facebook pixel code

Types of Financial Aid

To help you pay for your Menlo education, we offer merit-based scholarships as well as need-based grants, low-interest loans and on-campus employment. To see what types of aid you may qualify for, use our Net Price Calculator.

All institutional aid can only be used in the fall and spring semesters. 

First-year, first-time students are eligible for financial aid for a total of 8 semesters, while transfer students can receive aid for up to 6 semesters. Transfer students who have completed fewer than 24 degree-applicable units may qualify for aid for up to 8 semesters. These semesters do not need to be consecutive.

In order to renew the scholarships, students must maintain a minimum Menlo cumulative GPA of 2.00 and earn a minimum of 24 units per year at Menlo College.

Menlo Merit Scholarships

All applicants are automatically assessed to potentially receive a renewable merit scholarship at the time of admission.

Entering Domestic Students from California and all other states, excluding Hawaii

Entering Domestic Students from Hawaii

Entering International Students  

Challenge Scholarship (renewable)

Entering first-year students with a GPA between 2.0-2.5 or entering transfer students with a GPA between 1.8-2.0 can qualify for a scholarship up to $10,000 for their first year. If their cumulative GPA at Menlo is 3.0 or above after the first year, they will receive a scholarship up to $15,000 in their second year. And if the 3.0 cumulative GPA is maintained, they will receive a scholarship up to $20,000 in their third and fourth years.

Other Menlo Scholarships

Recruited athletes are not eligible for these additional scholarships. Please contact the coach regarding athletic aid opportunities.

Valedictorian Scholarship (renewable)

Entering first-year students who are ranked top 2 in their class, with a GPA of 3.9 or above, can qualify for a full-tuition scholarship (minus any federal/state aid (grants & loans) and other scholarships) (does not cover student fees, housing, meals, and other costs). Students must file a FAFSA or California DREAM Act Application to be considered.

Referral Scholarship (non-renewable)

Menlo College students can earn a one-time $1,000 on-campus housing award by referring a new student.  The new student must enroll full-time at Menlo College for the scholarship to be awarded.  Apply here.

Legacy Scholarship- up to $5,000 per year (renewable)

Recipients of the Legacy Scholarship must be either the children, grandchildren, or siblings of Menlo alumni.

Students must indicate they are a Legacy at the time of application. This will be verified by Admissions and Financial Aid. The scholarship will be awarded upon admission.

Scholarship will only be awarded up to cost of tuition, housing, and meals.

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Scholarship for Transfers – up to $4,000 per year (renewable)

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) members are eligible to receive a $4,000/year scholarship upon acceptance. This scholarship will be stacked with any merit aid the student may receive (up to $30K).

Student must be a member of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) at the time of application and must show proof of PTK membership if requested.

Osher Scholarship (renewable) – up to $5,000 

We encourage students with a gap in their education to apply immediately. Click here to see if you are eligible.

Grants

Grants are awards that typically do not need to be repaid and are awarded based on the financial need of the student. The amount of grant aid awarded is determined by a federal formula that is based on calculations made from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California DREAM Act Application.

All students wishing to be considered for grants must complete the FAFSA or California DREAM Act Application.

Menlo College is committed to making higher education affordable for all students. The following “Menlo” grants are aimed at decreasing the gap between financial aid and cost of attendance to meet the EFC for qualifying students.

Menlo President’s Grant

Menlo President’s Grant is the College’s institutional grant program. Funds are restricted to meet need after certain other resources, such as federal grants, are considered. The amount of aid awarded will vary, and is based upon both demonstrated need and merit.

Menlo merit-based scholarships and Menlo grants pay tuition costs only and may be reduced in accordance with state and federal regulations or institutional policy. Please note: Recruited athletes are not eligible for this grant.

Menlo California Opportunity Grant

Students from California may be able to attend Menlo College with a $0 out of pocket cost for tuition and on-campus housing if they meet the following requirements:

*Federal Student Aid awards are estimated based on expected family contribution of $0 and may be subject to verification by the Department of Education.

**Cal Grant B will be supplemented with institutional aid for the student’s first year. Cal Grants are estimated and not guaranteed until authorized by the California Student Aid Commission.

Please note: Recruited athletes are not eligible for this grant.

Menlo VA Opportunity Grant

Menlo College supports our military families and is committed to providing quality and affordable education to our veterans, their benefactors, and their families. Students eligible under the Yellow Ribbon Program are fully funded to attend Menlo College.

Cal Grant

First-time college students who are California residents and who filed their FAFSA and Cal Grant GPA Verification Form by the March 2 deadline may be eligible for this need and merit-based state grant. The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) will notify students of their eligibility, usually by May. The proposed maximum award in 2022-2023 for first-time Cal Grant A recipients is approximately $9,358 and for Cal Grant B recipients is $1,672.

Federal Pell Grant

Pell Grants are available to low-income undergraduate students. The maximum award in 2023-24 is $7,395, but individual awards depend on enrollment status and Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG)

SEOG is available to very low-income students, up to $1,000.

Loans

If you apply for financial aid, you may be offered loans as part of your school’s financial aid offer. Loans are funds that you must repay with interest. Federal loans offer an economical, government-regulated method of paying college expenses. Benefits include a fixed interest rate and flexible, income-based repayment plans. You can also apply for private or alternative loans, but these are typically more expensive. If you decide to take out a loan, make sure you understand who is making the loan and the terms and conditions of the loan.

Explore Your Federal Student Loan Options

Explore Your Private Student Loan Options

Work-Study

Menlo participates in the Federal Work-Study program. This federally funded program gives you the chance to work a part-time job to earn money for school. The program encourages students to seek out community service work and employment related to your course of study.

Here’s a quick overview of Federal Work-Study:

Learn more about work-study opportunities.

How to Apply for Aid

Citizens and eligible non-citizens may apply for aid by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student AID (FAFSA). Undocumented AB540 students residing in California may apply for aid by submitting the California DREAM Act Application. Please submit your aid application before March 2! Menlo College no longer accepts the CSS Profile financial aid application.

How Your Award is Determined

After you submit your FAFSA or DREAM ACT application, we then determine your financial need by subtracting your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the Cost of Attendance (COA) at Menlo. This helps us understand you and your family’s ability to pay for school and if additional grants or scholarships are needed to help fund your education at Menlo. Remember to submit important income and tax documents for us to confirm your eligibility as soon as possible. Sometimes your Expected Family Contribution does not reflect your current ability to pay for your college cost. When this happens you may submit a financial aid appeal directly to us, email financialaid@menlo.edu.

Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) and Financial Need

Your Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimated cost of what you may expect to pay to attend Menlo College and includes direct costs such as tuition, fees, housing and meals, as well as indirect costs including books and supplies, transportation, and other eligible miscellaneous expenses related to your educational needs.

Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is an index number to determine how much financial aid you are eligible to receive at Menlo College. The information you report on your FAFSA is used to calculate your EFC.

The EFC is calculated according to a formula established by law. Your family’s taxed and untaxed income, assets, and benefits (such as unemployment or Social Security) all could be considered in the formula. Also considered are your family size and the number of family members who will attend college or career school during the year. The EFC Formula guide shows exactly how an EFC is calculated.

Need-based aid is financial aid you may be eligible if you have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria established by Menlo College. You may not receive more need-based aid than the amount of your financial need. Federal grants have maximum annual and lifetime eligibility limits, awards are based on enrollment and EFC.

Calculating Your Financial Need

Cost of Attendance (COA)
– Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
= Financial Need

Contact Financial Aid

650.543.3880 phone
650.543.4103 fax
financialaid@menlo.edu

Schedule an appointment with Financial Aid

Consumer Information

Menlo College
MENU

Menlo College