WeSLEYAN offerS a limited number of merit scholarships which are awarded AUTOMATICALLY WHEN A STUDENT IS ACCEPTED TO THE COLLEGE. No additional application is required.

Every student applying for financial aid must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form is in addition to the Wesleyan Financial Aid Application Form. You can also get the FAFSA form from your secondary school counselor. You should send it in as soon as possible after October 1. To learn more about FAFSA, click here.

Wesleyan offers a comprehensive financial aid program. Review some of the scholarships, grants, and loans listed below. Additional awards and scholarships may be available to Wesleyan students. It is not necessary for a student to apply for each scholarship. The student will be considered for each by submitting the Wesleyan application for financial aid.

Grants, Loans, and Scholarships

Scholarship Policy

All merit awards are renewable from year to year, provided the student is enrolled full time (12 or more semester hours) at Wesleyan and satisfies other stipulated conditions of her scholarship. Incoming students may not receive more than one merit award.

Should any academic scholarship recipient receive additional financial aid which results in the overpayment of the student's bill for any academic year or any portion of an academic year, the Financial Aid Office reserves the right to re-evaluate that student's particular situation and reduce the amount of scholarship by the amount of such overpayment. No combination of institutional, federal, or state scholarships and grants may exceed the College's direct costs. Direct costs include tuition, required fees, room (standard double room rate) and board. Students receiving outside scholarships may apply these funds up to the full value of the College's cost of attendance budget, which include an estimate for books, as well as personal and transportation expenses. The College reserves the right to adjust need-based institutional aid if a student receives outside funding, though efforts will also be made to reduce the student's self-help forms of aid, such as work-study and student loans.

Scholarship Day

Once a student has been accepted to Wesleyan College, she will be contacted by an Admission Counselor who will send her an official invitation to compete in an interview process (by faculty/department) on Scholarship Day for up to full tuition scholarships. No student can apply for any one scholarship - their qualifications and interests indicated in their application/GPA/test scores will be matched with a scholarship and they will be contacted by Admissions, if they qualify.

The Wesleyan College Scholarship Day is an invitation-only spring semester event for high school seniors who have demonstrated exemplary academic records, leadership, or talents through their applications for admission. Students may also compete for a performance art scholarship in art, music, or theatre. Scholarship opportunities are greatly enhanced by participation in Scholarship Day. Call (800) 447-6610 for more information.

Full tuition scholarships

SCHOLARSHIPS

Academic Scholarships: Awarded to students based on their GPA and test scores when they apply for admission. Scholarships include: Trustee for $15,000; Presidential for $14,000; Dean's for $13,000, and the Wesleyan Merit Award for $12,000.
Art Scholarships: Are you an artist? You are eligible to audition for Wesleyan's Fine Arts Scholarship. These scholarships range in values from $1,000 to $2,000 per year. Students who wish to apply for an Art Scholarship should submit a portfolio consisting of 8 to 10 works. One of the pieces should be a portrait drawn from real life (not copied from a photo). Students are advised to present their best works rather than works in a wide variety of media. The work will be evaluated on the understanding of the creative process, handling of the medium, creativity, and presentation. In addition to the portfolio, the student should write a short artistic biography, which tells of the student’s interests and goals in art. Portfolio reviews last 30 minutes and include an interview with members of the Art Department faculty. Acceptance of the art scholarship requires that the student pursue either a major in art or art history.
Music Scholarships: These scholarships range in values from $1,000 to $2,000 per year. Students who wish to audition for a Music Scholarship should prepare 2 memorized pieces in contrasting styles. Auditions are given for voice, piano, organ, and other instruments. We prefer selections from classical repertoire, but this may not always be possible. Students and their current teachers should choose pieces that present the student at her best. Each student will be asked to sight read a simple melody. The audition, which includes an interview with members of the Music Department faculty, lasts approximately 30 minutes. Acceptance of the music scholarship requires that the student pursue either a major or minor in music. Students interested in music scholarships are required to audition, preferably in person, but audio or video tapes are permitted.
Theatre Scholarships: These scholarships range in values from $1,000 to $2,000 per year. Students who wish to audition for a Theatre Scholarship should bring a list of theatre related experience and have a teacher mail a letter of recommendation. Actors must prepare 1 or 2 memorized monologues of one or two minutes each. The monologues should be in contrasting styles. Students and their current teachers should choose pieces that present the student at her best. The director will work briefly with the student on selections of the monologue in order to assess her ability to take direction. The student who is interested exclusively in technical theatre may choose not to prepare an acting audition, but to submit a portfolio of materials demonstrating her talents and experiences in technical theatre. Acceptance of the theatre scholarship requires that the student pursue a minor in theatre. Students interested in theatre scholarships are required to audition, preferably in person, but audio or video tapes are permitted.
Legacy Scholarship: Wesleyan offers the Legacy Scholarship, valued at $15,000, to incoming first-year students who are referred to the College by a Wesleyan alumna who is a grandmother, mother, step-mother, sister, step-sister, sister-in-law, or aunt of the student. The relationships of great-aunt, godmother, and cousin are not considered legacy. Wesleyan College reserves the right to limit scholarship funds based upon availability.
Goizueta Foundation Scholars Fund: Wesleyan College, with the generous support of the Roberto C. Goizueta Foundation, provides a varying number of scholarships to entering full-time day students who are of Latin American descent. The Goizueta Foundation Scholars Fund is a merit and need-based award. Any interested student may submit an application; however, eligibility is determined by the Office of Financial Aid Services and only eligible candidates will be considered.
Ministerial Scholarships: Dependent daughters and spouses of United Methodist ministers are eligible to receive a grant covering half of the remaining tuition after all other aid has been applied. The grant cannot exceed $4,000. A student may not receive the alumnae or family awards in addition to the ministerial scholarship. Merit based awards will be applied prior to receiving the grant.
United Methodist Scholarships and Student Loans: The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (www.GBHEM.org) of the United Methodist Church annually awards a number of scholarships to United Methodist students attending Wesleyan. Scholarships usually are awarded in the amount of $1,000 to $5,000 per year and are for one year only. Students must complete at least the general scholarship application to receive other United Methodist funds through the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry from the college. To be eligible for a United Methodist Student Loan, an applicant must be a member of the United Methodist Church, a citizen of the United States, and be admitted to a degree program and maintain at least a C average.
Wesleyan Methodist Youth Leadership Award: Each year, a limited number of students with demonstrated leadership or significant involvement in the Methodist Church and in service to others may be awarded a Wesleyan Methodist Youth Leadership Award. These awards are valued between $1,000 and $5,000 per year, and are renewable. To be eligible students must be members of the Methodist Church for the two most recent years and be nominated by their minister or a church officer.
United Methodist Higher Education Foundation Scholarships: The United Methodist Higher Education Foundation (UMHEF) is a non-profit foundation that has been helping students pay for college since 1965. UMHEF is committed to supporting the dreams of students who want to attend college at a United Methodist college, university or seminary of their choice. Sometimes students and parents need a little help to cover the rising costs of tuition – that's where we come in! Our scholarships help students offset those costs by awarding scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $4,000. Each year we assist over 1,000 students with their tuition through programs such as United Methodist Dollars for Scholars. We partner with schools, United Methodist congregations and our donors to provide financial support in the amount of over $2 million annually to students all over the country.
GBHEM Scholarships: The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church (GBHEM) provides scholarships and loans to help supplement the financial needs of today's students.

Institutional loans

Several of the college loan funds make it possible for students to borrow money if necessary. No interest is charged on a loan while a student is enrolled at Wesleyan. Interest at 5 to 7 percent is charged beginning on the date of graduation or withdrawal. The principal may be repaid at any time, but becomes due in monthly payments, beginning 90 days after graduation or withdrawal from Wesleyan College. There are no deferment provisions for college loan funds. These loans are awarded at the discretion of the Financial Aid Office.

federal and state aid

Federal Pell Grant Program: The expected family contribution (EFC) formula as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid is the standard formula used in determining eligibility for the Pell Grant. The formula produces an EFC number to be considered for a Federal Pell Grant to consider a student.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG): These are federal grants designed for students with exceptional financial need. S.E.O.G. awards may range from $200 to $4,000 per year.
Federal Work-Study Program and Wesleyan Work Study: This is a federal program designed to provide a student the chance to pay part of her educational expenses by working at a part-time job. To be employed under this program, the student must: Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment; show evidence of financial need; and be capable of maintaining good academic standing while employed under this program. This award is not deducted from the student's charges during the billing process. Limited funds are available for campus jobs to students who do not meet the above criteria and we also offer Wesleyan work study.
Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant (GTEG): The GTEG program is an annual tuition grant made available by the state of Georgia to qualified Georgia residents for attendance at approved private colleges in the state. To be eligible for this grant, the student must be a United States citizen who has resided in Georgia for at least 12 months prior to the date of registration for any particular semester, and whose academic load meets the requirements specified by the Georgia Student Finance Commission (presently 12 hours per semester). This grant is not based on financial need. To be considered for the grant, students must file an online application at www.gacollege411.org by the final date of registration.
HOPE Scholarship: Students with the following qualifications are eligible for the Hope Scholarship. The student must: Have graduated from an eligible high school with a 3.0 grade point average, as defined by the HOPE program, or have earned at least a 3.0 grade point average at the college level at specific credit-hour checkpoints. Students who earned a GED or graduated from an ineligible high school or home study program may qualify for a HOPE Scholarship, as an entering freshman, based on their SAT or ACT scores. Be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at an eligible public or private college or university or technical college in Georgia. Meet HOPE's Georgia residency requirements. Meet HOPE's U.S. citizenship or eligible non-citizen requirements. Be in compliance with Selective Service registration requirements. Be in compliance with the Georgia Drug-Free Postsecondary Education Act of 1990. A student may be ineligible for HOPE payment if he or she has been convicted for committing certain felony offenses involving marijuana, controlled substances, or dangerous drugs. Not be in default or owe a refund on a student financial aid program. Maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by the college. Students may receive $3,936 per school year (fall and spring) or $1,968 per semester if enrolled full time. The Hope Scholarship is renewable if the 3.0 cumulative grade point average is maintained.
Georgia's Zell Miller Scholarship Program: Georgia's Zell Miller Scholarship is available to Georgia residents who have demonstrated academic achievement. The scholarship provides money to assist students with their educational costs of attending a HOPE eligible college in Georgia. Students may not receive HOPE and Zell Miller.
The Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program: The Secretary of Education established this loan to assist students or parents in meeting the cost of the student's attendance at a postsecondary school. The Federal Stafford Loan Program has a variable interest rate adjusted annually based on the 91-day T-bill rate (auctioned at the final auction held prior to June 1) plus 3.1 percent with a 9 percent cap.
Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan Program: Under the Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan Program, your lender subsidizes the interest while the borrower is in an in-school, grace, or deferment period. These loans are based on financial need and range from $3,500 to $5,500 per academic year. A dependent or independent undergraduate student may receive a subsidized loan.
Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan Program: Under the Federal Unsubsidized Loan Program, interest accrues monthly. A dependent or independent undergraduate or graduate student may receive an unsubsidized loan.
Federal PLUS Loan Program: Federal PLUS Loans enable parents with good credit histories to borrow to pay the educational expenses of their daughter who is a dependent undergraduate student enrolled at least half time (six credit hours). The yearly limit on the Federal PLUS Loan is equal to the cost of education minus any other financial aid received for the year. The interest rate is 7.21%. The interest rate is adjusted each year on July 1.
Federal Perkins Loans: These federal loans are made to students with exceptional financial need. Students may borrow up to $5,500 per year. No principal is due on the loan or interest charged while the student is enrolled at least half-time and for nine months after studies are terminated. Students may have up to ten years to repay a Perkins Loan at 5 percent interest. Borrowers who become full-time teachers in certain elementary or secondary schools may be qualified for cancellation of part or all of their loan debt. Note: The College reserves the right to change policy. Students should contact the Financial Aid Office or refer to current admission and financial aid publications for updated information on programs and policies.
Alternative Loans: Alternative Loans are private, credit-based loans designed to help students meet postsecondary or graduate education costs not met by other forms of financial aid. It is recommended that all U.S. students take advantage of all available federal aid resources before applying for an alternative loan.