Financial Aid Principles
We believe...
The life-long value of an educational experience should
be a primary factor in a student’s college decision. Deciding
where to attend college should expand beyond simply where one
can receive “the best deal” or cheapest price. College is an
investment for a lifetime and will have long-lasting benefits.
Paying for an education is a partnership between the
student, parent, federal and state governments, church, private
sources, and the college. Each party can play an integral part
in making a quality education from Houghton College affordable.
Families should research and apply for all available
grants and scholarships. We believe that students who
proactively apply for local and privately funded scholarships
can substantially reduce their college costs.
A student can and should contribute to their educational
financing though employment. Students are encouraged to
secure an on-campus job during the school year and to also work
in the summer to help pay for their education. Additionally,
studies have shown that students who work tend to be more
organized and better time managers, thus improving academic
performance.
Educational loans should be utilized only to the extent
needed and only after all available grants and scholarships have
been awarded. If you need to borrow, we recommend doing so in
the following order - federal student loans, federal parental
loans, and alternative educational loans.
It is wise stewardship to award our institutional aid as
fairly and equitably as possible. We aim to be sensitive to
the genuine financial needs of our families, and we attempt to
meet those needs with our diverse but finite financial
resources.
Awarding our funds right up front in the initial
financial aid package is the most fair and equitable way to
package. While we do reconsider aid packages when there are
special circumstances (loss of job, etc.), we do not reserve
money to award later in the process for negotiating purposes.
Our decisions on how to award our funds cannot be based
on what other schools award. We will not attempt to "match"
another school’s offer. Every college has their own unique
admission goals, student body profile, financial aid policies,
and funding for their grants and scholarships.
A student’s financial aid should continue for all four years
of their undergraduate education. As such, the majority of
Houghton’s grants and scholarships are four-year renewable
awards, provided the student maintains satisfactory academic
progress and other eligibility requirements.
It is our responsibility to provide you with accurate,
thorough, and timely information with regard to the financial
aid application and awarding process. Please contact our office
if you have any questions regarding the financing of your
Houghton education.
