As college costs continue to rise, the availability of financial aid becomes increasingly important. If you are concerned about your ability to afford a Hobart and William Smith education, you may use our Early Estimator For Financial Aid, at right, to get an idea of your eligibility to receive financial aid.
While we can not guarantee to meet 100% of demonstrated need for all students, typically we can meet full eligibility with a combination of scholarships, grants, loans and work study from federal, state and institutional resources.
More than 76% of the first-year class receives some form of financial aid. The average total financial aid package is $30,834; the average grant/scholarship from HWS is $19,192.
We try to keep the “self-help” (student loans and work study) portion of the financial aid award to a reasonable level, typically $2,000 in federal work study and $3,500 in Federal Stafford Loan.
There are various options available to help finance the costs of a Hobart and William Smith education if you are interested in pursuing additional resources.
Please note: The Early Estimator program is only available to students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents. We need to receive the Early Estimator form in our office no later than January 1.
Print and complete the one-page Early Estimator Application (PDF).
Attach the most recent income tax returns and W-2s (2006) for both the student and parents, and mail them to:
Office of Financial Aid and Student Employment
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Geneva, NY 14456
Calculate your estimated family contribution (EFC) using both the federal and institutional needs analysis formulas
Send you a letter that provides both the family contribution and your eligibility for financial aid. This will include estimates for financing options such as the Federal PLUS Loan and the monthly payment plan.
After you receive the letter, contact the Office of Financial Aid Services to discuss what the financial aid awards may look like at HWS. (Note: Estimated awards will not be included in the response letter).
The College Board provides several online calculators to help estimate family contribution, college savings and loan repayment. Information you provide is secure and completely confidential.