2025 Bennington College US Freshmen Need-Based Aid (US Based)

Scholarship Awarding University: 

Type of degree: 
Bachelor’s

Scholarship Deadline: 
Applications for this scholarship will end on the 15th of January, 2025

Scholarship Summary: 
Bennington's financial aid counselors work together with students and their families (US citizens and permanent residents) to meet the difference between a family’s resources and the cost of attending the College. Approximately 90 percent of Bennington students receive some financial aid, whether through a combination of grants, scholarships, work, and loan, or simply student and parent loans.

Scholarship Applicant Criteria: 
To be eligible for need-based aid at Bennington, applicants must;
ii. Demonstrate significant financial need

Value of Scholarship: 
The average financial aid award for incoming freshmen could reach up to $54,636, of which $25,005 is merit-based

Scholarship Application Guide: 
To apply;
i. Once a student has completed an application for admission and indicated an interest in financial aid, the Office of Financial Aid will send that student a Bennington College financial aid ID. The student may use this information to file the Bennington College Financial Aid Application online and to check the status of other documents required as part of his/her aid application. 

ii. Students interested in receiving financial aid should complete the requirements below before the deadline in order to receive an aid award;

iii. FERPA Consent Form on your personal My Financial Aid page. Login information for the My Financial Aid page was sent to the student via email a few days after submitting the application for admission. While on your My Financial Aid page, check the Required Documents section. Aid applicants will also submit the following:

iv. CSS PROFILE: The CSS/Noncustodial Parent PROFILE is required if your natural parents are separated, never married, or divorced and not in the same household. For exclusion consideration, complete the NCP Waiver Request .Bennington’s school code is 3080

v. 2024–2025 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) [2024-2025 FAFSA won’t be available until December]
  • Before filing a FAFSA, apply for an FSA ID at studentaid.gov. This will be used as your electronic signature on all federal forms annually. Dependent students should have the custodial parent completing the FAFSA with you apply for his/her ID also.
  • Report your and your parents' names and social security numbers exactly as they appear on the social security card. Filing a FAFSA invokes a name/number/citizenship match with the Social Security Administration.
  • If your natural parents are divorced, separated, or single, and do not live in the same household, only your custodial parent’s household financial information (including that of your custodial parent’s current spouse) is entered on the FAFSA.
  • Use the Data Retrieval Tool on the FAFSA or request an IRS Tax Return Transcript to verify 2023 reported income and taxes―please do not send a copy of your actual tax return. 
  • 2023 W-2s, parent and student―send legible copies of employer-issued W-2s for students and parents of dependent applicants to Bennington College.

Scholarship Website: 
Find further information on this scholarship opportunity at the Bennington College Freshman Financial Aid Page.