The admissions building at Hamilton College offers financial aid services. Photo courtesy of Hamilton College
Financial aid in higher education has opened up educational opportunities for students across the nation. But financial aid systems do more than provide financial support to students. They shape students’ sense of stability and inclusivity on college campuses. Hamilton students have varying opinions on the current financial aid system. Many commend the system for the opportunities it’s provided students. Others see it as flawed and demanding improvement.
For Yaretzy Castillo ’28, the financial aid system at Hamilton is “somewhat helpful.” She acknowledged that “while I don’t have to pay much compared to my in-state tuition back home, there are certain nuances that financial aid can gloss over.” Castillo mentioned her concerns about how Hamilton determines financial need, explaining that the college doesn’t always account for regional salary differences. “What is considered ‘well-off’ enough to pay a portion of tuition doesn’t always reflect differences in income across the nation,” she said. Despite these challenges, Castillo feels that Hamilton’s financial aid has made her college experience “less daunting.” However, the process can still be stressful at times, especially when handling the logistics of spring semester payments, which she described as “a bit hectic.”
Emily Steiner ’28 had a different perspective, stating, “I feel that the financial aid system at Hamilton College addresses my financial needs very well; I could even say exceptionally well.” Steiner explained that the support from Hamilton has allowed her to avoid financial stress, positively impacting her well-being and academic experience. “My parents and I are not very stressed regarding the financial aspect, which puts us all in better, healthier moods,” she shared.
Steiner was also appreciative of the access to academic supplies, like textbooks, which she and her family are “very grateful for.” When asked about Hamilton’s communication regarding financial aid policies, Steiner described it as “very transparent and accessible, more so than the other institutions I applied to.”
Abby Rich ’28 highlighted the ease of accessing financial aid at Hamilton as a major factor in her decision to attend. “Overall, I think the financial aid system at Hamilton is surprisingly easy to access and use,” she said. “I have never had a problem reaching out to the financial aid team for any questions, and they have usually given a clear and helpful response.” Rich appreciated Hamilton’s need-blind admissions, saying that “the tuition assistance they were able to give me was a significant factor in my decision to attend here.” Financial aid has also reduced her financial concerns on campus, Rich shared, “I am not walking around worrying about affording the next semester’s costs.”
One suggestion Rich offered was for Hamilton to encourage students to reach out about non-tuition expenses. “The only thing I would suggest improving is reminding students that there’s no harm in reaching out to see if financial aid can be applied for many expenses other than tuition,” she said, citing books and private lessons as examples.
John Bustillo ’28 expressed gratitude for Hamilton’s commitment to supporting students financially, saying, “Hamilton College devotes millions of dollars to financial aid. They do it for their dedication to each student’s success.” Bustillo shared that he feels “extremely privileged to attend an institution with this mission in mind,” and that Hamilton has done “everything possible” to meet his financial needs. He also explained how Hamilton’s financial support has positively influenced both his academic and social experiences. However, Bustillo noted an initial feeling of insecurity when he first arrived on campus, observing that “many Hamilton students are upper-class,” which made him question his own ability to afford his education. Learning about Hamilton’s financial aid policies helped him overcome this insecurity. “If more students, particularly those who are first-generation and/or low-income, knew about the massive amount of financial aid available, I believe that Hamilton would attract a more socioeconomically diverse group of students,” he suggested.
These conversations offer insight into students’ real experiences with Hamilton’s financial aid system. While some students testify to the merits of Hamilton’s financial aid program, others highlighted its pitfalls and noted areas for improvement. Overall, students appreciate Hamilton’s commitment to financial support, while also seeing opportunity for improvement regarding the system’s transparency and the financial aid package calculus.