Methodology Used to Determine Family Resources

Financial need is defined as the difference between the annual cost of attendance and the financial resources expected to be available from the student (and spouse, if applicable) and his or her family to meet those expenses. A family's ability to contribute to a student's education is determined by a federally-approved needs analysis system called Federal Methodology. The purpose of this system is to assess family resources using a nationally uniform formula so that the criteria for the judgment of need do not vary among institutions. The analysis takes into account family income, assets, number of dependents, number of family members in college, and other relevant information.

The Medical School uses the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to apply Federal Methodology in assessing family resources. In addition, Brown utilizes the Need Access Form to determine eligibility for institutional funding. The analyzed FAFSA and Need Access forms are then reviewed along with supporting documents before determining financial need.

Students are expected to contribute from their own assets and income toward their medical education. In addition, first-and second-year students are expected to contribute from summer earnings. Students entering the third and fourth years are not expected to contribute from summer earnings unless a significant block of time is free from class or clerkship requirements.