How to Apply for Financial Aid

Steps & Resources

Staff members in Reed’s financial aid office are here to help you complete the process of applying for financial aid. Please connect with us if you have any questions or challenges along the way.

Steps

1. Indicate on your application for admission that you intend to apply for financial aid.
   
   
2. Complete the CSS Profile application for the 2025-26 school year through the College Board. The CSS Profile is used to determine your eligibility for Reed's institutional funding. Reed's school code: 4654. If your biological parents are divorced, separated, or unmarried and living in separate households, each parent will need to complete a separate CSS Profile. The 2025-26 CSS Profile is available beginning October 1, 2024.
   
   
3. (Domestic students only) Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for school year 2025-26. The FAFSA determines your eligibility for federal student aid (Pell grants, Direct Loans, Federal Work Study, etc.). Reed's school code: 003217. 
   
   Reed will estimate your eligibility for federal and state aid programs based on the CSS Profile. The FAFSA will be required, once available, to finalize aid eligibility.
   
   
4. (Domestic students only) Submit documents through the College Board's IDOC (Institutional Documentation Service). After completing the CSS Profile application, you will receive an email from College Board with instructions for accessing your IDOC portal. Follow the directions in the email to upload certain 2023 tax documents to their secure site.

Two Tools to Estimate Costs

The Quick Cost Estimator provides a ballpark estimate of the cost of a Reed education based on six simple questions. The Net Price Calculator provides a more detailed estimate of your college expenses, including your expected family contribution (EFC) and your eligibility for financial aid from Reed. The formula is based on data from financial aid packages offered by Reed last year. To get the most accurate estimate possible, you'll need to have a strong understanding of your family's financial situation.

Quick Cost Estimator Use Reed's Net Price Calculator

Calculator findings in no way guarantee that, if accepted, you'll receive a set amount of funding in your first year or in subsequent years. These tools will give you a starting place to begin thinking and talking about the cost of attendance.

For more detailed information about how financial aid works, visit the Reed College Office of Financial Aid webpage.

Resources

Financial Aid Deadlines For Prospective Students