“We Want to Give Families Peace of Mind”: Muhlenberg Adjusts Financial Aid Process, Adds Two $2,000 Renewable Grant Opportunities
The College is responding to continued FAFSA uncertainty and making it easier for students who know Muhlenberg is their first choice to commit to applying, especially through Early Decision.By: Meghan Kita Wednesday, October 2, 2024 09:02 AM
Photo by Kristi MorrisMuhlenberg’s Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid is making three key changes for students applying to the Class of 2029 to support students and families during their college search process:
Use of the simpler CSS Profile to determine prospective students’ financial aid eligibility.
Like many private institutions, Muhlenberg has in the past used the full version of the CSS Profile to determine financial aid eligibility. In 2020, the College dropped that requirement to streamline the financial aid process, relying more heavily on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
In 2023, the Department of Education promised a simplified FAFSA. Its rollout was a disaster, says Director of Financial Aid and Associate Dean of Admissions Greg Mitton, with long delays that made it extremely difficult for colleges to provide accurate information to families in a timely fashion. Muhlenberg was able to deliver aid packages faster than many peer institutions thanks to creativity and hard work from Mitton and his team, but it was a struggle.
“We want to give families peace of mind. This helps students, families and Muhlenberg to get a real understanding of what aid offers can be made. Families can make that commitment to be at Muhlenberg for the next four years.”
—Director of Financial Aid and Associate Dean of Admissions Greg Mitton
So, when the government announced that this year’s FAFSA form would be delayed from October 1 to December 1, Mitton and Vice President for Enrollment Management Meg Ryan feared a repeat of last year and decided to make a change. Muhlenberg will use the simplified version of the CSS Profile, which mirrors the FAFSA in terms of simplicity and is already available to applicants, to determine financial aid eligibility.
“We want to give families peace of mind,” Mitton says. “This helps students, families and Muhlenberg to get a real understanding of what aid offers can be made. Families can make that commitment to be at Muhlenberg for the next four years. If the government comes through with a new and improved FAFSA and a process that is working, we can remove the [CSS Profile] at any time. But for families’ sake and our sake, we don’t want to have a repeat of last year.”
The CSS Profile is free to complete for students who self-report income lower than $100,000 per year. Other students who believe the $25 filing fee is a financial hardship can request a fee waiver code specifically for their Muhlenberg CSS Profile by contacting [email protected].
A $2,000 grant for students who complete the FAFSA.
The CSS Profile will allow the Office of Scholarships & Financial Aid to offer a reliable estimate of each prospective student’s institutional need-based grants and federal aid (including Pell grants, federal direct student loan programs and parent loan programs). However, to finalize and take advantage of that aid, students will need to complete the FAFSA when it becomes available.
The $2,000 grant is available for Class of 2029 students who complete the FAFSA and is renewable each academic year, as long as a FAFSA is filed. It’s advantageous to students, families and Muhlenberg for as many families as possible to utilize federal student aid to the fullest extent possible, Mitton says, and filing the FAFSA is the only way for each student to know their options and get a full picture of affordability.
A $2,000 grant for incoming students who apply and are admitted through Early Decision.
For decades, Muhlenberg has supported students considering Early Decision — that is, applying early with the understanding that they’ll enroll at Muhlenberg if admitted — by offering an Early Scholarship and Aid Review. Students can fill out a simple form before applying and receive an accurate estimate of the merit-based aid they’d receive from Muhlenberg if they were to apply and be admitted through the binding Early Decision application plan. Students interested in getting an early sense of need-based aid availability also must complete the simplified version of the CSS Profile. Mitton’s team has already done 300 Early Reviews this application season.
This year, Muhlenberg is adding a $2,000 grant, renewable for all four years, to students who see Muhlenberg as their first choice and decide to apply Early Decision to the Class of 2029.
“We value commitment here at Muhlenberg on many levels,” says Mitton of the message this grant sends to students. “We value your commitment in the classroom. We value your commitment to your extracurriculars. We value your commitment to your friends and family. We value commitment to a point where, if Muhlenberg is your first choice and you want to apply Early Decision and are admitted, we want to show our commitment to you.”
For more information about the financial aid process and aid offer terms for Fall 2025 applicants, visit the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid web page.
