Location: Fortunoff Hall Room 105
Brookhaven Building B room 114
Phone: (631) 244-3013
Fax: (631) 244-3370
Email: finaid@dowling.edu
Office Hours:
Monday 8 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Tuesday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Student Aid Calculator

Determination of Financial Aid Eligibility
At Dowling College financial aid is awarded primarily on the basis of financial need. Dowling College participates in all forms of federal financial aid and therefore requires that all students file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as their general financial aid application for each academic year the student is enrolled.

The financial information you and your family provide on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is analyzed by the federal need analysis processor using Federal Methodology, a standard formula established by the U.S. Congress. It is used by the federal processor to calculate expected family contribution (EFC).

After analyzing your financial information, the federal processor sends the results to the college, indicating how much you and your family should be able to pay for your education. If the cost of attending Dowling College is greater than what the processor indicates you and your family should be able to pay, the College then considers that you have financial need.

Cost of Attendance: Family contribution = Financial Need
Cost of Attendance includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, housing, meals, transportation, clothing maintenance, plus personal items/health insurance (see Estimated Annual Expenses 2013-2014).

Expected Family contribution consists of expected parental contribution and/or student contribution, depending upon the student's classification as dependent or independent. Federal Methodology is used by the federal processor to determine the amount of each applicant's expected family contribution, and takes into account the family's income and assets, taxes paid, family size and the number of family members in college.

Family Contribution
The parents' contribution + students' contribution = expected family contribution(EFC). Family contribution is the amount you and your family are expected to contribute toward your college cost. Your family's total income and financial situation are taken into account in determining financial need.

Parents’ Contribution
In determining parental contribution, deductions are made for parents' employment and the amount of taxes paid. Also considered are family size, number of family members attending college or other postsecondary schools, number of parents working and parents' age. In general, parents and students are expected to pay as much of the educational costs as they can reasonably afford.

Student Contribution
Students are expected to help pay their educational costs from their existing resources, such as savings, income, benefits or employment. After analyzing all student income and assets available, a determination of student contribution is made.