Barnard Financial Aid Tips
Applying to colleges and universities can be a conflicting time in someone's life. It is filled with hope, happiness, excitement, and a sense of nervousness. Where to go, what to major in, how to meet new people, to a dorm or not to the dorm, and how to finance the education you will invest in, are just the tip of what your questions will begin with. The Office of Financial Aid at Barnard College understands it is a lot to take in all at once.
But it does not have to be! Some insight from the Office of Financial Aid can shed light on the process and make completing your Financial Aid Checklist smooth. Do not think everything has to be done all at one time!
Before you start to submit your Common Application to Barnard College and apply for Aid, gather each document mentioned in this blog post over time, save them in a folder for yourself, and upload them to your Financial Aid Checklist (once available to you).
The Financial Aid Application (FAFSA) starts with filling out the FAFSA on studentaid.gov. When filling out the FAFSA, if you are applying to start school for the academic year of 2024-2025; the Parent/Guardian(s) and Student will use the 2022 Tax Return(s) information.
Students and families will need to submit the CSS profile located on collegeboard.com.
**Both #1 and #2 can be completed before submitting any documents to The Office of Financial Aid. You can access these on their respective websites once it is available for students/families.**
For the Office of Financial Aid, we need copies of specific documents submitted to your Financial Aid Checklist. Each year you apply for Financial Aid, you will use the documents from two years prior.
For the 2024-2025 school year, any Financial Aid documents submitted for your Financial Aid application would have to reflect the year 2022. This will apply to the following documents which you will submit to The Office of Financial Aid:
Parent Tax Return
Student Tax Returns
W2 forms. The Office of Financial Aid does not accept W2 summaries in lieu of the 2022 W2 forms.
For International Applicants, those who apply for Aid, are also able to fill out the CSS profile before submitting any documentation. *If you experience any difficulties submitting the CSS profile, please email finaid@barnard.edu and we can help you**
International applicants will have to submit:
The 2022 version of your country's tax return
A signed statement from your parent's employer(s) on the company's letterhead indicating annual wages, bonuses, and benefits. The statement should also indicate if the income is gross income (before taxes, in which case we need to know the taxes paid) or net of taxes
Once all documents are submitted, our financial aid counselors will review them. We strongly advise you to check your Financial Aid Checklist regularly for any updates or additional requirements.
If you have any questions during this process, please reach out to finaid@barnard.edu with a brief email of the situation.
—Jacki Campbell, Office of Financial Aid Senior Programs Assistant