Understanding Your Aid
Our goal is to help students and parents understand that paying for a college education requires planning. Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) and answers for our QuestBridge Match students. More information is available throughout this Student Aid website. We invite you to write or call the Student Aid Office to discuss your situation in more detail.
Financial Aid Notice:
Your financial aid is determined by the difference between your Cost of Attendance and your calculated Family Contribution. For QuestBridge Match students, Bowdoin will cover the cost of tuition, housing, and food with grant assistance. Grant assistance can come from a variety of sources including institutional, federal, and state sources.
Student Campus Employment:
You will have the opportunity to earn the amount listed in your financial aid notice through on-campus employment during the academic year. Students who choose to obtain an on-campus job to meet this expectation will receive an hourly wage and a bi-weekly paycheck. For more information about jobs on campus, please refer to our Student Employment website.
Cost of Attendance:
Your Cost of Attendance includes all the Direct Expenses for which you will be billed by the College (i.e., tuition, fees, housing, and food) and other Indirect Expenses that you need to consider as (i.e., miscellaneous personal expenses, books, course materials, supplies, and possibly transportation). Because Indirect Expenses vary among students, the College provides an estimate in the student budget to recognize these costs. The Board of Trustees approves the final cost for the coming academic year each May.
Family Contribution:
Your Family Contribution is the family’s share of your educational expenses. It is made up of three components—parent contribution, student summer work, and student campus employment. For QuestBridge Match students your parent contribution is $0. Also, see “Outside Awards” below for ways to reduce your work expectation.
Net Price:
Net price is the Cost of Attendance minus ALL grant/scholarship assistance, and is equal to your Family Contribution.
Outside Scholarships:
Students can often use outside awards to reduce their summer or school year work expectations. For more information on outside scholarships, and how they are included in your financial aid award, please visit the Student Aid website, or contact the Student Aid Office by email at sao@bowdoin.ed or phone at 207-725-3144.
Student/Parent Loans:
While Bowdoin does not package student loans, some families use student or parent loans to finance part of their share of the costs. More information on student/parent loans.
Additional Information:
Additional information about Bowdoin’s financial aid program is available on the Student Aid website.