How do I apply for financial aid?

File the Profile Application with the College Scholarship Service (CSS).

• Be sure to authorize release of your data to us.
• Our college code for the CSS Profile is 2325.
• Our priority filing deadline is November 1 for Early Decision applicants and February 1 for Regular Admission applicants.
• There is a fee for this application charged by CSS , but you may be eligible for a waiver from the CSS based on family income and assets.

File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)  online at FAFSA on the Web.

• Be sure to authorize release of your data to us.
• Our college code for the FAFSA is 002739.
• Our priority filing deadline is February 1 for both Early Decision and Regular Decision applicants.
• The FAFSA may also be filed in paper format and available at high schools and colleges but we prefer you file online. 

If you are a NYS resident interested in applying for TAP, you must also file an Express TAP Application (ETA) with the New York State Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC).

• To receive an ETA, you must file the FAFSA, authorizing release of FAFSA data to HESC.

If you are a non-New York state resident, check within your own state to see if there are any grant programs which may be used at Ithaca College.

How long will it take to get a financial aid package?

It depends if you are applying as an early decision applicant or regular admission applicant.  For early decision applicants, as long as you have been accepted and we have your CSS Profile data on file by the priority filing deadline, you should hear from us by December 15th.

For regular admission applicants, as long as you have been accepted and we have your CSS Profile information by the priority filing deadline you will hear from us by May 1st.

All new undergraduate students are required to file both the CSS Profile application as well as the FAFSA.  It takes about 4 to 6 weeks from the time you file your FAFSA until the time you receive a SAR (Student Aid Report) from the Department of Education. If you file electronically (our preferred method) we will have your FAFSA information within 72 hours as long as you used a PIN number (dependent students need to have a parent have a PIN too).  Ithaca College will also receive the same information within several days of your receipt of the SAR.

Remember you must be accepted at Ithaca College and we must have your CSS Profile information in order for you to receive an aid package.

Should I wait until I have been accepted at Ithaca before filing the CSS Profile and FAFSA?

Absolutely not! You do not need to be accepted at the College in order to apply for financial aid. If you wait until you are accepted, it will delay your notification of aid eligibility. File your CSS Profile and FAFSA applications as early as possible, but no sooner than October 1 for CSS Profile or January 1 for the FAFSA.  Remember to meet the priority filing deadline dates to make sure you get the best aid package possible.  Use estimated income data if necessary.

Why do I need to file both the CSS Profile and the FAFSA?

We require the CSS Profile so that we may fully assess your ability to contribute toward the cost of education and how much institutional need based aid Ithaca College may provide.  The FAFSA is required by law for any student seeking federal aid assistance.  We will estimate your federal aid eligibility based upon your CSS Profile information.

How do I notify you of unusual circumstances?

You may complete our Changed Family Circumstance Report to notify us of any changes that may have occurred. (See Downloadable Forms.)