Financial Aid Information for Prospective Students

Financial aid is offered on the basis of demonstrated need. A student's demonstrated need is determined by subtracting the family resources available for education (as defined by the Expected Family Contribution) from the cost of attendance for each year.

Provided that Goucher has received a valid FAFSA, financial aid offer letters will be sent to students approximately 2 weeks after they receive their official acceptance letter from Admissions.

The FAFSA is an online application that collects information to determine eligibility for federal, Maryland state, and need-based institutional aid. If you are not a Maryland resident, then please check with your individual state regarding their application process.

The FAFSA is not required if a student only wishes to be considered for a merit scholarship. All students admitted to Goucher, who submitted a high school transcript, are automatically considered for a merit scholarship. The admissions committee determines merit scholarship recipients. Federal guidelines state that merit scholarships are considered as a source of financial aid and are therefore listed on the financial aid notification.

Yes, transfer students can complete the FAFSA to be considered for financial aid.

Yes, international students can be considered for institutional aid by Admissions during their application process. Please see the admissions web page for international students for additional information.

Undocumented students will be considered for merit scholarships only by completing the admissions process. Undocumented students are not eligible for federal or state aid. Undocumented students can research and apply for private outside scholarships.

If your family has special financial circumstances that were not taken into account on your FAFSA, you may qualify to have your financial need recalculated. For information on which types of circumstances qualify for recalculation, view the Professional Judgment Request Form on the financial aid forms section of the Goucher website.

The college seeks to enroll a talented and diverse student body and to make a Goucher education possible for as many qualified students as possible. To this end, Goucher offers a comprehensive program of need-based and merit-based financial assistance. The average 2021-2022 freshman scholarships and grants (that’s money that doesn’t need to be repaid) was $35,187. The average 2021-2022 freshman financial aid offer, including scholarships, grants, student loans, and work-study, was $38,174.

If you have any questions not addressed here, then please let us know.

Recognizing that no two families and their circumstances are alike, we will work with you and your family to identify and choose financing options that are appropriate for your specific needs.