The F&M Commonwealth Commitment

Any Pennsylvania resident who meets the family income requirements. We look at two key thresholds: families earning $75,000 or less per year and families earning between $75,001 and $150,000 per year with typical assets for those income levels.

Families interested in an early estimate of their F&M financial aid package may request one here.

Tuition-free means a student’s financial aid package will cover that student’s tuition charge for the academic year. There may still be a family contribution towards housing, food, books, and other components of the cost of attendance.

Eligible students entering F&M in the fall of 2026 will pay no more than 2025-26 in-state tuition at Penn State University Park, which is $20,468.

All Pennsylvania resident applicants who complete the financial aid process and meet the income and assets requirements are eligible if admitted. Our requirements include the FAFSA, the CSS PROFILE, and federal tax documents, which you’ll upload to the College Board’s IDOC Portal.

We use your family’s Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from your federal tax return, which is on line 11 on the 1040. You provide this information to us when you apply for financial aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. All aid applicants will have their information verified by a review of federal tax documents, which you’ll upload to the College Board’s IDOC portal.

Assets include savings, investments, and the net worth of businesses, but do not include retirement savings.

"Typical assets" refers to what most families in a given income range usually own, such as checking accounts, savings accounts, modest investments, and a primary residence. 

Families with assets significantly greater than typical — such as real estate holdings, larger investment portfolios, or significant business holdings — may not qualify for the Commonwealth Commitment. In these cases, though, F&M remains committed to meeting your institutionally determined need.

Students' eligibility for financial aid will be reevaluated each academic year. If your family's financial situation changes, the amount and type of financial aid we offer may be adjusted in a subsequent academic year. If your financial situation remains the same, you can expect that the Commonwealth Commitment will continue to apply.

Franklin & Marshall College is committed to meeting admitted students’ institutionally determined financial need. If you are eligible for aid beyond the Commonwealth Commitment given your income level, you'll receive a financial aid package that meets your family's institutionally determined need.

Your Commonwealth Commitment won't change unless your total amount of aid – from all sources – exceeds F&M's total cost of attendance. In the unusual instance that an outside scholarship causes this to happen, we will reduce the self-help portion of the financial aid package first. Self-help refers to work-study and federal direct student loans. In other words, this will decrease the amount of money you need to borrow and pay back. 

If your family’s financial circumstances change, please contact our Office of Financial Aid so that we can guide you through the appropriate process. All applicants and their families have a designated financial aid counselor based on the first letter of their last name.

Need-based financial aid must be re-applied for each year.  Please note that the formula we used to determine your financial aid eligibility will not change during your four years at Franklin & Marshall College.

Yes, all applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships, and all Pennsylvania residents are considered for the Commonwealth Commitment.

There is no set limit.

All first-year domestic students who complete the FAFSA and Profile are packaged with the standard federal direct student loan amount of $5,500. Students are not required to accept this portion of their financial aid package.

Many F&M families will pursue additional lending through a variety of options, which can include federal Parent PLUS Loans or private education loans. Our financial aid team is here to assist you with your questions about financing options.

For all off-campus study programs, students are charged for their standard F&M tuition. The college does not charge students for housing, meals, fees or any miscellaneous charges. The off-campus study host institution will directly bill students for those charges.

The Commonwealth Commitment and your financial aid package will not be affected by your decision to study abroad.

The Commonwealth Commitment is available to students applying to F&M for enrollment in fall 2026 or subsequent years. Though returning students are not eligible for this particular program, those students will continue to have their full institutionally determined need met based on the financial aid application they complete each year. 

Yes! Email us at financialaid@fandm.edu and one of our financial aid team members will follow up with you.