Drew is committed to making education accessible and affordable for everyone and provides generous financial aid. Over 85% of our students receive scholarships and grants, and we offered more than $35 million in institutional aid last year.
We know that financing your college education can be complicated. That’s why we are with you every step of the way. We’ll give you personal attention, with an assigned financial aid counselor to help you understand the process. At Drew, you won’t be transferred to anonymous call centers or shuffled between counselors unfamiliar with your situation.
Important Announcement for Current/Returning Drew Students
The time to complete your 2024-2025 FAFSA will start December 29th!
Note: Students receiving a New Jersey TAG award or any other form of state aid must submit the FAFSA by May 15th or they will be ineligible for the 2024-2025 year.
What Kind of Financial Aid Information Do You Need?
Financial Aid Basics
Financial aid is any form of monetary support that assists you in paying for college, and it comes in many forms:
Grants and Scholarships
Grants and scholarships are gift aid that does not need to be paid back. Some forms of gift aid, especially from federal or state sources, are based upon financial need and require that you file the FAFSA to determine eligibility.
Loans
Loans are a form of financial aid that must be paid back with interest to the lender over an extended period of time. All students who file the FAFSA will, at a minimum, automatically qualify for a Direct Student Loan from the federal government.
Work-Study
Work-Study allows students to work on or off campus. The earnings from this position are considered financial aid and not income, so these earnings do not lessen your eligibility for need-based aid in the future. In order to be considered for a federal Work-Study job, you must file a FAFSA. While you may be awarded a specific amount of Work-Study eligibility, you will only earn the amount equivalent to the number of hours worked. This amount will not be deducted from your bill; rather, it will be paid out incrementally, as it is earned. Work-Study funds are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so file your FAFSA early.
Payment Plans
Payment plans allow students to structure tuition payments and other fees into installments throughout the year instead of paying a lump sum at the beginning of each semester.
Special/Unusual Circumstances (Undergraduate Financial Aid)
Drew’s Financial Aid Office understands that students and families may at times experience unique situations. Financial Aid Administrators have the authority to take into consideration unique family circumstances not reflected on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). A Professional Judgement may apply in such cases.
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Special Circumstances
Special circumstances are financial situations that support a change to the cost of attendance or expected family contribution (SAI) calculation. Examples of special circumstances include but are not limited to:
- Divorce of parents, or student and spouse
- Death of parent or spouse
- Loss of employment, or other significant change in income or assets
- Loss of other income or benefits (such as social security or child support) by you, your parents or your spouse
- Excessive medical expenses not covered by insurance and paid out of pocket
- Other significant changes or adjustments that impact the student’s costs or ability to pay for college
Unusual Circumstances
Unusual Circumstances are conditions that support a change to a student’s dependency status based on a unique situation. Examples of unusual circumstances include, but are not limited to:
- Human trafficking.
- Refugee/asylum status.
- Parental abandonment, estrangement, or parental incarceration.
Please note that unusual circumstances do not include:
- Parents’ refusal to contribute to student’s education.
- Parents’ refusal to provide information for the FAFSA or verification.
- Parents do not claim the student for income tax purposes, or that the student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.
A Student may access the Unusual Circumstances Request Form by logging on to their TreeHouse.
Adjustments
A student may have both a special circumstances and an unusual circumstance. Financial aid administrators (FAAs) may make adjustments that are appropriate to each student’s situation with appropriate documentation.
Process for Appeal
Students who find themselves with special or unusual circumstances should contact the Financial Aid Office to speak with a financial aid advisor. The counselor will research the student’s situation and verify the information presented by the student. Additional information or documentation may be required from the student. Notice of the need for any additional documentation or a decision will be sent to the student once the file has been reviewed.