FAQs

In brief, income and assets are analyzed to determine a family's financial strength. First, available income is calculated by subtracting expenses such as taxes, a maintenance allowance based on the number of family members and other standard allowances (including saving for younger children's college education) from the total family income. Next, a small, standard percentage of available assets is calculated from total assets, including home equity and non-retirement investments, minus emergency reserve allowances and college savings allowances. The sum of that percentage of available assets plus available income is the total parent contribution.

Educational loans are available only while the student is in school and generally offer better terms than commercial or personal loans. The Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan for students and the Federal PLUS Loan are federal education loans available to students and parents who are citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Some states have educational loan programs which may be used for out-of-state institutions. Some families have chosen to borrow through educational loans to maximize use of their current income. As with all borrowing, we advise families to limit educational loans each year.

Students may be offered financial aid to participate in the Twelve-College Exchange and Spelman College, up to the cost of Wellesley or of the exchange institution, whichever is lower. Students on exchange at MIT are charged as Wellesley students and aided accordingly but may pay an additional charge if living in the MIT residence halls. Students may also receive aid for Wellesley College Study Abroad and Exchange Programs. For programs through other colleges or institutions, students may apply for scholarships through the Study Abroad Office.

“Free tuition” is defined at Wellesley as an amount of total grant aid that meets or exceeds the amount of billed tuition for the fall and spring semesters. This includes institutional, federal, state and other outside sources. 

Typical assets are dependent upon a family's individual financial circumstances. Assets may include, but are not limited to: 

• Cash/ savings/ checking  
• Primary home equity
• Investments, including other real estate, trusts, and prepaid tuition plans 
• Business / Farm equity

The value of a family’s retirement accounts/assets is not included in this calculation. 

Wellesley meet 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted students, but families with assets significantly higher than what is typical for their income may not meet the criteria for free tuition.

Students who may qualify for free tuition:

• Will submit an annual financial aid application to determine eligibility for need-based aid
• Will have a total family income under $150,000 with typical assets
• Will live on campus and participate in the College meal plan
• Are U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents
• Whose families reside and work in the United States

Please note, a student’s income and assets may impact eligibility for grants meeting tuition.

First, identify your priorities for borrowing--interest rate, monthly payment, deferment provisions, home equity option--and read the literature for each loan carefully. Student Financial Services will provide detailed payment and loan information. 

Contact our office for more information, if necessary. While we do not recommend specific loans, we can help evaluate the programs you have identified. Please visit Financing & Loan Options.

No, families should reapply if there have been significant changes in income, assets or the number of children in college. We will also reevaluate an application if a family's circumstances change mid-year. The exception is that international students who enter without aid cannot apply for it in subsequent years.

Wellesley is one of the few remaining schools with a need-blind admissions policy. All of our students have been admitted regardless of their financial need; merit is the only factor considered in admission. Over 80% of our students have graduated in the top tenth of their high school classes and bring a rich variety of talents and backgrounds to Wellesley. In turn, financial aid offers are based only on financial need. We do not offer academic, athletic or other scholarships. Often, other colleges do. In addition, our institutional methodology might differ from the methodologies used by other colleges; each school applies its own policies to the financial aid process which will result in different offers.

The number of family members and the number of children in college are significant factors in calculating family resources. If a sibling's enrollment status changes or if it is not verified by the due date, the financial aid offer must be revised. By accepting financial aid, all students must, by federal law, inform the Financial Aid Office of changes in the enrollment of a sibling in college and changes in the total family size. Because graduate students have access to stipends, assistantships and up to $18, 500 per year in federal loans, we do not allocate a parent contribution for siblings in graduate school. We will review an offer upon receipt of a Financial Aid Statement indicating that the graduate school calculates and collects a family contribution.

Students who win outside scholarships receive the fullest possible benefit of those scholarships. We use outside scholarship aid to reduce the student loan, academic year work, and student contribution from vacation earnings before making any reduction in grant aid. For most students, this means that all of the outside scholarship will reduce self-help. Unless specifically stated in the sponsorship letter, all outside scholarships will be evenly applied to the fall and spring semesters.

Students whose parents have employee benefits as a condition of their employment should speak to the Financial Aid staff.

Please note that state grants, Federal Pell Grants, Gear-up Grants and benefits that are not merit-based are not included in this policy. Students receiving, or expecting to receive, outside scholarships must report them to our office as soon as possible.