Paying for College

The purpose of the Financial Aid office at Rhodes is to help families figure out how to pay for the extraordinarily high quality education their son or daughter will receive at Rhodes. If you are a parent who is worried that the cost of your child attending Rhodes will be out of reach for you, this article is for you.

First, we recommend that you not make assumptions based on someone else’s circumstances. Many parents ask if they should apply for financial aid. The general rule of thumb is that if you know you can write a check for the tuition applying for financial aid may not prove fruitful. However, if you are a parent wondering, "How am I going to do this?" then you need to fill out the forms to allow us to show you the tools available to you to fund a college education.

Given the still uncertain economic situation, we predict that we will have many families seeking additional aid. Fortunately, there are procedures in place to deal with unusual circumstances like job loss, and other family crises. We recognize that these things happen and when they occur, decisions must be made. We want everyone to know that there are options.

It’s very important to us that students remain and graduate from Rhodes. We want them to be able to finish what they have started. So although it can be difficult for some people to come in with special circumstances, one of our goals is to have people feel better about their situation and about Rhodes when they leave our office. I want parents to understand how this process works and to put families in the position to make an informed decision.

So, if you are considering applying for financial aid, it is important to go to the web site where procedures and deadlines are listed. Complete and submit the forms as early and as accurately as you can although it is best to work from a completed tax return if possible.

Know that many families who would not normally be able to afford the cost of attending Rhodes are able to do so because of the federal, state and Rhodes College funding available to them. Let us help you figure out how a Rhodes education can be paid for, because the return on this type of investment is many times greater than the cost. Investing in your child’s future is always a good decision and we want to make that dream a reality for your family.

More information on financial aid at www.rhodes.edu/finaid