Financial Aid

1
  • Aerial shot of the Academic Quad.
    Aerial shot of the Academic Quad.
  • 435&#160;students participate in Merrimack’s varsity sports programs each year- from hockey to lacrosse to <a href="http://www.merrimackathletics.com/sports/clubsports/Rugby/index">rugby</a>.
    435 students participate in Merrimack’s varsity sports programs each year- from hockey to lacrosse to rugby.
  • Mendel Center and the&#160;Moseley Wrought Iron Arch Bridge.
    Mendel Center and the Moseley Wrought Iron Arch Bridge.
  • The resident dining hall, Sparky’s Place, offers a variety of nutritious meals for students and faculty.
    The resident dining hall, Sparky’s Place, offers a variety of nutritious meals for students and faculty.
  • The&#160;Gladys Sakowich Campus Center, the heart of campus activities.
    The Gladys Sakowich Campus Center, the heart of campus activities.
  • Whether it’s winter, spring, or anything in between, Merrimack’s beautiful campus is enjoyed by all.
    Whether it’s winter, spring, or anything in between, Merrimack’s beautiful campus is enjoyed by all.
  • The Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher is the spiritual center of the Merrimack College community.
    The Collegiate Church of Christ the Teacher is the spiritual center of the Merrimack College community.
  • Students are often seen studying in the McQuade Library,&#160;a favorite spot on campus.
    Students are often seen studying in the McQuade Library, a favorite spot on campus.

Financial Aid Award Policies

Merrimack College is committed to assisting students in achieving their educational goals. It is a fundamental principle of financial aid that the student’s first resource must be his or her own earning capacity followed by the income and assets of his or her immediate family.

While Merrimack subscribes to the philosophy that the primary responsibility of meeting college costs rests with the family, we also realizes that under present economic conditions there are families that do not have the means to send their children to a private college. In recognition of this fact, Merrimack College makes every attempt to bridge the gap that may exist between family resources and college expenses.

  • Merrimack’s institutional funding is awarded based on academic performance and demonstrated financial need.
  • The Early Action and Regular admits will be considered for institutional scholarships based on their high school grade point average. The FAFSA is used for institutional need-based grants as well as federal funds.
  • Every student who completes the FAFSA is offered self help assistance in the form of a federal student loan and, possibly, work study (federal need based or college employment.)

Merrimack attempts to meet a student’s financial need with institutional funds first followed by federal resources. Institutional funds are limited therefore it is not always possible to meet 100% of every student’s need. Priority is given to students who have financial need and have outstanding academic records.

Incoming students are awarded federal and/or state grants based on the information that they provide on the federal FAFSA. If a federal FAFSA is selected for verification, the awards are conditional subject to complete verification of the financial aid information. Applicants will be notified of the information that they need to submit in order to complete this process. If the information originally provided is changed, the original award may be adjusted and a revised financial aid notification will be sent.

To continue to receive federal or state aid, the student must be making satisfactory academic progress towards a degree. For complete details, please refer to the Merrimack College Catalog, handbook or financial aid guide.