How Financial Aid is Determined

Demonstrated Financial Need

Financial aid at Scripps College is awarded on the basis of the institutionally determined demonstrated financial need, which is the difference between the cost of attendance and your expected family contribution, or EFC. Scripps College meets 100% of this demonstrated need for all students, who meet all eligibility criteria and application deadlines, with a combination of grants, loans and work-study.

Cost of Attendance:

Educational expenses for the academic year include direct charges for tuition, mandatory fees, housing, food and an estimated allowance for books and supplies, transportation, personal expenses, and average fees associated with federal student/parent loans (for those who borrow from those programs). Your actual cost of attendance may vary.

Please note that the estimated cost of attendance changes each academic year.  Board of Trustees establish the rate of tuition, fees, housing and food for the upcoming academic year in February.

Estimated 2025-2026 costs for full-time, degree-seeking students

*The allowance for food reflects the cost of the optional 19-meal plan with flex dollars that covers the cost of 3-meals per day.  Financial aid will not be changed if you choose a plan with fewer meals or waive out of the meal plan entirely. Students living with parents or relatives have a food allowance but no housing allowance.
^†*The transportation allowance varies by student based on the geographic location of their permanent residence.

The Claremont College Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is not included, but may be added to your cost of attendance upon your request.  For the 2025-2026 academic year, the SHIP premium is $3,219.

For the 2025-2026 academic year the average Federal Direct Student Loan Fee from 2024-2025 of $40 will be added to the cost of attendance for students who borrow federal student loans. If your parent(s) borrow a Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan, the 2024-2025 average Federal Direct PLUS Loan fee of $1,579 will be added to the cost of attendance.

Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) & the Student Aid Index (SAI):

Scripps College Office of Financial Aid determines the family contribution by carefully reviewing each family’s financial aid applications including the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and supporting documentation. Scripps College uses both Federal Methodology (FM) and Institutional Methodology (IM) to determine your financial aid eligibility.

Federal Methodology (FM) is the formula used to determine eligibility for the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Direct Loans, Federal Work-Study, and state scholarship programs such as the Cal Grant.  The federal Student Aid Index (SAI) is determined from the data provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

The Federal Student Aid Index (SAI) may be made up from a custodial parent contribution and a student contribution.

Institutional Methodology (IM) is a formula developed by the College Board and determines your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC).

Estimated Family Contributions may be made up from a custodial parent contribution, a noncustodial parent contribution, and a student contribution.

Parent Contributions (custodial parents and noncustodial parents)

The following items are considered:

• family size
• number of dependent children enrolled at least half-time in undergraduate degree programs
• parent(s) taxed and untaxed income and assets (excluding retirement accounts)
• extenuating family circumstances (such as illness or loss of employment)

Our need analysis protects a portion of income and assets for necessary family expenditures such as taxes, reasonable living costs per geographic region, educational savings, emergencies and unusual medical expenses.

If a student’s biological or adoptive parents are divorced, but either have remarried, include stepparent information on the FAFSA and CSS Profile applications.

Student Contributions

Student’s personal income and assets are considered in determining a student contribution. The minimum student contribution is $1,700 each year for books, travel, and/or personal expenses. The expectation is that the student will earn this amount in the summer preceding their the academic year. Students and their families may cover this amount with outside scholarships, savings, parental assistance, and/or other financing options.

Net Price Calculator

Use our interactive Net Price Calculator for an estimate of how much financial aid you may be eligible to receive and what your overall cost to Scripps College could be.

The Net Price Calculator requires information about your income, taxes, and assets as well as family size and number in college. The Net Price Calculator is not a financial aid application, but can help you better understand what assistance might be available to you. Click below to access the calculator.

The Financial Aid Package

Scripps awards a combinations of grants, loans, and work-study to meet the student’s demonstrated financial need. Outside scholarships and other financial assistance is used to reduce the minimum student contribution and self-help awards (i.e., loans and work) before they reduce Scripps College Grants.

Financial Aid for Future Years

Students and families must re-apply for financial aid each year. If the family’s financial circumstance remain relatively stable from year to year, the Estimated Financial Contribution (EFC), the Student Aid Index (SAI) and the amount of financial aid should remain fairly stable. If a family’s financial circumstances change from year to year (i.e., changes in income, assets, number of siblings who are undergraduates), then the EFC and SAI will change. Please note that the SAI does not make an adjustment for the number of dependent students in college.

We cannot guarantee your financial aid award will not change in future years; however, for families whose financial circumstances do not change year-to-year, the amount of need-based grant aid will generally remain the same or increase slightly.

Families should note that the cost of attendance will change approximately 3-4 percent each year. In addition, the amount of need-based student loans you will receive in your financial aid award will change each year.