Apply for Financial Aid
Applying to Bryn Mawr as a first-year student? Scroll to learn how to apply for aid.
First, note your financial aid application deadline.
All financial aid materials are due at the same time as your admissions application—find your decision plan and corresponding deadline below.
| Decision Plan | Application Deadline |
|---|---|
| Early Decision 1 | November 15 |
| Early Decision 2 | January 1 |
| Regular Decision | January 15 |
| Transfer & Nontraditional-Age Applicants | March 1 |
What type of applicant are you?
Depending on whether you are an international or domestic applicant, your financial aid process will look different.
- Domestic applicants are students who are U.S. citizens (regardless of where they live) or U.S. permanent residents.
- International applicants are students who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents.
Domestic Applicant Instructions International Applicant Instructions
Apply for Aid (Domestic Applicants)
You are considered a domestic applicant if you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Domestic students must reapply for aid each year.
Complete the CSS Profile.
- The CSS Profile opens each year on October 1.
- Use Bryn Mawr's College code (#2049).
Important Tips:
- The College Board grants fee waivers for eligible students based on income information upon completion of the application.
- Report your full legal name and social security number to make sure your application processes successfully.
- If your parents are divorced, separated, or never married, both parent households must submit a CSS Profile.
- If you are an independent student, you should submit your CSS Profile using your information as well as your spouse's (if you have a spouse).
Submit your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
- The FAFSA opens each year on October 1.
- Use Bryn Mawr's college code (#003237).
Important Tips:
- Enter your full legal name and social security number exactly as they appear on your social security card.
- In order to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must provide your consent for the Department of Education to receive your federal tax information from the IRS.
- For dependent students, your parents must also consent in order for the student to be eligible for federal aid.
- Spouses of independent students must also consent in order for the student to be eligible.
Upload your tax documents to IDOC
Full federal income tax returns are required to be considered for institutional financial aid.
- When you complete the CSS Profile, the College Board will prompt you to submit federal tax returns or non-tax filer statements using IDOC (the Institutional Documentation Service).
- For institutional financial aid consideration (Beacon Tuition Award, Bryn Mawr Grant, etc.) you must provide federal tax returns (form 1040) all form w-2s and applicable schedules (1,2,3,c,d,e,f, k1) as well as all business taxes (1065,1120, 1120s) for all parents.
- All federal tax returns must be signed by the taxpayer or have a PTIN from a tax preparer.
- If you are an independent student, rather than submitting your parents' returns, you must submit the same information as above, but for you and your spouse.
Frequently Asked Questions (Domestic Applicants)
The information below applies specifically to domestic applicants to Bryn Mawr College. Applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents should refer to the financial aid information for international applicants.
Applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents are considered domestic applicants at Bryn Mawr College.
No. Applicants are not required to apply for need-based financial aid. Keep in mind that those that do not apply for need-based aid during the admissions process are not eligible for need-based aid later at any point during their time as a Bryn Mawr student.
Yes. Domestic students interested in receiving need-based financial aid are required to submit the CSS Profile, FAFSA, and parent taxes each year in order receive need-based financial aid.
Domestic applicants to Bryn Mawr College must use IDOC to submit their financial aid documents. IDOC is an encrypted service supplied by the College Board. Financial aid documents contain sensitive information such as Federal Tax Information (FTI). Bryn Mawr College uses IDOC to help safeguard applicants' information using encryption.
Do not submit sensitive documents to the Financial Aid Office via email.
Need-based financial aid for eligible domestic students includes:
Bryn Mawr Grant: Institutional need-based grant aid for eligible full-time undergraduate students for up to eight terms. Grants do not need to be repaid.
Bryn Mawr Beacon Tuition Grant: U.S. applicants from families earning under $175,000 with typical assets will qualify for free undergraduate tuition. Additional aid is available for housing, food, and other costs based on calculated need.
Bryn Mawr Merit Scholarships: A limited number of merit scholarships are awarded by the Admissions Office, regardless of financial need. There is no separate application for merit scholarships. Applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships as part of the admission process. Merit award decisions are made only at the time of admission and are non-negotiable.
Federal Student Aid: Federal aid such as Pell Grants, Federal Work Study, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), and Federal Direct Loans are all available as part of domestic applicants' financial aid packages.
Read more about the types of aid available to Bryn Mawr's domestic applicants on our Grants, Scholarships, and Loans page.
To be considered for need–based financial aid, domestic applicants should submit their required financial aid materials by the deadline applicable for their admission plan:
Early Decision I: November 15
Early Decision II: January 1
Regular Decision: January 15
Bryn Mawr accepts the College Board's Non-Custodial Parent Petition Waiver. Complete and submit the waiver form along with an additional signed statement on letterhead from a trusted third-party who can attest to your situation.
Examples of acceptable third-party documentation include letters from a social worker, guidance counselor, psychologist, court documents, or similar statements.
Statements written by family or friends will not be accepted.
Apply for Aid (International Applicants)
Prospective international students interested in financial aid must apply during the admissions process—your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) will remain the same for all four years.
Complete the CSS Profile First
- The CSS Profile opens each year on October 1.
- Submit your CSS Profile using Bryn Mawr College code #2049.
Important Tips:
- If your parents are divorced, separated, or never married, both parents' households must submit a CSS Profile.
- Students with a complete admissions application may request a CSS Profile fee waiver in their application portal. Not every international applicant is eligible for a CSS Profile Fee Waiver. Bryn Mawr’s Financial Aid Office reviews each fee waiver request to determine eligibility. You will receive an email notification when a decision has been made.
Complete the Declaration of Finances Form
- The Declaration of Finances form is required for international applicants who are applying to Bryn Mawr, but have indicated that they do not have interest in institutional, need-based aid. This form is a declaration of the financial support available for educational costs each year you will attend the College.
- You'll be able to complete the form in your application portal once you've submitted your admissions application.
Frequently Asked Questions (International Applicants)
The information below applies specifically to international applicants to Bryn Mawr College. U.S. citizens and permanent residents should refer to the financial aid information for domestic applicants.
Applicants who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents are considered international applicants at Bryn Mawr College.
Yes. Bryn Mawr College awards need-based and merit financial aid to international students which may consist of grants, scholarships, loans, and campus employment. The College meets the full calculated need for all admitted students.
In order to be considered for financial aid at any point during your studies at the College, you must respond “Yes” to the Financial Aid Intent question on the Common Application. If you respond “No” to the Financial Aid Intent question on the Common Application you will not be eligible for financial aid in subsequent years.
No. International applicants are not required to apply for need-based financial aid. After submitting the Common Application, international applicants who are not applying for need-based aid must complete the Declaration of Finances form in their Applicant Portal. Keep in mind that those that do not apply for need-based aid during the admissions process are not eligible for need-based aid later at any point during their time as a Bryn Mawr student.
No. International students apply for financial aid only once, at the time of admission. For international students receiving need-based aid, the family contribution remains the same for all four years at Bryn Mawr, and grant aid is adjusted to account for increases in the cost of attendance.
Need based financial aid for eligible international students may include:
Bryn Mawr Grant: Institutional need-based grant aid for eligible full-time international undergraduate students for up to eight terms. Grants do not need to be repaid.
Bryn Mawr College International Loan: A need-based institutional loan for eligible international students. Loans must be repaid after graduation.
Student Employment: International students who have student employment included in their financial aid award may work on Bryn Mawr’s campus to earn money toward educational expenses. After enrolling, students work with the Student Employment Office to find employment opportunities on campus.
Learn more about grants, scholarships and loans.
Yes. A limited number of merit scholarships are awarded to international applicants by the Admissions Office, regardless of financial need. There is no separate application for merit scholarships. International applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships as part of the admission process. Merit award decisions are made only at the time of admission and are non-negotiable.
No. Bryn Mawr College does not use IDOC to collect financial aid documents from international applicants.
To be considered for need –based financial aid, international applicants should submit their required financial aid materials by the deadline applicable for their admission plan:
Early Decision I: November 15
Early Decision II: January 1
Regular Decision: January 15
Yes. Instructions for requesting a CSS Profile Fee Waiver are available in the Financial Aid section of an international applicant’s Application Portal. Not every international applicant is eligible for a CSS Profile Fee Waiver. Bryn Mawr’s Financial Aid Office reviews each fee waiver request to determine eligibility. You will receive an email notification when a decision has been made.
The deadlines to request a CSS Profile Fee Waiver are:
- Early Decision I: November 23
- Early Decision II: January 8
- Regular Decision: January 29
Monitor your application portal for additional requested materials
Once you've submitted your admissions application through Common App, you'll receive an email with access to your Bryn Mawr application portal. This is where you will see your financial aid checklist and submitted documents.
Uploaded additional documents through IDOC? Please allow 3-5 business days for these materials to appear as received in your applicant status portal.
Current, graduate, or postbac student?
Navigate to your financial aid instructions.
