Financial Aid

A: The FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It’s a single online application (at Studentaid.gov) that the government and colleges use to determine your eligibility for financial aid – including federal grants, loans, and work-study, as well as many state aid programs. Every student who wants financial aid should complete the FAFSA. It’s free to file, and it’s not as daunting as it sounds. The form asks for financial information about your family (like income and taxes) to calculate how much aid you qualify for. Bottom line: Submit the FAFSA so you can access available funds to help pay for college. Even if you think your family income is too high for need-based aid, filing the FAFSA ensures you’re considered for all options – and it’s required for federal student loans and some merit scholarships too. Don’t worry, we’ll help you if you need it!

A: For most students, the FAFSA is the only application needed for financial aid at Wesleyan. We do not require the CSS Profile or any additional institutional financial aid form. If you’re a Georgia resident, as mentioned above, the FAFSA also covers your application for HOPE, Zell Miller, and GTEG state aid. (Alternatively, Georgia offers the GSFAPP on the GAfutures website for state aid only, but if you do the FAFSA, you don’t need to do GSFAPP.) The only other “forms” you might encounter would be verification documents (which we’ll request only if you’re selected for FAFSA verification) or perhaps separate scholarship applications for a few of our special programs. For instance, Wesleyan’s premier scholarships (like specific talent or interest-based awards) may require an interview, audition, or portfolio, but we will notify you if you’re eligible to apply for any of those. In short: focus on your admission application and FAFSA – those unlock the majority of aid available.

A: Yes! Wesleyan College students who are Georgia residents can absolutely benefit from the HOPE Scholarship or Zell Miller Scholarship, just as they would at a public university. If you graduate high school with HOPE or Zell Miller eligibility, those scholarships come with you to Wesleyan. The HOPE Scholarship for private college students is a set amount (approximately $2,985 per semester for full-time students at Wesleyan currently). Zell Miller Scholars receive a slightly higher amount (since Zell is awarded to students with a higher GPA/test criteria – essentially it covers full tuition at public institutions, and at private colleges it provides an elevated annual scholarship). You’ll also receive the Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant – a state grant of about $575 per semester for Georgia residents attending a private college. These will all be included in your financial aid package if you qualify. Important: Just be sure you’ve done your FAFSA (or Georgia aid application) so that the state knows you’re attending Wesleyan. We handle the rest by certifying your enrollment. Many of our students combine HOPE/Zell with Wesleyan’s institutional scholarships for an even lower net cost.

A: Great news: the vast majority of Wesleyan’s scholarships for incoming first-year students do not require a separate application. When you apply for admission, you’re automatically considered for all our standard merit scholarships (academic awards based on your high school GPA, test scores, etc.). If you are admitted, we’ll award the appropriate merit scholarship in your acceptance letter. We also have some special scholarship programs (for example, awards for fine arts majors, legacy students, or other specific criteria) – a few of those might involve extra steps like an interview, portfolio, or audition. However, we will invite you to apply or schedule an audition if you meet the qualifications for those programs. You won’t accidentally miss out – our admissions and financial aid teams coordinate to ensure every student gets full consideration for everything they’re eligible for. Just keep an eye on your email and our scholarship website for any such opportunities. But again, your automatic merit scholarship is guaranteed upon admission, with no separate paperwork needed.

A: We begin crafting financial aid offers as early as December for students who are admitted Early Action and have a FAFSA on file. Typically, if you apply in the fall and submit your FAFSA by around January, you can expect to receive an initial financial aid award letter by late winter (Dec–March). For Regular Decision applicants, award letters usually go out soon after admission decisions (which at Wesleyan is rolling). We will send your aid offer via email, and you may also get a paper copy in the mail. The email will have instructions on logging into the Wesleyan portal to view your full award details and accept your aid online. Keep in mind, your package might be updated if new information comes in (for example, if you earn a new scholarship or if there’s a change after verification). If you pay your enrollment deposit, we’ll continue to keep you updated and work with you over the summer on finalizing everything. Bottom line: you won’t be in the dark – our goal is to get you your financial aid information as soon as possible so your family can make an informed college decision. And if you’re ever wondering about the status, just contact us!

A: We understand that the FAFSA may not tell the whole story of your family’s finances. If you have a significant change in circumstance (like a job loss, unusual medical expenses, etc.) or something that isn’t reflected in the tax info on your FAFSA, let us know. Wesleyan has an appeal process where we can review additional documentation and potentially adjust your aid offer to reflect your current need. Also, if a change happens mid-year (after you’ve received aid), don’t hesitate to reach out – we can’t promise an increase in every case, but we’ll do everything we can to find you extra assistance if warranted. Our counselors are compassionate and will guide you through the appeal or special circumstance consideration process. Additionally, we can help with advice on budgeting, finding additional scholarships, or setting up a payment plan to spread payments if needed. The key is: communicate with us. We’re on your side and want to help keep you on track at Wesleyan.

A: No, you are not required to borrow loans if you don’t need or want them. When we create your financial aid package, we include federal student loans as an option because many students choose to use them as a tool to invest in their education. However, it’s entirely up to you and your family to decide. You can accept the amount you’re comfortable with – even $0. Wesleyan’s approach is to maximize scholarships and grants (free money) first, then present loans as a secondary resource to cover any remaining gap. Many students use the federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans because they have low fixed interest rates and flexible repayment, but again, the choice is yours. If you decline a loan or take a smaller amount, just be sure you have another plan (like family contributions or a payment plan) to cover your bill. We’re happy to discuss what loan level, if any, makes sense for you. And remember, loans can be reduced or canceled even after you’ve accepted them, if you change your mind or get additional funds. We’ll work with you to ensure your financing plan is as comfortable as possible.

A: Some families see the word “verification” and worry – but don’t stress. Verification is a routine process where the government randomly selects about 1 in 3 FAFSA applicants to provide backup documents. If you’re selected, it doesn’t mean you did anything wrong or that you won’t get aid; it just means we need to collect a bit of paperwork (like copies of W-2s or a verification worksheet) to confirm the data on your FAFSA. The Financial Aid Office will notify you of exactly what’s needed. Simply send in those documents (we’ll provide instructions – often it can be done electronically). Once everything is verified, we’ll finalize your aid offer. Your grants and loans won’t be held up as long as you complete the process. Don’t panic – we’re here to help you through it and answer any questions. Many families complete verification every year with no issues. Tip: To minimize chances of errors, use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool on the FAFSA if available (it imports tax info directly). But if you get selected anyway, just follow up with us promptly. We’ll make it as smooth as possible.

A: Wesleyan’s Business Office will send you a tuition bill for each semester, typically in July for the fall and December for the spring. The bill will show your charges (tuition, fees, housing, etc.) minus your financial aid (grants, scholarships, loans that are applied). The remaining balance is what you owe out-of-pocket for that semester. Many families choose to set up a monthly payment plan to spread that balance over several months – this can make budgeting easier. For example, instead of one large payment in August, you might pay in 5 smaller installments from August to December. We do offer installment plans; information on how to enroll in one will come with your bill (or you can contact the Business Office to set it up). If your family prefers to pay the semester in full up front, that’s fine too. We just want to be flexible so that payments can fit your budget. Important: your financial aid (scholarships, grants, accepted loans) will be credited to your account at the start of each semester, as long as you’ve completed all requirements. So be sure you’ve signed any loan promissory notes, completed verification, etc., before the semester begins. If you have any concerns about making a payment, talk to us – we can often find a solution or short-term deferment to help.