Definitions for "INSTITUTIONAL METHODOLOGY"
A formula that is administered by the College Scholarship Service and is used to determine financial need when applying for institutionally funded student aid.
Formulas used by many colleges, universities, graduate and professional schools, and private scholarship programs to determine an applicant's need and eligibility for their own private, non federal student aid funds. While similar in some respects to the Federal Methodology (see above), the Institutional Methodology differs in others. For example, the IM takes home equity into account and includes a minimum expected contribution from the student, but also permits more generous treatment of medical/dental expenses, elementary, and secondary school tuition paid, and child support paid.
An alternative method of needs analysis, used mostly by private colleges, to take a more detailed look at the family's income and assets, prior to disbursing their own grants and scholarships.  Considers the home and the family farm as an asset.