How Does the Reconsideration Process Work?

Scott Amphitheater

The Financial Aid Office uses a holistic approach to determine an expected family contribution that best reflects the information submitted in the financial aid application. If information that you provided in your financial aid application has changed for reasons beyond your family's control, or if the information was submitted incorrectly, parents of dependent students may request a reconsideration of the new information.  This option is available for students who are eligible for U.S. federal student aid.  

Changes to your family income or employment status that are just now occurring or that are predicted to occur may not result in an immediate change to your financial aid decision. However, our process for reconsideration allows you the opportunity to share those concerns, and the Financial Aid Office will be as responsive as possible. Specific questions should be directed to the Financial Aid Office via email finaid@swarthmore.edu.

Request for Reconsideration Application Form

Review Process

Requests for reconsideration are reviewed both for additional institutional funding (if all other criteria are met) and Federal aid eligibility (for students who are eligible to receive Federal Financial Aid). Please note that a reduction in the FAFSA Student Aid Index (SAI) does not necessarily mean an increase in funding eligibility. Furthermore, Federal Pell Grant displaces need-based Swarthmore Scholarship grant for which a student may or may not have already been previously awarded.  A newly originated amount of Federal Pell Grant will replace Swarthmore Scholarship eligibility dollar-for-dollar.   

Please note:

  • A financial aid committee meets regularly within the review period to discuss requests for reconsideration of financial aid application information.
  • Requests for reconsideration are reviewed and processed in the order that they are received.
  • The deadline to request a reconsideration for prospective newly admitted students is prior to making your enrollment deposit.  The reconsideration request will not extend your enrollment deposit deadline set by the Admissions Office.
  • Reconsideration requests regarding returning current student awards are considered only after initial financial aid awards are completed for all returning current students.
  • The deadline for current students to request a reconsideration of institutional funding (Swarthmore Scholarship) is December 1 of the current academic year.  
  • Requests for additional Swarthmore Scholarship will be considered for students and families who have completed their financial aid application on time.