APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications and Free Applications For Student Aid (FAFSA’s) may be submitted any time after January 1. There is no deadline for new students; however, ESR’s financial aid funds are limited. The earlier your application is received, the better chance you have of receiving aid. The deadline for returning students is April 15. If you do not submit this paperwork on time, you risk not receiving ESR need-based aid, which will be distributed by May 15. You will be put on a waiting list and will be reconsidered in September depending on available funds. There may be no scholarship aid available at that time.
To apply for a Cooper Scholar award, see the section above on the Cooper Scholar Program.
- Complete an ESR Financial Aid Application, available in the catalog, on line at ESR’s website, or from the Business Office. Be sure to include a copy of your Federal Tax Return for the prior tax year. Send the application to: ESR Business Manager, 228 College Avenue, Richmond, IN 47374 . A critical part of the application is the Budget Worksheet. Your need-base aid and FSA loan amounts are largely based on this information, so use realistic figures. The Expense Norms below represent a frugal student budget. Your individual expenses may vary significantly.
- Complete a FAFSA on-line or on paper. The web site is www.fafsa.ed.gov. The Business Office has paper FAFSA’s available. You must do this even if you do not anticipate the need for Federal Student Aid. ESR uses the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the FAFSA to determine your financial need. Be sure to reference ESR’s school code: E00170.
- The Business Manager awards need-based aid and determines your eligibility for FSA. You will be informed by letter within two weeks of the receipt of your FAFSA information or your ESR Financial Aid Application, whichever is later.
- Sign and return the Acceptance letter and/or request for FSA within 30 days.
- If you request FSA, you will receive a package of information on steps to take before arriving at ESR. If you have not received FSA from ESR in the past, you will then meet with the Business Manager during your first week of classes to finalize the process.
- Your request for FSA is processed through Earlham College, and funding
is disbursed to your student account in the first 2 weeks of class. If
the amount disbursed is greater than all tuition and fees billed to your
student account, the overage will be refunded to you within two weeks
of the disbursement.
Note: You receive half of your total FSA request each semester.