Institutional Methodology (IM)
A second financial aid formula used by some colleges and universities that looks at additional assets and/or resources in a student’s household and assesses income and assets in a different manner than the
Federal Methodology.
- Use of an “Institutional Methodology” won’t affect federal or state need-based grants but it may mean the college will expect more (or less) money overall from a family.
- Colleges using an Institutional Methodology typically will require students to complete a second financial aid form, usually the CSS/Profile or a specific institutional form.
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