The Pomona College financial aid program is designed to offer admitted students sufficient financial aid, based on the College’s determination of each student’s financial need, to enable them to enroll in the College. The amount of aid the College offers each student varies according to each family’s particular circumstances; consequently, a confidential application is collected from each student who wishes to receive aid from the College. Continuing students must submit a renewal application for financial aid each year, which the College uses to determine eligibility for the following year.
For complete details on Pomona College aid programs, consult Affordable Excellence, a brochure available from the Office of Financial Aid and/or the Office of Admissions.
Application Procedures
Candidates for admission who wish to apply for financial aid must submit both federal and College aid applications. Each year, the federal application for the following fall semester, known as the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), is available on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov after January 1. The Pomona College institutional aid application is the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile. The profile is also available online, at www.collegeboard.com. Application procedures are outlined in detail in the Pomona College brochure, Affordable Excellence.
When applicants complete the FAFSA, they must indicate Pomona College as a recipient of the information after it has been processed by the selected agency. Pomona’s federal Title IV code number is 001173. Pomona’s PROFILE code number for the College Board’s application is 4607. Applicants are encouraged to write directly to the Pomona College Office of Financial Aid regarding any special circumstances they feel affect their situation.
Other agencies and colleges may have their own requirements and operate on different schedules; applicants should be sure to be aware of those as well. New student financial aid applications for the fall semester must be received each year by the following schedule:
- First year Early Decision I candidates: November 1 of the preceding year (example: For students intending to enroll for Fall 2013, financial aid applications must be received by November 1, 2012).
- First year Early Decision II candidates: December 28 of the preceding year (example: For students intending to enroll for Fall 2013, financial aid applications must be received by December 28, 2012).
- First year Regular Decision candidates: January 2 of the same year
- Transfer Candidates: March 15 of the same year
California State Aid Programs
All Pomona College applicants who need financial aid and who meet California residency requirements must apply for aid through programs of the California Student Aid Commission. Pomona College aid resources are not sufficient to replace California funds lost by the candidate’s failure to apply properly for California Grants A or B.
In general, California residents who complete the FAFSA, listing the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) as a recipient, and have their high school submit their verified Cal Grant GPA to CSAC, have completed the application for the Cal Grant. For additional information, please visit www.calgrants.org, email studentsupport@csac.ca.gov, call 888-224-7268, or write directly to the California Student Aid Commission, Student Support Services Branch P.O. Box 419027, Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-9027.
Aid Renewal
If an aid recipient’s academic progress is satisfactory and financial eligibility continues, aid will be renewed during successive college years. Continuing Pomona students who wish to be considered for aid must complete a new FAFSA and Profile Application in the preceding spring. Links to these applications may be found on our Website. Each February, the Financial Aid Office sends a reminder to current students regarding the renewal applications, which are filed in April. Satisfactory progress and renewal procedures are discussed in detail in Understanding Your Financial Aid, which is available upon request.
Renewal forms for Pomona students currently receiving financial assistance are available in the Office of Financial Aid after February 1, as are forms for matriculated students not currently receiving aid who wish to be considered for it. Renewal announcements are made in June for the following fall.
Refund of Financial Aid: If a student has received any financial aid, the Office of Financial Aid calculates the institutional financial aid refund by prorating the scholarships and self-help (i.e., loan and work) to reflect the same percentage of scholarship and self-help contained in the original aid award before the student withdrew. If a student has received any federal aid, the federal refund calculation is performed according to federal regulations. A more detailed description of the financial aid refund and repayment policy is published for general reference by the Office of Financial Aid. Sample refund calculations are also available to students upon request.
Student Loan Exit Interviews
All students who have received student loans during their course of study at Pomona College are required to attend an exit interview before leaving the College. This is a requirement for graduation and for students who take a leave of absence or withdraw completely.
It is the student’s responsibility to see that this requirement has been met. Exit interview sessions are available online. Students may schedule individual appointments if they have additional questions. Questions concerning exit interviews should be directed to the student loan administrator in the Business Office or to the Associate Director of Financial Aid.
For additional information on financial aid at Pomona College, please visit http://www.pomona.edu/administration/financial-aid |