Tuition & Financial Aid

College Hall

Smith welcomes and supports qualified students from all economic backgrounds. As part of the college’s commitment to access, affordability and equity, Smith has eliminated loans from its undergraduate financial aid packages for those students receiving institutional need-based aid, replacing those funds with institutional grants. The college will meet the full documented need, as determined by college policy, of all admitted students who apply for aid by the published deadlines. 

This section is for prospective students applying for admission. If you are a current student, please go to the Student Financial Services website for financial aid deadlines and policies.

You Are Our Top Investment

Every family is unique, and we are here to help you through the application process and provide financial advice to help manage the cost of college. Whether you’re a traditional first-year student, transfer student, Ada Comstock Scholar, or international student (or any combination!), it’s important to understand your financial aid options. 

While planning for college can be stressful, we’re here to support you each step of the way.

Finances for You

First-Year Applicants International Applicants Transfer Applicants Ada Comstock Scholar Applicants Graduate Applicants Undocumented Applicants

No Loans (Yes, Really!)

Smith College does not include student loans in its undergraduate financial aid packages for students receiving need-based institutional grants—instead, we replace the loan amount with grants from the college, meaning students don’t graduate under a mountain of debt.

The initiative currently contains two parts:

  1. Eliminating loans from its financial aid packages
  2. Providing low-income entering students with one-time startup grants

This initiative advances the college’s goal of ensuring that the college experience is equitable for all students, regardless of family finances.

Smith provides more than $80 million annually in institutional financial aid, and we have been leaders in enrolling Pell Grant-eligible students. The generosity of alums and donors, as well as prudent management of our finances—especially our endowment—allows us to make this investment at this time. Eliminating loans from financial aid packages represents a next step in equalizing the experience for students, regardless of family resources.

Who is eligible for no-loan financial aid packages?
All undergraduate students receiving institutional grant aid—including international students and undocumented students—who meet established deadlines.

Does this program apply to international students?
Yes—all undergraduate students, including those attending Smith with a student visa and those with permanent resident status, are eligible.

Are undocumented students eligible for the program?
Yes—all undergraduate students, including undocumented students and students with DACA status, are eligible.

Does this apply to students who entered Smith as transfer students or Ada Comstock Scholars?
Yes—all undergraduate students will be eligible for this benefit.

Does this apply to graduate students at Smith?
No. This policy change applies only to Smith undergraduates.

Startup Grants

What are the one-time “startup grants”?
Startup grants are intended to help low-income students with expenses associated with the beginning of their college experience. They will be available to students whose expected family contribution (as determined by Smith) is less than $7,000.

Who will qualify for a startup grant?
Any new, entering high-need student whose Expected Family Contribution (as determined by Smith) is less than $7,000 will be eligible.

How many students will receive startup grants?
On average, approximately 20% of Smith’s incoming students would be eligible for startup grants.

Why is Smith offering startup grants to low-income students?
We know that starting college can include expenses that are not fully planned for and that, for some students, those unexpected expenses can make college more difficult. The startup grants are designed to help ease the pressures of everyday expenses, such as furnishing a dorm room, participating in social activities and local excursions, and meeting the personal needs of daily life. Smith already covers costs associated with books, tuition, room and board, and travel at designated breaks.

When/how will entering students receive their startup grant payment?
We are determining how and when students will receive this grant and will update eligible students prior to enrollment.

Cost of Attendance 2025–26

Students are billed for one-half of the annual charges at the beginning of each semester. The Cost of Attendance includes allowances for out-of-pocket expenses that most students incur during the year.

Cost of Attendance for Other Housing Arrangements for Traditional Students

Students who are approved by the Office of Residence Life to have a non-traditional housing or food arrangement have a modified Cost of Attendance. Learn more on the Traditional Students page. 

Direct Billed Costs

Cost (U.S. dollars)

Tuition

$67,140

Food & Housing

$23,360

Student Activities Fee

$308

Health Insurance (domestic students may waive)

$3,588
*Actual costs incurred will vary and are the student's responsibility.

Indirect Costs Not Billed

Cost (U.S. dollars)

Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment

$800

Transportation

(domestic average) $640
(international average) $1,000

Personal expenses

$1,850

Estimate Your Cost

With so many variables involved, it can be difficult to know just how much college is going to cost you. These tools can help you estimate eligibility for need-based financial aid at Smith and how much you might expect to contribute.

Net Price Calculator

MyinTuition Quick Cost Estimator

Frequently Asked Questions

How is Smith’s financial aid support changing?
Smith College has announced an ambitious initiative to financially support students by 1) eliminating loans from its financial aid packages, 2) providing low-income entering students with one-time startup grants, and 3) providing students receiving institutional need-based grants graduating in 2022 with one-time launch grants. This initiative advances the college’s goal of ensuring that the college experience is equitable for all students, regardless of family finances.

Why is Smith expanding student support?
From its inception, Smith College has embodied the principle of education access and equity. Sophia Smith envisioned a college where women would receive an outstanding education, the kind that was, in her time, available only to men. Over the course of our history, we have aspired to enroll the world’s best students, regardless of means, as well as to ensure that students can participate equitably in all that Smith has to offer. Smith provides more than $80 million annually in institutional financial aid, and we have been leaders in enrolling Pell Grant-eligible students. The generosity of alums and donors, as well as prudent management of our finances—especially our endowment—allows us to make this investment at this time. Eliminating loans from financial aid packages represents a next step in equalizing the experience for students, regardless of family resources.

Who is eligible for no-loan financial aid packages?
All undergraduate students receiving institutional grant aid—including international students and undocumented students—who meet established deadlines.

Does this program apply to international students?
Yes—all undergraduate students, including those attending Smith with a student visa and those with permanent resident status, are eligible.

Are undocumented students eligible for the program?
Yes—all undergraduate students, including undocumented students and students with DACA status, are eligible.

Does this apply to students who entered Smith as transfer students or Ada Comstock Scholars?
Yes—all undergraduate students will be eligible for this benefit.

Does this apply to graduate students at Smith?
No. This policy change applies only to Smith undergraduates.

What are the one-time “startup grants”?
Startup grants are intended to help low-income students with expenses associated with the beginning of their college experience. They will be available to students whose expected family contribution (as determined by Smith) is less than $7,000.

Who will qualify for a startup grant?
Any new, entering high-need student whose Expected Family Contribution (as determined by Smith) is less than $7,000 will be eligible.

How many students will receive startup grants?
On average, approximately 20% of Smith’s incoming students would be eligible for startup grants.

Why is Smith offering startup grants to low-income students?
We know that starting college can include expenses that are not fully planned for and that, for some students, those unexpected expenses can make college more difficult. The startup grants are designed to help ease the pressures of everyday expenses, such as furnishing a dorm room, participating in social activities and local excursions, and meeting the personal needs of daily life. Smith already covers costs associated with books, tuition, room and board, and travel at designated breaks.

When/how will entering students receive their startup grant payment?
We are determining how and when students will receive this grant and will update eligible students prior to enrollment.

What does this mean for my aid package?
Financial aid awards beginning in fall 2022 will include only grants and a work expectation, which will be awarded up to the full demonstrated financial need as determined by the Office of Student Financial Services.

Will you forgive loans I have already taken on?
No. Existing loans already awarded will remain the responsibility of the borrower to pay back. The no-loan program applies to financial aid packages beginning in fall 2022.

Can I still borrow loans if I want to do so?
While this new program is intended to address student indebtedness, students will still be allowed to borrow from the Federal Direct Loan Program. Students seeking loan assistance should contact the Office of Student Financial Services to inquire what type of loan, and amount, would be possible.

Code of Conduct

The following Code of Conduct was last updated by a vote from NASFAA's Board of Directors in November 2020, and published in January 2021. Subject to enforcement procedures that went into effect July 1, 2015, NASFAA institutional members of NASFAA will ensure that:

  1. No action will be taken by financial aid staff that is for their personal benefit or could be perceived to be a conflict of interest.
    1. Employees within the financial aid office will not award aid to themselves or their immediate family members. Staff will reserve this task to an institutionally designated person, to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
    2. If a preferred lender list is provided, it will be compiled without prejudice and for the sole benefit of the students attending the institution. The information included about lenders and loan terms will be transparent, complete, and accurate. The complete process through which preferred lenders are selected will be fully and publicly disclosed. Borrowers will not be auto-assigned to any particular lender.
    3. A borrower's choice of a lender will not be denied, impeded, or unnecessarily delayed by the institution, even if that lender is not included on the institution's preferred lender list.
    4. No amount of cash, gift, or benefit in excess of a de minimis amount shall be accepted by a financial aid staff member from any financial aid applicant (or his/her family), or from any entity doing business with or seeking to do business with the institution (including service on advisory committees or boards beyond reimbursement for reasonable expenses directly associated with such service).
  2. Information provided by the financial aid office is accurate, unbiased, and does not reflect preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.
  3. Institutional financial aid offers and/or other institutionally provided materials shall include the following:
    • Breakdown of estimated individual Cost of Attendance components, including which are direct (billed by the institution) costs vs. indirect (not billed by the institution) costs
    • Clear identification and proper grouping of each type of aid offered indicating whether the aid is a grant, scholarship, loan, or work program
    • Estimated net price
    • Standard terminology and definitions, using NASFAA's glossary of terms
    • Renewal requirements for each aid type being offered as well as next steps and financial aid office contact information
  4. All required consumer information is displayed in a prominent location on the institutional web site(s) and in any printed materials, easily identified and found, and labeled as "Consumer Information."
  5. Financial aid professionals will disclose to their institution any involvement, interest in, or potential conflict of interest with any entity with which the institution has a business relationship.

Refer to NASFAA's Statement of Ethical Principles, Enforcement Procedures, as well as the Ethical Principles, Code of Conduct and Enforcement Procedures Q&A for more information about NASFAA's ethical guidelines and how they are enforced. To report a potential violation of NASFAA's Code of Conduct, refer to the Ethics Complaint Submission Form.

Contact Student Financial Services

College Hall 108
10 Elm Street
Smith College
Northampton, MA 01063

Phone: 413-585-2530 Email: sfs@smith.edu

Call Center Hours: Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–noon and 1:30–3:30 p.m. (EST)