent current year tax returns & W2s      April 15

Noncustodial parent current year tax returns & W2s      April 15

Other supporting documentation
     Upon request




3. WILL MY FINANCIAL AID AWARD REMAIN THE SAME FOR ALL FOUR YEARS OF STUDY AT TRINITY?

Trinity determines your eligibility for financial aid based on calculated need. Each year we will review your family's current income, assets, household size, number attending college, and special financial circumstances to determine your continued need for assistance. If your circumstances and costs remain unchanged your need for assistance will remain the same provided that you meet the published deadlines and continue to make satisfactory academic progress toward your degree.

4. HOW DOES TRINITY DEFINE SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS? IS THERE A MINIMUM GPA REQUIRED TO KEEP MY FINANCIAL AID AWARD?

Federal regulations require Trinity to have a written Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy in place that must be maintained in order to receive financial aid. The College's SAP policy includes the required GPA that must be maintained in order for you to keep your financial aid.

5. IF I DO NOT COMPLETE MY UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE WITHIN FOUR YEARS, WILL I BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FINANCIAL AID UNTIL I COMPLETE MY DEGREE REQUIREMENTS?

Institutional Funds: Need-based institutional aid assistance is limited to eight semesters of enrollment at Trinity or at an approved study away program. Students who are unable to complete their degrees within eight semesters of enrollment and wish to receive an additional semester of aid must complete and submit the institutional aid appeal form to the Financial Aid Office.

Federal Funds: Federal guidelines allow for receipt of federal financial aid for up to ten semesters of enrollment. Students who are unable to complete their degrees within ten semesters of enrollment and wish to receive an additional semester of aid must complete and submit the federal aid appeal form to the Financial Aid Office.

**Aid eligibility for transfer students is prorated based on accepted transfer credits.

6. WHAT CHANGES IN MY FAMILY'S FINANCIAL CIRCUMSTANCES WILL AFFECT MY FINANCIAL AID AWARD?

The most common areas of change that affect eligibility for financial aid include, but are not limited to, the following: income; assets; household size; number of dependents enrolled in a certificate or degree seeking undergraduate program; and parent marital status.

8. IF MY CUSTODIAL PARENT REMARRIES, WILL THIS AFFECT MY FINANCIAL AID AWARD?

Yes. If a custodial parent remarries federal and institutional policies require that the stepparent's income and assets be included in determining eligibility for financial aid.

9. MY FINANCIAL AID WAS CALCULATED BASE ON TWO DEPENDENT STUDENTS ATTENDING COLLEGE THIS YEAR. WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF MY SIBILING DOES NOT ATTEND COLLEGE?

If your sibling does not attend college or is not enrolled at least half-time in a certificate or degree seeking undergraduate program, you can expect a decrease in your financial aid award. Trinity requires written documentation of your sibling's enrollment status. A Sibling Enrollment Verification form is available on the Trinity College Web site.

10. DOES TRINITY CONSIDER SIBILINGS IN GRADUATE SCHOOL WHEN CALCULATING FINANCIAL AID AWARDS?

Graduate students are considered independent for federal financial aid and, therefore, Trinity does not include graduate students when determining your eligibility for Trinity grant assistance.

Note: Siblings enrolled in combination Undergraduate/Masters programs will be considered graduate students during the 5th year of 4/1 programs or during the 4th and 5th year of 3/2 programs.

11. IF MY PARENTS DO NOT CLAIM ME AS A TAX DEPENDENT, WILL I BE CONSIDERED INDEPENDENT FOR FINANCIAL AID?

No. If you are accepted to Trinity as a dependent student you will remain a dependent student for Trinity grant assistance until you complete your undergraduate degree. Students who meet federal independent criteria will be considered independent for federal aid only.

12. IS FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE A COMPUTER?

Trinity will assist students in obtaining loan funds to cover the purchase of a computer. Most students borrow through the Federal Perkins Loan Program. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for details.

13. IF I RECEIVE AN OUTSIDE SCHOLARSHIP, WILL MY FINANCIAL AID AWARD CHANGE?

There are many sources of scholarships other than Trinity – the Rotary Club, National Merit Scholarships, and so on. Because federal regulations require that awards of this type be included in evaluating your eligibility for financial aid, you must notify the Financial Aid Office of all outside awards that you receive. The dollar amount of such awards will be deducted from the amount of your loans and work-study award before there is any reduction in Trinity grant funds. An Outside Award Disclosure Statement will be made available on our Trinity website.

14. IF MY FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE INCLUDES FEDERAL WORK-STUDY, WILL I BE ASSIGNED TO A WORK STUDY JOB?

No. Trinity provides an online database of available work-study positions that you will be able to access from your own computer. You may search the database to find a job either on campus or at a local community service organization that meets your interests and schedule. More details regarding Trinity’s work-study program will be sent to you during the summer. You should plan to work 8-10 hours a week to earn your full Federal Work-Study award.

15. WILL MY FINANCIAL AID AWARD BE REDUCED IF I DO NOT ACCEPT A FEDERAL WORK-STUDY POSITION?

No. Some students prefer to work off campus while others choose not to work while in school. You are free to decline Federal Work-Study without any effect on the non-work-study components of your financial aid award.