The Financially Possible WellesleyPractical advice, real numbers, tangible hope

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Financial aid facts

100%We will meet 100% of demonstrated need for all admitted students. You’ll pay what you can afford—nothing more.

58%Currently, 58% of our students receive aid. One reason why: Our admission process for U.S. citizens and permanent residents is need-blind. We admit students based on their skills, abilities, and promise—not on their financial situation.

$40,000Students with demonstrated need receive an average annual scholarship aid award—money that does not need to be repaid— of nearly $40,000.

$59 millionWe maintain a financial aid budget of over $59 million. That money is dedicated exclusively to supporting students who have demonstrated financial need.

2015-2016 Costs Tuition: $46,550Room: $7,362; Meal plan: $7,142 Fees: $286 Total: $61,340

Nearly all of our financial aid packages include one or more of these three types of aid:

Scholarships (also known as grants) Our aid packages rely heavily on scholar-ships. They come from a range of sources: the College, the state, the federal govern-ment. They do not need to be repaid.

Work-Study opportunities The federal Work-Study program pays students to work 8-10 hours a week at a campus-based job: in the library, an administrative office, an academic depart-ment. Ideally the job will be meaningful and relevant, and sometimes a job will lead to another, more intensive job. But the point is to let the student contribute to the College community and to her own education.

Loans Some packages include the offer of a small loan, either from the College or a federal student loan. In either case, interest rates are low, repayment is deferred until after graduation, and the repayment period typically lasts 10 years.

Wellesley is widely recognized as one of the top 10 colleges in the country for students graduating with the least amount of debt.

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What makes Wellesley possible?

We’re strong. Our endowment is strong, our aid budget is over $59 million, and we meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for all admitted students. We’re able to provide an astonishing amount of resources—financial, academic, social, cultural—to our students.

We’re responsive. We expect the unexpected. We adjust to economic trends. We also find ways to help if a family’s needs change during the school year.

We care about the future. We don’t want our graduates to be saddled with debt, so we keep our loan levels low. We’ve eliminated loans to students from families with incomes under $60,000, and we’ve dramatically reduced loans to students from families with incomes under $100,000.

We have a history. Our alumnae—more than 34,000 extraordinarily accomplished women around the world—are fiercely loyal to Wellesley. They’re vivid, living proof of the value of a Wellesley education.

These answers are part of what makes Wellesley one of the world’s truly exceptional colleges. We’re grateful for your interest.

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4 sample financial aid awardsBased on awards given to recent Wellesley families. In each family, both parents are employed and have two children, one of whom attends Wellesley.

California family Their family income is $39,500. They have no assets and live in a rented apartment. The family also has no health insurance.

CostsTuition, room and meal plan, fee: $61,340Books and personal expenses: $2,050Travel: $1,150Student health insurance: $2,004 Total costs: $66,544

Resources Parental contribution: $0 Student’s contribution: $1,950 Total resources: $1,950

Total financial need (Total costs minus total resources) $64,594

Our financial aid package Wellesley scholarship: $62,494 Work-Study job: $2,100 Student loan: $0 Total aid award: $64,594

Illinois family Their family income is $74,740. They have $500 in assets and live in a rented house.

CostsTuition, room and meal plan, fee: $61,340 Books and personal expenses: $2,050 Travel: $500 Total Costs: $63,890

ResourcesParental contribution: $6,200 Student’s contributions: $1,950 Total resources: $8,150

Total financial need (Total costs minus total resources) $55,540

Our financial aid package Wellesley scholarship: $51,840 Work-Study job: $2,100 Student loan: $1,800 Total aid award: $55,740

New Jersey family Their family income is $100,900. They have $10,000 in assets and $100,500 of home equity.

CostsTuition, room and meal plan, fee: $61,340 Books and personal expenses: $2,050 Travel: $200 Total costs: $63,590

ResourcesParental contribution: $12,300 Student’s contribution: $1,950 Total resources: $14,250

Total financial need (Total costs minus total resources) $49,340 Our financial aid package Wellesley scholarship: $44,240 Work-Study job: $2,100 Student loan: $3,000

Total aid award: $49,340

Michigan familyTheir family income is $121,000. They have $17,000 in assets. Due to the recession, they’ve lost equity in their home.

CostsTuition, room and meal plan, fee: $61,340 Books and personal expenses: $2,050 Travel: $500 Total costs: $63,890

ResourcesParental contribution: $17,950 Student’s contribution: $1,950 Total resources: $19,900

Total financial need (Total costs minus total resources) $43,990

Our financial aid package Wellesley scholarship: $38,890 Work-Study job: $2,100 Student loan: $3,000 Total aid award: $43,990

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See what it might cost for you to attend Wellesley

It’s easy (really!) to get an early estimate. You may find that a Wellesley education may be more affordable than you think.

To see what your family’s financial aid at Wellesley could be, simply go to My inTuition, Wellesley’s Quick College Cost Estimator at: www.wellesley.edu/costestimator

Designed by a Wellesley economist, My inTuition is a first-of-its-kind tool that lets you know—by answering six simple financial questions—just how affordable Wellesley is. My inTuition gener-ates an estimate of parents’ cost to send their daughter to Wellesley, based on their particular family finances.

Feedback from prospective students:

“I knew what my parents could afford, which is much less than standard tuition at any private college. When I looked at my estimated contribution on My inTuition, I realized that we could actually afford Wellesley, which was surprising.”

“My inTuition was quick and efficient. It clearly laid out the fac-tors that contribute to determining a student’s deserved amount of financial aid.”

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Wellesley College: A brief guide

Academics Our academic program is demanding, global, and deeply engaged with the world. Our students choose from more than 54 majors and more than 1,000 courses and work closely with leading scholars, scientists, and artists. The College funds hundreds of internships around the world, supports hundreds of high-level research opportunities, and offers access to a wide range of programs abroad.

Life at Wellesley Our students run more than 160 clubs, play on 14 Division III athletic teams, and attend (and often organize) a packed calendar of events, nearly all of which are free. They have easy (and nearly free) access to Boston and Cambridge, a global capital of academic, political, cultural, and technological innovation.

After Wellesley Our legendary worldwide alumnae network is an invaluable source of personal and professional guidance and support. Some of our alumnae are well-known (the founder of Zipcar, two secretaries of state, a MacArthur Fellowship “Genius Grant” recipient, an astronaut); most (about 80%) have earned advanced degrees; all are dedicated to helping Wellesley women, past, present, and future.

Facts2,300 women50 states represented 83 countries of birth7 to 1 student to faculty ratio98% of tenured faculty hold a Ph.D. or the highest degree in their field100% of classes are taught by professors1,000+ courses54+ majors50% of juniors study abroad75% of students participate in an internship10,000 objects in the Davis Museum and Cultural Center14 Division III athletic teams160 student-run organizations250,000 college students in Boston and Cambridge100% of demonstrated financial need met58% of students receive aid10 active alumnae on the “W” network for every student on campus500 acres1 lake

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How to apply for financial aid

Our aid process is designed to be simple and clear. Start with these steps:

Fill out the government’s financial aid application. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid—FAFSA—is the starting point for the financial aid process; it establishes a family’s financial need according to federal guidelines. Apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Our FAFSA code is 002224.

Fill out the CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE. The College Scholarship Services—CSS— is an additional and very useful way for families to establish need. You can complete the CSS PROFILE at http://student.collegeboard.org/ css-financial-aid-profile. Our CSS code is 3957.

Send us your taxes. They’ll help us verify FAFSA and CSS PROFILE data and eligibility.

For deadlines and more information, go to: www.wellesley.edu/sfs

If you have questions, talk to us. We’re easy to reach and eager to help:

Student Financial Services 781-283-2360 sfs@wellesley.edu www.wellesley.edu/sfs

Office of Admission 781-283-2270 admission@wellesley.edu www.wellesley.edu/admission

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Wellesley CollegeOffice of Admission 106 Central StreetWellesley, MA 02481-8203 Phone 781-283-2270 www.wellesley.edu

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