Prospective Students Applying for Financial Aid
Availability of the FAFSA
We envision that beginning in December 2024, the 2025-2026 FAFSA may become available. We know some families faced struggles in completing last year's application, and Davidson will continue to be flexible with those facing technical difficulties in completing this application requirement.
Please explore dates and deadlines by your application round to learn when each application item needs to be submitted.
We are committed to making a Davidson education affordable. Financial aid offers typically include a combination of grants, scholarships, and student employment.
All students who wish to be considered for need-based financial aid must reapply each year. After applying for admission to Davidson College, your next step will be to apply for financial aid. We’re here to help – these videos will walk you through the steps of that process.
This video walks through the process of applying for financial aid at Davidson College as a prospective student.
If your parents are divorced or separated, watch this video on how to apply for financial aid at Davidson College.
If you are applying for financial aid at Davidson College as an undocumented student, explore the process in this video.
How We Evaluate Your Application
We evaluate each need-based financial aid application according to these guiding principles:
- You and your family have the primary responsibility for college costs, to the extent of your ability.
- Your ability to contribute may be determined through assessment of your CSS Profile and Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Financial need is the estimated annual cost of attending Davidson minus your family's estimated annual contribution.
- In determining the "number in college" for awarding Davidson's grant funds, only siblings who are seeking their first undergraduate degree will be considered. Siblings who are in graduate school or are pursuing an additional undergraduate degree will not be counted as a family member in college.
How You Apply for Aid
Complete the Required Forms listed on the Financial Aid Forms page. The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for federal student aid, and the CSS Profile and tax materials are used to determine eligibility for institutional aid.
You or a parent may also be requested to submit:
- CSS Profile from the noncustodial parent (if biological or adoptive parents are not living together and are unmarried, divorced, or separated).
- Schedule K-1 (if a parent is involved with a business partnership or S corporation);
- Verification Worksheet (if an admitted student enrolls and is selected for federal verification);
- A non-filer's certification (if you did not file a tax return in the relevant year).
We receive CSS Profile and FAFSA data electronically. You do not need to submit paper copies of these forms to our office.
Additionally, when you file your CSS Profile you will receive an email from the College Board explaining how to submit your tax returns and other forms through the College Board's IDOC service.
Explore our complete list of forms and worksheets, including links to the FAFSA, CSS Profile and requested tax documents for the IDOC.
Important Dates & Deadlines
Our Admission & Aid Timeline outlines key dates in the financial aid application process, sortable by application round, including transfer students. Need-based financial aid is available for domestic transfer students. Students who intend to apply must submit aid application materials in conjunction with their admission application. Davidson's non-need-based scholarships are not offered.
Late Applications
Students who file aid application materials after the published deadlines are subject to a reduction in the college grant portion of the award. This grant reduction will be filled with a student loan offer of $3,500.