Applying for Aid

Students who have completed all necessary aid applications by March 1 will enjoy priority in the awarding process for the following fall semester. Required forms are listed below:

U.S. Residents

New York state residents

Canadian students

Tips for filing the FAFSA

For most students, the first step in applying for aid at Houghton is to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on-line.  It is best to complete the FAFSA using actual 2011 tax information by March 1st.  If your federal taxes will not be filed until after March 1st, you may complete the FAFSA using estimated information. 

  • File your FAFSA on-line at the US Dept. of Education website at www.fafsa.gov.
  • You will also need to request Personal Identification Numbers (PIN) for the student and one parent (if dependent) at www.pin.ed.gov.  Your PIN is your electronic signature on the FAFSA and can be used to make corrections and file the Renewal FAFSA in future years.  It can also be used to apply and sign for loans at a later date.
  • Houghton’s Institutional Code for the FAFSA is 002734.
  • Keep a copy of your FAFSA application for your records.
  • If you have any questions while completing the FAFSA, feel free to call the Student Financial Services Office for assistance at 800-777-2556.

New Feature for 2011

Beginning in 2011, the FAFSA has a new feature where you can choose to auto-fill your tax information straight from the IRS website if you complete the FAFSA after filing your taxes. We encourage you to make use of this feature as it will properly fill in all information and may keep you from being selected by the Department of Education for income verification.

Special Circumstances

If, after completing the FAFSA, you feel that it does not reflect your true financial situation, please send us a letter explaining why.  Your letter should detail the nature of your special circumstances, providing a complete description of the situation.  Please be specific - include all pertinent dates, unusual expenses and estimated income figures.  This information must be received by March 1st in order for it to be considered in the financial aid packaging process.

Financial Aid Timeline

While there is substantial financial aid available, all necessary paperwork should be completed accurately and in a timely fashion. The Student Financial Services Office exists to supplement the efforts of you and your family. By applying on time and following instructions carefully, you can avoid frustrating delays and receive all the aid for which you may qualify.

Fall before year of attendance

  • Visit and apply for admission to Houghton College.

January/February

  • Complete income tax forms.
  • Complete required paperwork

March/April

  • Receive financial aid award letter from the Student Financial Services Office.
  • Make decision on which college you are planning to attend and send enrollment deposit to the Admission Office.
  • Send any required verification documents to the Student Financial Services Office.

June/July

  • Complete any necessary bank loan applications (Stafford, PLUS, CitiAssist).

September

  • First day of classes. Obtain on-campus job if eligible for work-study.
  • Financial aid will be credited to account if all paperwork is completed.