Grants and Scholarships
Middlebury Grants
Middlebury Grants, which are “gift aid” and do not have to be repaid, are dedicated exclusively to supporting students who have financial need. Individual grants range in value from $1,000 to more than $75,000 per year, depending on your expected family contribution. Nearly half of undergraduate students receive Middlebury Grants and the average grant is $52,000.
Students may be selected as recipients of our endowed scholarships, which are established by individuals who care deeply about Middlebury and its mission. These awards are not additional money, but will indicate that all or a portion of the Middlebury Grant is funded from a specific endowed scholarship. Scholarships are awarded to students who meet the criteria specific to each fund. Without this support from alumni and friends of the College, Middlebury would not be able to continue to meet the full financial need of all our undergraduate students.
Students are automatically considered for these funds by applying for financial aid. There is no separate application.
Outside Scholarships and Benefits
Students are encouraged to apply for outside scholarship opportunities, which are awards given by entities other than the college, federal and state aid programs. Outside grant assistance, such as scholarships, tuition benefits provided by employers (including colleges and universities) and other benefits, is beneficial because it offers students greater financial flexibility. It can lessen and/or replace the student self-help component of your financial aid offer, which consists of both student employment and student loans.
The amount of student self-help in the financial aid offer that is used to meet your need will vary by year in school and family income level. First-year students can expect their outside aid to replace up to $2,900 in employment and between $1,000-$3,500 in loans, based on family total income. Any outside assistance exceeding the total self-help amount used to meet a student’s financial need will replace Middlebury Grant dollar-for-dollar.
All outside scholarships and benefits are required to be reported on the CSS Profile when a student applies for financial aid. If the Profile is already submitted when the student learns of the assistance, please email the Office of Student Financial Services at sfs@middlebury.edu with the amount and source of the funds. This information is used to update financial aid offers as described above and is noted for the student’s bill.
Federal Grants
Pell Grants and Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants (SEOG) are federal funds awarded to undergraduate students that are determined, based on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), to have significant financial need. Middlebury automatically considers your eligibility for federal grants, when reviewing your financial aid application. Pell and SEOG are used in conjunction with Middlebury Grants towards meeting a student’s financial need.
For more information about these grants visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid website.
State Grants
Some states, particularly Vermont and Massachusetts, have need-based grants for undergraduate students which may be used at Middlebury. State grants may be included in your overall grant eligibility, but are not counted until they are received from the state, at which time they will reduce your Middlebury Grant, dollar-for-dollar. Your state determines your actual eligibility.