FAQ: How Financial Aid Works
What is financial aid?
Learn the basics of financial aid and scholarships directly from the experts: the Rollins College financial aid counselors in this easy-to-understand video series.
I submitted my 2025-2026 FAFSA; When will I receive my aid offer?
We encourage both new and returning students to submit the FAFSA for consideration for financial aid as soon as you can. You can get started on completing the application here.
We understand the importance of reviewing your full financial aid package when choosing which college to attend, and we will continue working with your family to be as flexible as possible. In an effort to work around the delays currently being experienced we are asking admitted and returning students to do the following to receive your aid estimate from Rollins’ Financial Aid office as soon as possible.
For steps on obtaining an aid offer estimate visit: https://www.rollins.edu/scholarships-aid/fafsa/
How and when will I be notified of important financial aid information?
Students will receive a financial aid offer after they have been admitted to Rollins, completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and submitted any supplemental documents as requested by the Financial Aid Office. Be aware that the Financial Aid Office may use electronic means to communicate with you, including sending the financial aid offer. It is your responsibility to keep your Rollins' e-mail address current and to read messages that are sent. It is also important that you keep your mailing address and phone number current with records' officials.
How is my need determined?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) determines your Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI determines your eligibility for most need-based aid. Items that will affect need-based aid eligibility from year-to-year include: dramatic changes to income and/or assets, changes to the number of family members residing in the household, etc.
Is need-based aid offered to first-year international undergraduate students?
Yes! Rollins offers limited need-based financial aid to international undergraduate students. Timing is critical in the financial aid process, so international students seeking need-based financial aid must apply at the same time they apply for admission. The pool of international applicants is highly competitive and the level of support provided from Rollins ranges widely, depending on particular family circumstances. Aid is determined based on the information provided by the family on the Non-U.S. Citizen Financial Aid Application, as well as the amount of Rollins academic scholarship received. Students seeking need-based aid will receive an email containing a link to the application once they submit their admission application to Rollins. We recommend that you submit the Non-U.S. Citizen Financial Aid Application within a few days of applying.
Can my award be increased?
The Office of Admission determines scholarship eligibility based on your academic history. Need-based financial aid is awarded based on uniformly applied policies designed to distribute available resources in an equitable manner. These awards are not negotiable.
What happens to my financial aid if I drop a class?
Federal, state, and institutional aid is awarded to students based on projected or actual enrollment. Subsequent monitoring is required to determine if the student remains eligible. If you drop courses after receiving federal, state, or institutional aid, you may be required to repay those funds and/or you may jeopardize your future financial aid eligibility. Prior to dropping any classes, please contact us at finaid@rollins.edu to request information on the impact to your financial aid.
In general, your Federal Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Effective Access to Education Grant, Florida Student Assistance Grant, and Rollins awards are based on your enrollment level at the end of the last day to drop a class without penalty (approximately two weeks after classes begin). If your enrollment level drops below full-time (at least 12 credit hours) on this date, your awards will be reduced and may be removed depending upon the requirements for the specific financial aid program. Please contact our office if your enrollment will be less than 12 credit hours.
Note to Bright Futures recipients: Your Bright Futures award will adjust all semester if you drop any course. The amount of your Bright Futures Award is dependent upon the number of credit hours you complete. If you drop any courses and are a Bright Futures recipient, please review your student account for your balance due as a result of the reduction to your Bright Futures award.
No matter what the immediate impact to your financial aid is, please keep in mind that dropping courses now may have an impact on your future financial aid eligibility. See the section on Satisfactory Academic Progress for specific information.
“After I applied I connected with my counselor Mayra via email and during my campus tour. My conversation with Mayra during my campus tour was very helpful because she answered questions for me that allowed me to get as much scholarship money as possible through my application.”
First Step to Financial Aid
The first step in determining if you qualify for scholarships and financial aid is to apply to Rollins.
Start an Application