How to Apply for Financial Aid

Applying for financial aid at Marietta College is easy!

A Marietta College education is the soundest investment you can make in your future. We are ready to help you navigate the process, explore the funding options and assist you in making the right choice for your investment.

Marietta College's Office of Student Financial Services is pleased to offer this guide to serve as your roadmap through the financial aid process. 

Additional Information

Financial Aid Application Tips

Apply early and remember deadlines!  
Financial aid budgets are limited. Priority will be given to students who meet deadlines.

Keep a copy.  
It is unusual, but sometimes things get lost. If you keep a photocopy of everything you send to the IRS, the federal processing center, and the Office of Student Financial Services, you will save yourself work and frustration if we request additional documents.

Ask questions if you don't understand.  
During the busiest times in the office (spring and summer), electronic mail responses can be faster and more complete. Our address is finaid@marietta.edu.

Read instructions and respond promptly.  
We try to keep the financial aid process as smooth as possible. If we ask you for something extra, it is because we need it to comply with regulations or to clarify something in your application. Accuracy and a quick response from you move the process along.

Follow through.  
Ultimately, it is your responsibility to make sure you finish your financial aid application. We will try to keep you up to date on your progress with reminders, but you are responsible for taking action.

Re-application  
Financial aid must be applied for every year. Our office will electronically send reminders in the Spring regarding the re-application process. (Electronic filers: keep track of your PIN.)

Additional Financial Aid Information

Additional information about financial aid is available at the following locations:

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA)  
Provides general information about financial aid programs, access to financial aid publications, and links to their financial aid websites.

Financial Aid Information Page  
Possibly the most comprehensive financial aid site available on the Web, with information about all types of financial aid, links to financial aid applications and free scholarship searches.

Federal Student Aid  
Provides information about forms of federal financial aid.

FAFSA® Verification - Inceptia

We are pleased to announce we have established a partnership with Inceptia to expedite the verification process for Marietta College. Verification Gateway (VG) from Inceptia is an online portal to guide students and parents through verification.

If your FAFSA® application is selected for verification by the U.S Department of Education, you will receive an email from VGCS@inceptia.org, or postcard from Inceptia, containing Marietta College’s unique website link to start the verification process.

We encourage you to begin the verification process within 7 days of receiving notification from Verification Gateway to ensure you receive your financial aid in time for payments. Failure to complete the verification process could result in the delay or denial of your financial aid.

Questions about the verification process? Contact Inceptia, Monday through Friday 8 am – 7 pm Central at 833.932.1877 or VGCS@inceptia.org

Unusual Circumstances

Undergraduate students who do not meet the federal criteria for independent status as outlined on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) may be considered an Independent Student if they indicate on their FAFSA form that their situation falls under an Unusual Circumstance.

Students who would normally be considered a Dependent Student, but are not able to provide parent information, may be considered an Independent Student if they fall under an Unusual Circumstance, such as:

• Parental abandonment or estrangement from emotional, financial, and physical support
• The student's contributing parent has died, and the other biological parent is still living, however the student has not had contact with or received any financial support from the living parent for a significant period of time
• Abusive family situation, which has created an extreme hardship and may prevent the student from attending college
• Parental abuse (drug, alcohol, physical, or emotional) where police or court involvement is on record
• Student is a ward of the court, victim of a documented child abuse case, or is in the custody of DHS
• Human trafficking, as described in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.)
• Legally granted refugee or asylum status
• Parental or student incarceration

Starting with the 2024-25 FAFSA® form, if the student indicates they have an Unusual Circumstance, they will be granted a Provisional Independent status upon submission of their FAFSA® form and will need to complete the Unusual Circumstance Appeal form. If filing your FAFSA® for the 2024-25 school year, please fill out the 2024-25 Unusual Circumstance - Dependency Appeal form.  If filing for the 2025-26 school year, please complete the 2025-26 Unusual Circumstance — Dependency Appeal form. The completed form and all additional documentation must be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Services for consideration.

Students who complete this form and have their appeal approved will be granted Independent Student status and, as long as circumstances have not changed, this status will carry over to future academic years. 

Independent Students

Undergraduate students are normally considered dependent on their parents; however, sometimes a student will meet the federal criteria for independent status. If a student indicates that they meet at least one of the following criteria on the Personal Circumstance section of their FAFSA® form, they will be considered an Independent Student and will need to verify this status with Marietta College in order for their financial aid to be processed:

• Student is married as of the day they fill out their FAFSA® application
• Student is currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training
• Student is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces
• Student has dependents who: a) live with them, and b) receive at least half of their support from the student
• Student became an orphan at any time after turning 13
• Student became a ward of the court at any time after turning 13
• Student was in foster care at any time after turning 13
• Student is or was a legally emancipated minor
• Student is or was in a legal guardianship with someone other than a parent or stepparent
• At any time after July 1, 2023 (for the 24-25 FAFSA®) or July 1, 2024 (for the 25-26 FAFSA®), the student was unaccompanied and either 1) homeless, or 2) self-supporting and at risk of being homeless

Students who meet one or more of the above criteria must complete the Dependency Status Verification form and submit it to the Office of Student Financial Services, along with any necessary additional documentation. Please use the 2024-25 Dependency Status Verification – Independent Student form for the 24-25 FAFSA® or the 2025-26 Dependency Status Verification — Independent Student form for the 25-26 FAFSA®.

Note: Undergraduate students born before January 1, 2001 (24-25 FAFSA®) or January 1, 2002 (25-26 FAFSA®) are automatically considered independent due to age and do not need to complete the Dependency Status Verification form.
 

Statement of Nondiscrimination

Marietta College admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, disability, gender orientation, or religious affiliation to all rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, disability, gender orientation, or religious affiliation in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarships and loan programs, and athletic and other college-administrated programs. If you have any questions regarding our non-discrimination policy, please contact Marietta College’s Office of Human Resources.