Currently Enrolled Students
Financial aid at Bates is renewable for up to four years.
Students can receive institutional financial aid for up to eight semesters, provided that financial aid application forms are submitted on time, the student’s family continues to demonstrate eligibility according to institutional standards and the student meets prescribed academic progress standards. Families applying for renewal of financial aid must complete the PROFILE and FAFSA and provide copies of income tax returns and other materials annually.
At a minimum, students should expect to have a similar parent contribution and modest increases in the student contribution from one year to the next. However, when significant changes occur — increases in family income or assets, a sibling who graduates from undergraduate college — the family contribution will increase.
Application Requirements for Currently Enrolled Students
- College Board PROFILE and Noncustodial PROFILE (if your parents are divorced or separated) – You may use estimated information in order to meet applicable deadlines. Bates’ school code is 3076.
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – Bates’ FAFSA school code is 002036. Please see important information below about enhancements to the FAFSA filing process.
- Parent (and noncustodial parent) and student 2011 federal income tax returns, including W-2 forms and all schedules. Copies of tax returns must bear the signature of the filer. Bates requires copies of tax returns even if you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to complete your FAFSA.
- Supplemental Forms – If either parent is self-employed or owns any part of a business or farm, he or she should send copies of corporate or business tax returns for each business or farm in which an interest is held to Student Financial Services. Each document sent should include the applicant’s name.
Important Information Regarding the 2012-2013 FAFSA
This year, students and parents completing the FAFSA have the option of using 2011 federal income tax data from the IRS when completing the FAFSA. The IRS Data Retrieval Tool allows students and parents to request and retrieve 2011 tax return data directly from the IRS to use on the FAFSA, increasing accuracy and making is less likely that an application will be selected for verification. In order to take advantage of the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, Bates recommends that you complete your FAFSA after 2011 federal tax returns are filed.
Please note that electronic tax returns must be submitted at least 10 days prior to using the IRS Data Retrieval Tool in order for the data to be transferred directly into the FAFSA. Students who complete the FAFSA before 2011 tax returns are filed can go back into the FAFSA website 10 days after returns are filed and use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool at that point. Data from paper tax returns will be available in 6 to 8 weeks.
If your FAFSA is selected for verification by the Department of Education and you did not use (or are unable to use) the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, you will be required to provide Bates with an IRS Tax Return Transcript. Please note that the federal government requires us to collect this information, even if you have already provided us with copies of your federal income tax returns.
- 2012-2013 Verification Worksheet (PDF)
- Instructions for obtaining an IRS Tax Return Transcript - be sure to request a Tax Return Transcript, not a Tax Account Transcript. Only a Tax Return Transcript meets the federal requirement.
Copies of tax returns, W-2 forms and any supplemental forms should be mailed to:
Student Financial Services Bates College 44 Mountain Avenue Lewiston, ME 04240Currently enrolled students will receive information regarding their financial aid eligibility in June if their financial aid application is complete.
Students who applied but were not eligible for need-based financial aid at the time of their admission may reapply for financial aid each year.
Students who did not apply for aid as incoming students are welcome to apply in subsequent years if their family circumstances have changed.
- Financial Aid Deadlines
- Student Non-Filer Statement (PDF) - if the student will not be filing a federal income tax return