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. For all institutional aid terms and conditions, click here.

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

Merit Scholarship – up to $26,000 per year (renewable)
On-Campus Housing Award – up to $4,000 per year (renewable)

Entering Domestic Students from Hawaii

Hawaii Opportunity Scholarship – up to $28,000 per year (renewable)
On-Campus Housing Award – up to $4,000 per year (renewable)

Entering International Students

Dean’s Scholarship – up to $28,000 per year (renewable)
On-Campus Housing Award – up to $4,000 per year (renewable)

Valedictorian Scholarship (renewable)
Entering first-year students who are ranked top 2 in their class, with a GPA of 3.9 or above, may qualify for a net-tuition scholarship, covering tuition costs minus any federal or state aid, including grants, loans, and other scholarships. Students must file a FAFSA or California DREAM Act Application to be considered. Recruited NCAA athletes are not eligible for this scholarship.

Other Menlo Scholarships

These scholarships can be combined with any merit aid the student may receive, unless otherwise specified. They apply toward tuition costs and do not cover housing (unless indicated as part of the scholarship package), student fees, meals, or other expenses, unless otherwise determined by the Office of Financial Aid.

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

Referral Scholarship (one-time)
Menlo College students can earn a one-time $1,000 scholarship 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. The scholarship will only be awarded up to cost of tuition, housing, and meals.

DECA Scholarship (renewable)

DECA competition winners are eligible for a net-tuition scholarship, covering tuition costs minus any federal or state aid, including grants, loans, and other scholarships. Students must provide a copy of their winning certificate and complete the FAFSA or California DREAM Act Application to be considered.

DECA members who are not competition winners will receive a $4,000 stackable scholarship upon acceptance. To qualify, students must submit proof of DECA membership (e.g., a copy of their membership card).

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.

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 – up to $6,000 per year (renewable)

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 SAI 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 NCAA 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:

California Resident
Pell Grant Eligible*
Cal Grant Eligible**

*Federal Student Aid awards are estimated based on student aid index of $0 or lower 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 NCAA athletes are not eligible for this grant.

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 2024-2025 for first-time Cal Grant A recipients is approximately $9,358 and for Cal Grant B recipients is $1,648.

Federal Pell Grant

Pell Grants are available to low-income undergraduate students. The maximum award in 2024-25 is $7,395, but individual awards depend on enrollment status and Student Aid Index (SAI).

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:

It provides part-time employment while you are enrolled in school.
It’s available to undergraduate, graduate and professional students with financial need.
It’s available to full-time or part-time students.
Employment Opportunities

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

Your financial aid eligibility depends on your Student Aid Index (SAI), your year in school, your enrollment status, and the cost of attendance. After you submit your FAFSA or DREAM ACT application, we then determine your financial need by subtracting your SAI 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 Student Aid Index does not reflect your current ability to pay for your college costs. When this happens you may submit a financial aid appeal directly to us, email financialaid@menlo.edu.

What is the Student Aid Index (SAI)?

Your Student Aid Index (SAI) is a formula-based index number ranging from –1500 to 999999. Where your SAI falls within the SAI range helps your school determine how much financial support you may need.

A negative SAI indicates you have a higher financial need. For example, if you have an SAI of –1500, you’ll qualify for a maximum Pell Grant award assuming you have not exhausted your lifetime amounts and meet all student eligibility requirements.

Your SAI is not:

a dollar amount of aid you’ll receive,
what your family is expected to provide, or,
your final financial aid offer.

Your SAI is an index number used by financial aid professionals when creating an aid offer. Your SAI is calculated using information that you (and other contributors, if required) provide on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.

During your aid process, you will see the following:

an estimated SAI on the confirmation page of your FAFSA form
an official SAI within your FAFSA Submission Summary (after your FAFSA form is processed)

Contact Financial Aid

650.543.3880 phone
650.543.4103 fax
financialaid@menlo.edu

Schedule an appointment with Financial Aid

Withdrawal and the Return of Funds Policy

Consumer Information

Menlo College is committed to ensuring equal access and opportunity to all members of our campus community. We do not unlawfully discriminate in hiring, personnel practices, compensation, promotion, access to programs and activities, or educational opportunities on the basis of race, color, marital status, age, creed, national origin, sex, religion, family care status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, reproductive health decision-making, ancestry, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, citizenship status, genetic characteristic or information, or any other bases protected by state or federal laws. Inquiries regarding the College’s equal opportunity policies should be directed to the Human Resources Department via email at hr@menlo.edu.