Types of Aid
At Wesleyan, we believe that every student, no matter their financial background, should have the opportunity to pursue an education that will shape their future.
We understand that the cost of college can feel like a significant undertaking for students and their families. That’s why accessibility and affordability are central to Wesleyan’s financial aid philosophy.
To help make a Wesleyan education attainable, we offer a range of need-based financial aid options, including grants and opportunities for on-campus employment, to ensure all students have the support they need.
Navigating Financial Aid Together
Wesleyan is small by design, but we do things in a big way. Big, as in awarding more than $75 million in need-based aid each year. Our Financial Aid offers are called “packages” because we bundle many types of aid together. We include self-help in the forms of work-study and summer earnings expectations in our packages, which allow students to both earn money toward indirect expenses and gain valuable work experience during their academic journeys.
Grants and Scholarships
Grants and Scholarships
Government Grant Programs
Pell and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG) may contribute to your grant award if you are eligible.
Wesleyan Institutional Need-Based Grant
This grant covers your remaining total college costs up to the amount that your demonstrated financial need exceeds the value of your self-help amount.
Other Opportunities
- Small start-up grants of $500 are provided to first-year students whose parents are contributing $7,000 or less to Wesleyan
- Students with high need may receive a Wesleyan institutional grant for health insurance. These grants are awarded automatically to independent, undocumented, DACA and international students and to other students based on parental income/assets if they do not have comparable coverage.
Self Help
For first-year students, a work-study component of $2,750 will be included in your financial aid package. Work-study is funded by the federal government and Wesleyan University.
Federal work-study is available to eligible U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Students who earn funds to contribute toward their educational expenses may work on campus or at select off-campus locations. Institutional work-study funded by Wesleyan (for international students, undocumented students, DACA students, and certain U.S. domestic students) has the same provisions as the federal work-study program, except employment must occur at on campus sites.
Outside Funding and Scholarships
We allow outside grants and scholarships to be applied to certain specific college costs. Go to your local library, high school guidance counselor’s office, local businesses and civic organizations, and your parents’ places of employment to discover viable options; and/or conduct research on search engines such as fastweb.com and www.finaid.org.
Tuition Remission Policy
Wesleyan’s Tuition Remission policy follows that of our Outside Scholarship. If a parent receives tuition remission benefits from their employer, the self-help portion of the student’s financial aid package will be reduced or replaced. Tuition remission benefits greater than these amounts will be used to reduce or replace a student's summer earning expectation. If the tuition remission benefit is in excess of the above, the Wesleyan scholarship will be adjusted dollar-for-dollar to ensure that the student’s total aid does not exceed the Cost of Attendance. Tuition Remission benefits will not reduce or replace the Parent Contribution.
Our Promise
We pledge to meet 100% of a student’s demonstrated financial need—without loans—for all who are eligible for need-based financial aid, regardless of family income.
Each year, many Wesleyan students receive outside scholarships or grants in recognition of their outstanding academic and extracurricular achievements. Students are encouraged to seek outside scholarships, as they are a great way to reduce or cancel the “self-help” portion of a financial aid package.
At Wesleyan, our policy is to use outside scholarships to reduce or replace the work study expectation (i.e. the “self-help”) portion of a student’s financial aid package. Outside scholarships greater than that amount will be used to reduce or replace a student’s summer earnings expectation. If an outside scholarship is in excess of the above, a student may request that the scholarship be applied toward the cost of the university-sponsored health insurance plan (if applicable), or the outside scholarship can be used towards a one-time computer or laptop purchase of up to $1,500. If a student is interested in this option, please contact the Financial Aid Office prior to this purchase. Documentation of the purchase is required.
If outside scholarships exceed the amounts of the above items, Wesleyan scholarship will be adjusted dollar-for-dollar to ensure that a students’ total aid does not exceed the Cost of Attendance. An outside scholarship will not reduce or replace the Parent Contribution.
State scholarships and grants received will reduce Wesleyan Scholarship dollar-for-dollar.
If an outside scholarship replaces work-study in your financial aid award, you may find employment even if you are no longer eligible. If you wish to work on campus, review the employment opportunities available in the Handshake system.
Financial Aid for Current Students
Get in Touch
Financial Aid Office
860-685-2800 860-685-2800 • finaid@wesleyan.edu
