Amherst College Scholarships 2019
International Students: Applying for Financial Aid
To be considered for financial aid at Amherst in 2019-20, you must complete:
CSS Profile
Complete the CSS Profile form and submit it to the College Board. Amherst College’s CSS Profile code number is 3003. Please complete the CSS Profile reporting your family’s financial information in the currency of your home country.
Note: Applicants from Iran cannot complete the CSS PROFILE; applicants from Iran should complete the International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA).
Applicants for whom the CSS Profile application fee would present a serious financial hardship should request a fee payment code by e-mailing finaid@amherst.edu; be sure to include your full name and where you reside.
If your parents are separated or divorced, both of the student’s biological/adoptive parent(s) will complete their own CSS Profile. Each parent will access the CSS Profile with different log-in credentials. The non-custodial parent will need to create a College Board account before providing their information. It’s highly recomended that the student and custodial parent start the CSS Profile first, as the non-custodial can’t submit information until the student selects a school that requires the submission of non-custodial parent information.
If any parent owns an interest in a business or a farm, s/he must complete the Business/Farm Supplement. The completed Business/Farm Supplement should be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid at Amherst College directly.
Income/Wage Documentation
Please wait until you receive e-mail instructions for setting up your Financial Aid Portal credentials before uploading your original 2017 documentation of income and taxes paid/withheld for you and your parents, and employer provided documentation of 2017 income and benefits to the Financial Aid Portal. Applicants from China should submit a Salary Certificate issued by the parents’ employer.
All electronic documentation must be sent in .pdf format (images are not acceptable). All documentation should be in original foreign currency and your home language. All documentation and notations must be translated into English (it does not need to be a paid translation service; your own translation is sufficient).
Digital signatures are not accepted; original signatures are required on all forms.
Currency Exchange Rate Changes
If a currency exchange rate changes 10% or higher than the rate used in an initial award determination, students can request a review of the rate one time per academic year. Reviews can be done in either early August or early December – the period just before payment of the bill to take into account the rate that would affect the families from that country close to the time of payment. If the rate change is less than 10%, there will be no adjustment. If the change of rate is 10% or more, there will be a full year adjustment if the review is completed in August and a spring-only adjustment if the review is done in December.
If, upon review of an exchange rate, the change is 10% or more, all students from that country receive an adjustment at that time.
Candidates for Transfer to Amherst
Transfer applicants already studying in the United States who demonstrate financial need are eligible for financial aid at Amherst. To be eligible for financial aid, a transfer candidate must follow the same instructions as above.
| Submission Dates | |
|---|---|
| Early Decision | November 1 |
| Regular Decision | February 15 |
| Fall Transfer | March 15 |
| Spring Transfer | November 1 |
Costs for International Students
The following budget presents typical expenses for an international student at Amherst in the 2019-2020 academic year. The budget includes allowances for living expenses during vacations and holidays.
Student Expense Budget 2019-2020
| Comprehensive Fee (tuition, room, and board) | $72,950 |
| Other Student Fees | $ 1,000 |
| Health Insurance* (waivable) | $ 1,938 |
| Books and Supplies (estimated) | $ 1,000 |
| Personal Expenses (estimated) | $ 1,800 |
| College recess expenses (estimated) | $ 800 |
| Transportation Costs | $ 50-2,500 |
| Total Cost of Attendance | $ 79,538 – $81,988 |
Office of Financial Aid
Amherst College
B-5 Converse Hall
P.O. Box 5000
Amherst, Massachusetts 01002-5000
U.S.A.