Olin College

Admission to Olin is need-blind, meaning families' abilities to pay the costs of attendance are not a consideration when evaluating students' applications. Every student admitted to Olin receives a half-tuition merit scholarship valued at more than $80,000 over eight semesters. All additional aid is need-based.

Cost of Attendance: Academic Year 2013-14

Below are the approved costs for the 2013-2014 academic year. We expect nominal increases in these figures for subsequent years.

* Billed in two installments

Need-Based Assistance

Olin College is committed to providing the necessary financial assistance to students in need.  We offer need-based financial assistance for U.S. Citizens and eligible non-citizens through federal, state, and institutional programs. Families interested in applying for additional assistance to meet costs in excess of the Olin Scholarship should complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Olin College’s institutional code is 039463. For incoming students, the FAFSA must be received at Olin College by February 15th to receive consideration for Olin need-based assistance. Please note that the FAFSA may take 7-10 days to be processed by the US Department of Education so students should plan accordingly.  The only required form to apply for financial assistance at Olin College is the FAFSA.  We do NOT require the CSS Profile for domestic students.

Thanks to a generous gift, Olin College is able to provide limited need-based financial assistance to qualified international applicants.  Prospective international students should contact Dean Charles Nolan in the Office of Admission during their application process if interested in this award. You will be advised later in the Admission cycle if completion of the CSS Profile for International Students is necessary.  

You may find more detailed information regarding need-based financial assistance on our Financial Aid webpage. Please direct any questions to Jean Ricker, our Financial Aid Manager, at jean.ricker@olin.edu or 781-292-2343.

Olin Tuition Scholarship (Non-Need Based)

The Olin College Tuition Scholarship is awarded to every admitted student and covers half the cost of tuition for a maximum of eight semesters of full-time study. If tuition increases from year-to-year, so does the value of the scholarship. Study away (which requires pre-approval) or an internship for credit counts as one of the eight scholarship semesters (the student is maintained as full-time at Olin and is expected to pay Olin tuition after the merit scholarship and for any additional costs associated with any such activity at the host institution including any tuition exceeding Olin’s, room, board and fees if applicable). For mid-semester leaves of absence, the partial semester counts as one of the eight scholarship semesters. For end-of-semester leaves of absence, the semester on leave does not count as one of the eight scholarship semesters. Payment of full tuition is required for any semester(s) beyond eight before graduation. Olin College provides accommodations for documented disabilities. In extenuating circumstances, exceptions may be granted by the Provost and Dean of Faculty.

Outside Scholarship Policy

Olin encourages students to pursue outside scholarships to help reduce the cost of attendance. The federal government requires students to inform the Financial Aid Office of any grants, scholarships, or benefits received from sources other than the College. It is our policy to use outside scholarships to reduce self-help awards before reducing Olin need-based grant.

NOTE: National Merit Finalists who win either a National Merit or National Achievement Scholarship from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation or another corporate sponsor are able to use this scholarship at Olin College and will be identified as National Merit Scholars. Finalists who designate Olin College as their first choice college but do not receive a NMSC or corporate-sponsored scholarship will be designated as Olin National Merit Scholars. Olin National Merit Scholars will be awarded a $1000 scholarship, renewable for three years, funded by Olin College.

U.S. Veterans Education Benefits

Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering is approved for the use of GI Bill education benefits. Veterans and eligible dependents who are accepted into a degree program at Olin and who also may qualify for the GI Bill should contact the United States Department of Veterans Affairs at  1-888-442-4551 or visit the VA website at http://www.gibill.va.gov for the GI Bill application process.
Once the GI Bill application has been processed by the VA and the Certificate of Eligibility has been received, the student should contact the VA Certifying Official at Olin College located in the Student Accounts and Records Center (StAR).  The Certifying Official will then certify the student's enrollment with the VA so the benefits can be paid. 

For more information please contact Olin's StAR Center by telephone at 781-292-2340 or email star.center@olin.edu.