Types of Aid

Dean College encourages students to seek outside scholarships through various resources. At Dean, we always apply your outside scholarship to your unmet need. If your need is already met, we pledge to use additional resources to reduce loans first, and then self-help awards like work-study, before reducing institutional funding. 

You may also want to contact your town or city hall, high school guidance office, public library and local civic organizations to find out about scholarships or grants for which you may be eligible to apply.

There are also several popular and reputable scholarship search engines that our students and families have found useful including: www.fastweb.com, www.collegeboard.com, and www.finaid.org.

The College Scholarship Fraud Prevention Act of 2000 was passed to protect against fraud in student financial aid. We recommend you read our statement on preventing scholarship fraud so you know what to be aware of during the search process.

State grants are based on information provided on your FAFSA and may be offered to eligible students. The Department of Education in each state determines a student's eligibility. Many states have application deadlines which can be found on the FAFSA website. The State of Massachusetts awards grants to eligible students who meet residency and financial criteria. Students must also have a valid FAFSA on file by May 1 of each year. 

The Massachusetts Gilbert Grant is awarded to full-time students who meet the criteria of the Massachusetts State Grant. Award amounts range from $1000-$1500 per academic year. The Gilbert Grant is contingent upon fund availability and is awarded on an appeal basis.

Additionally, Vermont and Pennsylvania currently allow students to use state grant funds from their home state to attend schools in Massachusetts. We recommend you contact your state agency for more information.

Federal Pell Grants

Awards up to $7,395 per academic year for exceptionally needy applicants. The Pell Grant is funded by the federal government and is determined based on the information provided on the FAFSA and enrollment status.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

Awards ranging from $1,000 to $1,500 are awarded to high-need students. The SEOG grant is federally funded and is determined based on the information provided on the FAFSA. SEOG is contingent upon fund availability and is awarded on an appeal basis.

In addition to Merit Scholarships, domestic students are considered for need-based institutional grants provided students successfully complete the FAFSA.

If your financial aid package and family resources are not enough to cover your costs of attending Dean College, education loans may be a viable option to supplement your resources. Both the federal government and many private lenders provide supplemental loans. It is the lenders who establish eligibility criteria which will include a review of the borrower’s credit score. Learn more about Payment Plans and Loans.

Federal Direct Student Loans are long-term, fixed-interest rate federal student loans awarded based on a review of your FAFSA, Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), and your enrollment status. First-time borrowers must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) and an Entrance Counseling session online at https://studentloans.gov

Repayment of Student Loans begins six months after you graduate, withdraw, or drop below half-time enrollment status (six credits). See the current interest rate.

The two types of Student Loans include:

1. Subsidized: No interest accrues until you graduate, withdraw, or drop below half-time enrollment status.
2. Unsubsidized: Interest begins to accrue immediately.

Students and parents may borrow private loans to cover their entire cost of attendance (less any other aid received). A student's cost of attendance includes tuition and fees, as well as average travel, books and personal expenses. Once you have determined the cost of attendance, subtract any aid the student will be receiving including all federal, state, private, and institutional grants and scholarships. The amount left over is the maximum that you can borrow for an academic year.

At Dean College, we have designed on-campus employment opportunities that not only help you earn some additional money, but also help you grow personally and professionally. 

Eligibility for Work-Study is determined after completing the FAFSA and in conjunction with other financial aid programs. Students are paid biweekly for work performed, so it is a great way to offset day-to-day living expenses.  

If you are a current student, you can see available positions via Handshake. 

Students who do not qualify for Work-Study may still find employment on-campus. Some campus offices employ non-Work-Study students in a variety of roles. In addition, many local businesses employ Dean College students.

Your military service has made you eligible for Veterans Administration and/or branch specific educational benefits to help you pay for college.  Dean College is committed to assisting you in attaining those benefits that you are eligible for.

Dean College acts as a liaison with the Veterans Administration for students who qualify to receive veteran educational benefits. Eligible veterans must first apply for their educational benefits by completing an application with the U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs in order to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (COE).  

Applications can be completed online:  https://va.gov/education/how-to-apply

Veterans may be able to transfer all or part of their benefits to a spouse, or dependent(s).  To be able to use benefits, qualified veterans or family members are required to enroll in a degree or certificate program.  

Once the Certificate of Eligibility has been received, the student should contact the School Certifying Official (SCO) in the Office of the Registrar and submit the document (COE) for verification.  The SCO will then certify the student’s enrollment information to the Veterans Administration that will process payment of benefits.

To determine your eligibility, or for more information and assistance, contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at 1-888-GIBILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) or visit their website:  https://va.gov

Dean College is also a proud participant in the Post 9/11 GI Bill® Yellow Ribbon Program.  Only veterans entitled to the maximum benefit rate based on service requirements under the Post 9/11 GI Bill® or their designated transferees may receive funding under the Yellow Ribbon Program.  While Dean College does participate in this program, there is a maximum number of individuals to whom the school is able to award funding under this program each year.  In most cases Yellow Ribbon support will replace previously awarded institutional funding.

More information on the Yellow Ribbon Program benefits and if you are eligible, may be obtained on the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs official website:  www.gibill.va.gov

Dean College is compliant with the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 S.2248 Section 103.1.(b)

NOTE:  A covered individual is any individual who is entitled to educational assistance under Chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or Chapter 33, Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits.  

Dean College will permit any covered individual to attend or participate in the course of education during the period beginning on the date on which the individual provides to Dean College a Certificate of Eligibility for entitlement to educational assistance under Chapter 31, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment, or Chapter 33, Post-9/11 GI Bill® benefits, and ending on the earlier of the following dates:

1. The date on which payment from VA is made to the institution.
2. 90 days after the date the institution certified tuition and fees following the receipt of the Certificate of Eligibility.

Dean College will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement funding from VA under Chapter 31 or 33. 

‘‘GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government web site at https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill."