Facts & Figures
>	Admission for U.S. students and permanent residents is need-blind. Although we are not need-blind for international students, we have doubled the number on aid.
>	55% of our students receive need-based financial aid. We don’t have merit aid but, in 2007-2008, we gave $35 million in grant aid to students, using family-friendly policies in guiding our decisions.
>	13% of our student body receives Pell Grants. Students on financial aid are from all walks of life and represent a broad diversity of backgrounds.
>	Our average grant in 2007-2008 is over $28,000. Of the students with grants, 33% have grants that exceed our tuition.
>	Generous financial aid, along with the ability of our students to finish in four years, means that our real cost is often the same as, close to, or less than costs at public universities.
>	Our new loan policy for 2008-2009 will dramatically increase grant aid to students. For each loan eliminated or reduced, an equal amount of grant aid will be added to the aid package.
>	Wellesley students are great workers. Students on aid work 6 to 10 hours per week all over campus. Many other students also work because they want to gain work experience and earn spending money. The fact that a student works on campus doesn’t tell anyone whether she is on aid or not.
>	Financial aid is portable to approved study abroad programs and domestic exchanges. The College is committed to insuring access to its educational programs for all students.
>	Financial aid students are smart, earning many academic honors. At graduation, in the Class of 2007, they comprised : 55% of magna cum laude 57% of Phi Beta Kappa 57% of Sigma Xi 64% of Honors in the Major 57% of Senior Prizes
>	Wellesley College was founded in 1870 to serve the student who dressed in “calico” – and we remain true to our heritage as a college welcoming students of modest means.

You can afford a Wellesley education
	Wellesley is "need-blind" for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, which means that the College admits students without regard to their ability to pay. Wellesley also meets the full demonstrated need of every admitted student.
	Wellesley is widely regarded as one of the nation's top colleges in terms of its commitment to making education affordable to families and to organizing the College's resources in support of student achievement. Whether the metric is the percentage of students who receive grants based on need, student loan levels, or the average discount on the total cost of attendance, it's clear that Wellesley focuses its considerable financial resources on the education of current students. Wellesley is one of the most racially and ethnically diverse liberal arts colleges in the country, and it maintains one of the highest first-year retention rates (95%) of any of the nation's colleges as well. Financial considerations should not deter a student from applying to Wellesley. Wellesley's admission process is "need blind" for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, which means that the College admits students without regard to their families ability to pay. Wellesley's commitment to provide a superior undergraduate education to students, regardless of their economic status, results in a talented student body from a wide range of economic backgrounds. Wellesley guarantees that we will meet 100 percent of a student’s need, as determined by the College’s financial aid policies. If a student’s financial aid eligibility is $28,000, for instance, then the College will meet that entire amount through grants, loans, and work-study. Wellesley also provides financing options to assist families who do not qualify for aid.
	Wellesley offers generous financial aid awards. The College's new financial aid policy boosts grant aid (scholarships), and reduces or eliminates student loans. More
	In 2006-07, 55 percent of Wellesley students received financial aid awards. The College distributed a total of $38.3 million in financial aid, including $33.6 million in grants, $3.4 million in loans, and $1.3 million in work-study. The average yearly financial aid award was $28,919. A typical award includes three components: grants (scholarship, a gift from the College that does not need to be paid back), loans, and work-study. Wellesley uses a system of financial analysis designed to give families the greatest possible consideration in qualifying for financial aid awards. New Financial Aid Policy In February 2008, Wellesley announced a new financial aid initiative, effective in 2008-09. Key points are as follows: > The new plan eliminates student loans for students with the greatest need, those from families with calculated incomes under $60,000. > It reduces student loans by one-third for students from families with calculated incomes between $60,000 and $100,000. Their required loans will total no more than $8,600 over four years. > Students from families with higher incomes continue to benefit from Wellesley’s low student loan packages, which cap the four-year maximum debt at $12,825. > Wellesley is committed to spending over $40 million per year on financial aid, 80% of which comes directly from its endowment of $1.7 billion. > As always, Wellesley will carefully evaluate each student’s financial aid application individually, considering many factors in addition to family income in determining the level of aid provided. Some of these factors include a family’s medical expenses, siblings in college, and regional differences in costs of living. Press release about the new financial aid policy FAQs about the new financial aid policy
	There are no hidden costs, and Wellesley goes beyond tuition and room and board when assessing a student's financial need. Wellesley is committed to providing enrichment opportunities to all students–regardless of their financial means.
	Wellesley goes beyond tuition, room, and board when assessing a student's financial need. The College looks at a broad range of expenses in addition to tuition, room, and board – expenses for books, personal items, and travel for students who live at a distance. Moreover, the College subsidizes summer internships around the world. By graduation, 70 percent of Wellesley students have completed an internship; approximately 50 percent of graduating seniors held at least one Wellesley-funded internship. In addition, financial aid awards are portable, making it possible for students to use these funds for study abroad. Bus transportation into Boston and Cambridge is free on weekdays and costs a nominal fee on weekends, providing easy access to off-campus research and internship opportunities, lectures, concerts, films, and social events – many of which are free with a Wellesley ID.
	Student Financial Services counselors are committed to working closely with families to guide them through the process. More
	They further help families understand requirements, financing options, and details of their financial aid award. Families with cash-flow concerns can take advantage of low-interest loan programs and Wellesley's monthly payment plan.

Read more about Wellesley's dedication to undergraduate education, access to faculty, global environment, alumnae network, and commitment to community service.
The value of a Wellesley education
When considering the value of a Wellesley education, remember the following:
	Wellesley's $1.7 billion endowment is devoted entirely to undergraduate education.
	Wellesley's financial strength and stability enable the College to hire an award-winning faculty, sponsor valuable internship and research opportunities for students, equip classrooms with state-of-the-art technology, and keep residence halls and other facilities in top-notch condition.
	Wellesley's 9:1 student-faculty ratio ensures that students will have direct access to their faculty mentors as well as to research opportunities.
	A typical class has 12 to 24 students;small enough to foster personal attention, yet large enough to engender dynamic discussion and debate. Since Wellesley is an undergraduate college and not a university, students regularly collaborate with faculty on research across all disciplines and often coauthor the published results.
	Wellesley's global environment is a mirror image of today's world.
	With students from 47 states, 62 countries of residence, 78 countries of birth, and nearly 30 languages spoken, Wellesley nurtures exploration and expression of widely varying perspectives and life experiences. The College's approach to a liberal arts and sciences education – combined with numerous leadership opportunities – prepares graduates to participate in and lead others in a global economy. The cosmopolitan offerings of nearby Boston and Cambridge complement the intellectual, cultural, and social life on and off campus.
	Wellesley's loyal and impassioned alumnae network is second to none.
	Wellesley graduates have excelled in virtually every field of human endeavor, and have gained recognition as leaders in their communities. They remain strongly invested in helping students to realize their aspirations, and many provide a lifelong network of support as well.
	Wellesley is highly committed to promoting an ethic of service.
	The expansive opportunities offered via the Center for Work and Service enable students to explore a world of possibilities and to make a difference in the world. For example, last year Wellesley granted 300+ stipends of $3,000 each for summer internships in 33 countries and awarded 27 Community Service Travel Grants of up to $1,000 to support student participation in service projects in the United States and abroad during Spring Break and the summer.