How to Apply for Financial Aid at Lehigh: Your Step-by-Step Guide
All Lehigh applicants are eligible to apply for financial aid, regardless of your family’s financial circumstance; however, not all families may demonstrate the financial need to qualify for certain types of aid. Be sure to be as thorough as possible when completing the necessary forms so you provide a complete picture of your family’s financial circumstances. If all of the required paperwork is submitted and complete by the given deadlines (see table below), a student’s calculated financial need may be met with a combination of self-help (federal and institutional loans) and gift-aid (grants and scholarships), based on the availability of funds.
To apply for financial aid, you will need to complete the following steps:
- Printable Checklist
- Complete the 2012-2013 College Scholarship Service (CSS) Financial Aid PROFILE application. Carefully review any message codes from your schools to ensure that you have completed all application requirements. Check out our IMPORTANT DEADLINES table below for appropriate times to file the CSS/PROFILE. A fee of $25 is charged for the first school and $16 for each additional school. (Fees will be waived for families with low incomes. A waiver is issued during the registration process.) Lehigh’s code is: 2365
- Complete the 2012-2013 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - it will not be available until January 1. Lehigh’s code is: 003289.
- Submit signed copies of student’s and parents’ Federal Tax Returns for tax year 2011, along with all accompanying schedules & W-2 forms. (NOTE: If you are an Early Decision applicant, you must also submit student’s and parents’ 2010 Federal Income Tax Return by the deadlines listed below.) If student or parent(s) are not required to file a 2011 Federal Income Tax Return, complete and submit the 2012-13 Non-filers Statement.
- Be sure to check if any supplemental applications are required for state grants or scholarships.
- Additional forms may be required for special circumstances. Such as:
- Noncustodial Parent’s Statement: If your biological parents are not married, and your custodial parent is not remarried, you must submit the Non-custodial Parent's Statement, along with copies of Non-Custodial Parent's tax returns, W-2s, and any accompanying schedules. These forms follow the same deadline as the custodial parent's forms.
- Business/Farm Supplement: If either of your parent's are self-employed or are owners (part or full) of a corporation/partnership, the Business/Farm Supplement must be submitted along with copies of the business tax returns (Schedule C, Corporate Tax Returns and/or Partnership Tax Returns). These forms must be submitted by the same deadline as the Parent's Tax Forms.
Status of submitted paperwork can be viewed on the student portal. Allow 5-7 days for processing.
View all Financial Aid forms >
IMPORTANT DEADLINES
Missing deadlines could make you ineligible for aid. Applicants wishing to be considered for financial aid should file by the deadline noted. Do not wait until you are offered admission to apply for aid.
| Applicant Type |
Deadline to file CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® Application |
Deadline to file FAFSA |
Deadline to submit 2010 Federal Tax Returns* |
Deadline to submit 2011 Federal Tax Returns* |
| Early Decision I |
November 15 |
February 1 |
November 15 |
February 15 |
| Early Decision II |
January 15 |
February 1 |
January 15 |
February 15 |
| Regular Decision |
February 1 |
February 1 |
N/A |
February 15 |
| Transfer Application |
April 1 |
April 1 |
N/A |
|
*Note: Federal Tax Returns must be submitted for custodial parent, student, non-custodial parent (if applicable), and business taxes (if applicable) by the deadlines given; Federal Tax Returns must be signed and should include all W-2s and any accompanying schedules
FORMS