The policy reflects College’s leadership in accessibility,
affordability for all, and global diversity on campus.
³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿ College announced on July 7, 2022, that it has expanded its need-blind admissions policy to include international citizens.
This step is one of many that the College has taken over the past decade to remove barriers for students, and it makes ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿ one of just seven institutions nationally with comprehensive need-blind aid policies for all students, regardless of citizenship.
“Ensuring access to a ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿ education is central to our mission. This commitment to need-blind admission for our international applicants is another important part of a remarkable program of access and affordability that only a few other colleges and universities are able to provide,” said ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿ College President Clayton Rose.
³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿ has long been a leader in eliminating barriers for students, including adopting the country’s first test-optional admissions policy in 1969.
As it seeks to be accessible to all students, regardless of their financial circumstances, the College currently provides students with financial aid awards that meet their full calculated need and has done so without loans since 2008.
Now ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿ joins Harvard University, Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale University, Dartmouth College, and Amherst College in including all students, regardless of citizenship, under its need-blind admissions policy.
“It is critical that a great liberal arts education like ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿’s be accessible to students from all economic backgrounds and all citizenships,” said Claudia Marroquin, senior vice president and dean of admissions and student aid.
“This latest policy makes ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿’s message clear—we welcome the world’s most talented students, regardless of background, and we are doing all we can to support students from admission to graduation,” Marroquin said.
- The application fee is automatically waived if you are applying for aid, or if you are the first in your family to go to college.
- Roughly half of all ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿ students receive aid.
- ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿’s student aid is need-based. This means our scholarship and grant support is determined based on your individual family situation.
- ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿ is need-blind, which means that your ability to pay is never a factor or barrier to admission.
- ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿ meets your full calculated need using scholarships, not loans, which never have to be paid back.
- 22 percent of all ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿ students receive full aid ($0 student and $0 parent contribution).
- The average scholarship awarded to all-aided ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿ students is $56,397.
“From traditional financial aid support to innovative programs aimed at ensuring all students can thrive, the College is committed to making ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿ accessible and transformational.”
For decades ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿ has embraced student-centered policies and implemented innovative changes to ensure the world’s most promising students could enroll and thrive at its campus in Brunswick, Maine.
In addition to providing students with student aid that supports their financial need, in 2021 the College replaced summer work obligations with additional scholarships for students from lower-income (under $75,000) families.
Earlier this year ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿ announced it would provide all students, regardless of financial need, with equitable technology (MacBook Pro, an iPad, and an Apple Pencil).
In addition to financial aid support, ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿ offers a number of programs designed to ensure all students, regardless of financial circumstance, can fully experience student life.
These programs include financial support for study abroad, internships, research grants, and emergencies, as well as funding for graduating seniors applying for graduate and medical school.
³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿’s THRIVE program has also provided start-up grants, peer mentoring, success coaching, internship funding, and several transition supports.
The policy will be implemented in the 2022–2023 application cycle, beginning with Early Decision applicants in November.
International citizens currently represent seven percent of ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿’s enrollment.
- 1969: ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿ becomes the first college in the country to make standardized tests optional for admission.
- 2008: ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿ eliminates loans in its financial aid packages, replacing them with scholarships.
- 2016: ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿ drops application fees for aided and first-generation students.
- 2021: ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿ replaces summer work obligations with additional scholarships for students whose annual family income is lower than $75,000.
- 2022: ³Õºº¾ãÀÖ²¿ announces that it will provide all current and future students with a suite of technology tools (13-inch MacBook Pro, iPad mini, Apple Pencil, and access to a full range of course-specific software) so that every student has up-to-date tools and the opportunity to learn and lead in a digital world.
