How is the Financial Aid at Wesleyan?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Wesleyan University
1

<p>I'm considering applying ED to Wes this fall, but I'm a bit concerned about financial aid. I plan to talk to the financial aid office to get an unofficial estimate based on my family's finances, but I thought I'd ask here, too. Do upper-middle classers tend to get enough aid at Wesleyan? What is your experience with financial aid here?</p>

2

<p>Run the net price calculator on the website for Wes and other colleges you are interested in. Upper middle classes applicants tend to NOT get very good need based aid anyplace. “Enough aid” is in the eye of the beholder. If your parents make $150K (picking that number because you said upper middle class), you won’t get much aid anyplace.</p>

3

<p>My family recently bought a business, so the net price calculator likely won’t be too accurate, which is why I’m asking for a general sense, but thanks.</p>

4

<p>Oops. They DO meet full need. But they are no longer need blind for admissions. This means that your ability to pay will be considered when your admissions application is reviewed.</p>

5

<p>My dad owns a small business that lost money in the past year (however he owns the building completely so that’s an asset). My parents are divorced and my mom is remarried (I have to include her husband’s financial info). Dad makes $40K, mom makes $20K, and stepdad makes $70K. In the CSS profile, I was able to say whether or not my noncustodial parent (mom) would be paying anything, and since she isn’t, I mentioned it. I don’t really know how that affected my aid. As for me, I have $2000ish in savings. I ended up getting a $49K award, so I have to pay ~$16K. Honestly, I have no idea what good aid is, but they meet full need, so it must be pretty good (however I think the college determines your financial need, so…). </p>

6

<p>Look at other schools with better endowments that don’t have this schools attitude. It isn’t worth the money. William and Mary is a better school, in a better place for less money, as is BC. </p>

7

<p>Was this the same attitude you noticed at… Hamilton?</p>

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<p>@AgilityAce

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<p>According to the Center for College Affordaility and Productivity, Boston College graduates incur an average debt load that is twice that of Wesleyan’s. The same is true for William and Mary (so, beware OOS applicants, due dilligence is necessary even when the college in question is a public institution):</p>

<p><a href=“CollegeLifeHelper.com - Helping College Students Online!”>CollegeLifeHelper.com - Helping College Students Online!;

<p>Questions of “attitude” and fit aside, no two families are alike in terms of their finances. The best advice is to apply to a range of colleges in terms of selectivity - avoid binding early decision - and compare award packages once you get them. Comparing “sticker prices” will get you nowhere. </p>

9

<p>@circuitrider

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According to the Center for College Affordaility and Productivity, Boston College graduates incur an average debt load that is twice that of Wesleyan’s.

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<p>Actually, let me walk that back a bit. We don’t know what the average debt load is for any of the colleges listed by the CCAP, only how many scores below each other they rank. And, since the raw scores between any two schools is probably minute (based on the evidence from other polls) we can only say for sure, that BC and W&M are twice as far from a perfect score of “0” debt as Wesleyan is.</p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

10

<p>Thanks @circuitrider‌. Also, @AgilityAce‌ , I’m not consider those schools because they aren’t a good fit for me. Please don’t post on other people’s posts that ask about a specific college and talk about other colleges. The OP has, like me, likely already ruled out those schools and you’re just wasting your breath while being unsupportive. </p>