Together with you and your family, we're interested in helping build a financial plan that makes a Lesley education affordable.

Your eligibility for federal and state aid—and some types of school-based aid—is determined by your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In addition, there are other non-government aid programs that require the FAFSA.

So that we may further customize your financial package, we encourage you to submit the FAFSA (Lesley code: 002160) to ensure you are reviewed for all institutional, state, and federal funds.

• Step 1: FAFSA & Deadlines

  Begin your pursuit of all financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

  Submit the FAFSA when you apply for Lesley University admission, and each year to renew.

  Use Lesley University’s school code: 002160

  Need help?

  • Watch these videos on how to fill out the FAFSA

  Preferred Deadlines

  First-Year Undergraduate Students

  • February 15 for Fall start
  • November 1 for Spring start

  
  Transfer Undergraduate Students

  • March 1 for Fall start
  • November 1 for Spring start

  
  All Massachusetts Undergraduate Students

  Apply no later than May 1, before the beginning of the award year, to be eligible for the MassGrant. If you miss this deadline, Lesley University grant funding won’t replace forfeited funds.

  Threshold Program

  • February 15
  • Threshold always starts in Fall
• Step 2: Additional Documents

  Submit additional documents, if asked.

  The U.S. Department of Education randomly selects 30 percent of applicants to complete a verification process.

  We’ll contact you if we need more information. Current students should check their Lesley email account.
  
  Once you’ve been accepted, log in to your Self-Service account to view your required documents under “My Documents.”

• Step 3: Financial Aid Award Letter

  Tentative Award Letter

  You’ll get a Tentative Award letter first, which is an early estimate of your financial aid.

  If you filed the FAFSA early with estimated tax information, the aid offered in your tentative award letter may change based on your, and your parents’, actual tax return.
  
  The closer your estimates are to the actual amounts on the tax return, the closer the tentative award will be to the final award.

  Final Award Letter

  You’ll get an official Financial Aid Award letter that has:

  • Types of aid that make up your package
  • Estimated costs for your education
  • Estimated out-of-pocket costs
  • Financing options

Scholarships & Grants

Scholarships and grants are free money that you don’t pay back, making them a great way to help finance your education.

There are several sources of scholarship and grant money. Here’s what’s available to you and how you apply for each type.

• Donor-Funded Scholarships

  Donor-funded scholarships are endowed awards made through the generosity of individuals and corporations. There is no separate application process for these awards. The cumulative amount of a student's existing Lesley University Merit Scholarship may be updated during the academic year to include a donor-funded scholarship; however, the total amount of the Lesley University Merit Scholarship will remain the same.

• Early Childhood Education Program Scholarship

  Constance and Lewis Counts, champions of early childhood education and advocates for greater access to higher education, founded a scholarship for students pursuing a degree in early childhood education.

  The Constance and Lewis Counts Scholarship is for:

  • An adult learner enrolled in our Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Studies non-licensure program; or
  • A graduate of the above Early Childhood Studies bachelor’s degree program who is pursuing a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Lesley.

  Amount

  In 2021-2022: one scholarship of $4,000 was awarded.

  We’re looking for applicants who:

  • Are committed to the field of early childhood education.
  • Have a strong interest in multicultural issues.
  • Have a documented financial need.
  • Are enrolled in 6 or more credits for the Fall semester.

  How to Apply 

  This scholarship has been awarded for 2021-2022. Please check back next spring for 2022-2023 information.

  How to Apply:

  1. File for the Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA). Use Lesley University’s code: 002160.
  2. Complete the Lewis and Constance Counts Scholarship application, which includes an essay and your résumé.
• Federal Pell Grant
  • A need-based federal grant for first-time bachelor’s degree students.
  • The U.S. Department of Education determines the eligibility criteria.
  • The maximum amount for 2021–2022: $6,495

  How to Apply

  Fill out the FAFSA. If you’re eligible, the Federal Pell Grant will be included in your financial aid award letter.

• Post-9/11 GI Bill® & Yellow Ribbon Program for Veterans

  Lesley University proudly participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program, making it possible for veterans and their dependents to earn a degree.

  The Post-9/11 GI Bill®, developed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, pays full in-state tuition and fees at public schools. For private schools like Lesley, it covers tuition and fees up to a cap each year. You may qualify for tuition benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill® if you’ve served at least 90 days on active duty since September 11, 2001.

  The Yellow Ribbon Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 GI Bill®. It helps close the gap between the amount the Post-9/11 GI Bill® covers and the actual amount for tuition and fees at private institutions. As a participating school, we’ve dedicated funds for the Yellow Ribbon Program that Veterans Affairs matches dollar for dollar.

  You may qualify for the Yellow Ribbon Program if you:

  • have been honorably discharged from active duty
  • have been released from active duty and placed on the retired list or temporary disability retired list
  • have been released from active duty and transferred to the Fleet Reserve or Fleet Marine Corps Reserve
  • have been released from active duty for further service in a reserve component of the Armed Forces
  • have been honorably discharged from active duty for a service-connected disability and served 30 continuous days since September 11, 2001

  Your dependents may be eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post-9/11 GI Bill®.

  Questions regarding the Post 9/11 GI Bill® or the Yellow Ribbon Program should be directed, Thomas Graves, Registrar Representative and VA Certifying Official at 617-349-8781 or tgraves@lesley.edu.

  * GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site.

• Private Undergraduate Scholarships

  Private scholarships are funds you research and apply for on your own. We’ve compiled a list of places that provide scholarships for undergraduate study.

  Also, check your local high school, library, employer (yours, and your parents’), and clubs to find other funding.

  Lesley University is not responsible for the actions or claims of outside organizations.

  Start your scholarship research here.

• Scholarships & Your Financial Aid

  You got a private scholarship to help pay for your education. Now you may be wondering how this affects your financial aid package.

  In most cases, private scholarships are added to your existing financial aid, and don’t result in a reduction of the total aid.

  There are a few cases where we might need to make adjustments:

  Need-Based Aid

  Adjusted if the total need-based aid is more than your calculated need (which includes tuition, fees, and living expenses).

  Loans or Federal Work-Study

  Are always reduced before any adjustment to the grant portion of an award.

  Merit-Based Aid

  Adjustment required if the total award is more than the cost of tuition and fees.

• State Scholarships & Grants

  Lesley University has agreements with grant agencies in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. That means funds from those 3 states can be disbursed to our full-time undergraduate students.

  Massachusetts Grants

  Grants for Massachusetts residents.

  How to Apply

  Start by filling out the FAFSA. In addition, most of these grants (except for MassGrant) require that you also apply for them through the Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance.

  Your financial aid award letter may include your eligibility for state grants or scholarships, but the state’s higher education office will notify you of your actual award.

  MassGrant

  • A need-based state grant for full-time undergraduate students.
  • To be full-time, you need to take at least 12 credits/semester.
  • Massachusetts Office of Student Financial Assistance notifies students who are eligible, and we (Lesley University) verify that eligibility.
  • We automatically apply the funds to your student account.

  Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant

  • For employed classroom paraprofessionals who want to become full-time certified teachers in a Massachusetts public school.
  • Create a MASSAid Student Portal account and apply for the grant in the portal.
  • Learn more about the Paraprofessional Teacher Prep Grant.

  Early Childhood Educators Scholarship

  • For employed early childhood educators to further their education.
  • You’ll need an active ECE Professional Qualifications Registry number to be eligible.
  • Create a MASSAid Student Portal account and apply for the scholarship in the portal.
  • Learn more about the Early Childhood Educators Scholarship.

  Massachusetts Public Service Grant

  • For students who have experienced the loss of a parent or spouse in the line of public service duty in Massachusetts.
  • Complete the PDF application form on the Massachusetts Office of Financial Assistance website.

  Non-Massachusetts State Grants

  If you live outside of Massachusetts, there may be need-based grants and scholarships available from your state of residence. If you get awarded a need-based non-Massachusetts state grant, your Lesley grant funding may be reduced.

• Study Abroad Scholarships

  Going abroad? There are a few organizations that provide scholarships. Start your research with this list.

  AIFS Study Abroad
  Awards more than $800,000 in scholarships for students enrolled in AIFS Study Abroad programs.

  Benjamin Gilman International Scholarships
  Offers study abroad scholarships for U.S. students who are Pell Grant recipients.

  CIEE
  Offers need-based grants and merit-based scholarships for students enrolled in CIEE study abroad programs.

  Fund for Education Abroad
  Need-based funding for undergraduate students planning on studying abroad for at least 4 weeks.

• Lesley-Somerville ARPA Scholars Application

  Lesley University has been awarded a Federal ARPA grant through the City of Somerville to financially support Somerville residents or individuals employed in Somerville who wish to pursue or advance a professional undergraduate or graduate degree at Lesley University in Social Work, Mental Health Counseling, or Human Services.  

  • New students must apply to and be accepted into one of the eligible programs at Lesley to be considered for ARPA funding.
  • Matriculated students in one of the eligible programs may apply for the ARPA funding. 
  • Accepted applicants for the ARPA funds will receive tuition relief at Lesley University for up to one year during the period from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024. Funding decisions will be made on a funds-available basis. 
  • Lesley’s financial aid team will work with individuals to identify additional funding opportunities beyond the first year of study. 
  • All ARPA funding applicants are required to fill out a FAFSA form regardless of need. 

  
  Apply for ARPA funding

Tuition Discounts

If you earn your bachelor's degree at Lesley, you're eligible for our biggest discount—The Lesley Dividend—where you get 12 free credits toward your Lesley master's degree.

• Lesley Dividend for Graduate School

  If you earn your bachelor’s degree at Lesley, you’re eligible to get 12 free credits toward your Lesley master’s degree.

  And at $650 to $1,130 credit, that’s a huge tuition savings of $7,800–$13,560.

  The award is applied to your tuition over 2 semesters. You’ll get 6 credits of free tuition in your first semester, and 6 free credits in your last semester of graduate study.

  You can even use the Dividend toward an already-discounted dual bachelor’s and master’s degree program, for an even bigger bargain.

  A student cannot use the Dividend in the following instances:

  • For a certificate or non-degree program
  • When advancing from one Master’s program to a second Master’s program
  • When advancing from one Master’s program to a PhD program
  • In conjunction with another discount or institutional scholarship

  
  

  The Dividend for your first 6 credits of study will be applied to your account automatically. To apply the Dividend for your last 6 credits of study, submit a ticket on the Support Hub with your request.

   

Loans

You may be eligible for a few different types of loans. Some federal and state loans are based on the result of your application for federal student aid (FAFSA), and appear on your financial aid award letter if you’re eligible.

Other government loan programs require additional steps to apply for them. And then there are private, non-government loans that you would research and apply for on your own.

For Washington State residents seeking information and resources about student loan repayment or seeking to submit a complaint relating to your student loans or student loan servicer, please visit the Washington Student Achievement Council or contact the Student Loan Advocate at loanadvocate@wsac.wa.gov.

Here are the different types of loans and how to apply for each one.

• Federal Direct Loans

  Federal Direct loans are provided by the U.S. Department of Education, at a fixed interest rate, to help you pay for your undergraduate or graduate education. Because they are backed by the U.S. government, the interest rates are lower than private loans.

  How to Apply

  Fill out the FAFSA. Your financial aid award letter will indicate if you’ve received a Federal Direct loan, and how much. You'll need to accept, decline, or revise (reduce) the loan through your Lesley Self-Service account.

  About Federal Direct Loans

  There are 2 types of Direct Loans you could receive—Unsubsidized and Subsidized.

  Unsubsidized Loan

  • For undergraduate and graduate students.
  • The student is responsible for the interest that accrues.
  • You can make voluntary interest payments while in school, or defer interest payments until they enter repayment.

  
  We recommend you pay the interest when it’s billed each quarter. Otherwise, unpaid interest will be capitalized (added to the principal balance) at the end of the grace period, making the loan more expensive.

  Subsidized Loan

  • A need-based loan for undergraduate students.
  • Interest is subsidized (paid) by U.S. government, up to a set maximum amount, while the student is in school or during grace periods.
  • Interest doesn’t accrue while the student is enrolled at least half-time (taking 6 credits/semester).

  
  Example: You get a $5,500 Direct Loan, and the maximum amount that can be subsidized is $3,500. That means you’d have a $3,500 subsidized loan and a $2,000 unsubsidized loan. 

  Considerations

  Limits

  There is a limit on how much you may borrow each academic year. For undergraduate students, the limit is based on your dependency status and how many completed undergraduate credits are on your Lesley transcript. There is also a limit on how much federal loan funding you may borrow in total, called the "aggregate."

  Origination Fee

  The U.S Department of Education deducts this fee off the top of the loan before sending funds to Lesley University on your behalf.
  
  Example: For a $5,000 loan with a 1 percent origination fee ($50), you’d get $4,950 to use toward your education.

  Learn More

  Learn more about Federal Direct Loans, including annual and aggregate limits, interest rates and fees, and terms and conditions.

• Private Education Loans

  Private (alternative) education loans are monies you borrow from a private lender, not from the federal government. Private loans can cover the difference between the cost of your education and the funds you received from other sources.

  Use these resources to determine the best loan product for you or your family.

  Private Loan Options

  Several private loan products are available to students and parents; however, you should research scholarships, grants, work programs, and Federal Direct Loans before borrowing from a private lender.

  Lenders are on our Private Loan List only because they have notified Lesley University that they offer private educational loans for the current academic year.

  • Undergraduate Private Loan List
  • Graduate Private Loan List
  • International Private Loan List

  
  Research your state's lending agency, local bank, or credit union.

  If you decide to use a lender or loan product not listed on the Private Loan list, notify Lesley’s Financial Aid Office so we can certify your loan of choice.

  Considerations

  Here are some tips for when you research private education loans.

  Know Your FICO Score

  • Lenders use your FICO score to determine your credit risk.
  • The higher the FICO score, the better (lower) the interest rate you'll get on the loan.
  • Estimate your FICO score. Use the Bankrate Free FICO Score Estimator calculator.
  • Obtain your actual FICO score for a fee.
  • FICO scores are a snapshot of your credit risk, and can change.

  
  Improve Your FICO Score

  • Get a free credit report and check it for errors. Fix mistakes before applying for a private loan.
  • Pay bills on time, settle past due accounts, pay down debt, and reduce the percentage of your total credit card balances to below 30 percent of total available credit.
  • Don't cancel a credit card to boost your score. This can cause an immediate, short-term negative effect.
  • Keep your oldest credit cards. The longer credit history you have, the better your FICO score.

  
  Research Options and Rates

  • Determine the lenders you are interested in before completing your first credit application.
  • The approval process for a private loan results in a hard inquiry on your credit report.
  • Having many hard inquiries may reduce your credit score.
  • Multiple applications within 30 days will only result in 1 hard inquiry. Apply to several lenders to find the most competitive rates in this 30-day window.
  • If you apply for more than one private loan, let Lesley's Financial Aid Office know which one you want. We’ll certify the first loan application we receive, and may cancel additional requests.

  
  Questions to Ask About the Private Loan or Lender

  Consider these factors to determine the best private loan product for you.

  Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

  • The principal is the amount you borrowed that remains unpaid, before interest and fees.
  • The APR is the annual cost of your loan, including the effect of any fees or charges in addition to interest.
  • Interest rates may be fixed or variable. A fixed interest rate remains the same throughout the entire loan term. Variable (adjustable) interest rates are subject to change. The rates could increase during the life of the loan, making the loan more expensive.
  • Find out if the lender uses PRIME or LIBOR to determine their interest rates. Lenders using LIBOR typically use the 3-month rate.
  • Learn more about how PRIME and LIBOR rates work.

  
  Interest Capitalization

  When borrowing money, you’ll have to pay interest; it's just a matter of when.

  • Find out when the interest on your loan is capitalized, meaning, when it is added to the principal balance. Ask if this changes during repayment.
  • If you defer paying your loan while in school, you are deferring the principal, interest, and fees. Interest still accrues on the loan while you are in school, and then is added to the principal for you to pay back at the Annual Percentage Rate (APR). This means you will be paying interest on the interest you "borrowed."
  • Making interest-only payments on an alternative loan while in school will drastically reduce the total cost of the loan.

  
  Calculate the Total Cost of the Loan

  Ask the lender about interest rates and fees, and other questions such as:

  • Are there introductory rates that increase over time?
  • Is there an origination fee deducted from the loan before the funds are sent to Lesley University?
  • Are there any fees added after the entire loan has been disbursed?

  
  Loan Limits

  Does the loan have an annual or aggregate limit? Ask yourself if you can afford to borrow within the limits.

  Repayment

  • Does repayment begin immediately or after you graduate or leave school?
  • How long is the repayment period? Are there choices, such as 10 years versus 20 years?
  • Are you rewarded for making on-time payments? Or, are there penalties for repaying the loan early?

  Lender Stability

  • How long has the organization been providing student loans?
  • Are they offering alternative loans through the next 4 years?
  • Does the lender sell its loans? If so, how often? To whom? And with what consequences?

  
  Customer Service

  What services does the lender offer to borrowers?

• Federal Student Loan Repayment

  If you borrowed funds from the U.S. government for your education, there are a few ways you can pay back that loan. Federal student loans are managed by a loan servicer. Your loan servicer will help you navigate your repayment options.

  Income-Driven Repayment Plans

  Income-driven repayment plans are meant to be affordable. Your monthly payments are 10 or 15 percent of your discretionary income. This figure is calculated based on your total income, household size, and U.S. poverty guidelines.

  Each year, you’ll need to send income and household size information to your loan servicer so you can remain on this type of repayment plan.

  If your income decreases or your household size increases at any time, contact your loan servicer to get a new monthly payment amount. You don’t have to wait for the annual review.

  Learn more about income-driven repayment plans.

  Other Repayment Plans

  There are also a few repayment options—Standard, Graduated, and Extended— that aren’t based on your income, and are available to all borrowers.

  Learn more about your other options.

  Next Steps

  Work with your loan servicer to see if you qualify for an income-driven repayment plan, or to figure out which plan is best for your situation.

  Check the National Student Loan Data System for contact information for all federal loan servicers.

• Federal Student Loan Forgiveness

  If you borrow funds from the U.S. government for your education, you may be eligible for a loan forgiveness program. This means you won’t have to pay back all of the money you borrowed.

  There are loan forgiveness programs for teachers, for public service workers, and individuals on an income-driven repayment plan.

  Teacher Loan Forgiveness

  Receive forgiveness for up to $17,500 of your Federal Subsidized or Unsubsidized student loans.

  You may be eligible if you:

  • Teach full-time; and
  • Have taught for 5 full and consecutive years in schools or educational agencies that serve low-income families.

  
  Learn more about Teacher Loan Forgiveness.

  Public Service Loan Forgiveness

  Receive forgiveness for the balance due on your Federal Direct student loans.

  You may be eligible if:

  • You’ve made 120 qualifying payments (10 years) on loans under certain repayment plans; and
  • You made the payments while employed full-time by a qualifying public service employer, such as a government agency or not-for-profit organization.

  The repayment plans that qualify are income-driven­, meaning your monthly payment is based on your income, household size, and the federal poverty guidelines for your area.
  
  Learn more about Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

  Income-Driven Repayment Loan Forgiveness

  If you don’t qualify for public service loan forgiveness, you may have another option.

  You could have your federal student loan balances forgiven if:

  • You’re on a repayment plan based on your income and household size; and
  • You’ve made payments on time for 20 or 25 years.

  Whether you qualify after 20 or 25 years depends on when you became a first-time borrower. You may need to pay income tax on the amount forgiven.

  Learn more about Income-Driven Repayment.

  Considerations

  You may qualify for the Teacher Loan Forgiveness and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

  However, the 5 years of employment for the Teacher Loan Forgiveness does not count toward the 10 years of employment for Public Service program.

  Next Steps

  Work with your loan servicer to see if you’re eligible for a loan forgiveness program.

  Check the National Student Loan Data System for contact information for all federal loan servicers.

• Lender Code of Conduct

  Lesley University does not recommend any particular loan product.

  Review our Lender Code of Conduct for legal information about lending relationships.

Secure your funding and pay your bill.

You’ve applied for federal and state aid, scholarships, and private funding. And you have an idea of your financial picture for the upcoming year.

If you decided to enroll at Lesley, or you are a returning student, you’ll need to complete these steps to secure your funding and to pay your bill.

• Step 1: Accept your award, when applicable.

  Here’s what to do if you see any of these types of funding in your financial aid award letter.

  Federal Direct Loans

  Complete 3 steps so we can credit the loan to your student account.  

  1. Accept or decline the loan in full, or revise (decrease) the loan amount through your Self-Service account within 30 days.
     
     If you revise the loan amount, click “Accept” to finish the step. We’ll notify the U.S. Department of Education so they can certify the loan. If you don’t accept the loan within 30 days, it will get canceled.
      
  2. Sign a Master Promissory Note (PIN) electronically. This is an agreement between you and the U.S. government. It states you understand your responsibilities as Federal Direct Loan borrower. Once you sign, it’s good for 10 years.
      
  3. Complete the U.S. Department of Education’s online Direct Loan Entrance Counseling. This takes 20–30 minutes. 

  
  Federal Perkins Loan or Massachusetts No Interest Loan

  If you have received either of these loans, we’ll email you a promissory note to sign and information about required online loan counseling. Complete the steps by the deadline to secure the funds.

  Scholarships & Grants

  No need to do anything. We’ll apply these funds toward your tuition and fees. 

  Federal Work-Study

  No need to do anything. These funds will be paid to you for the hours you work in a Federal Work-Study job.

• Step 2: Report private or other funding you've received.

  Send notification letters from private scholarships to Lesley's Financial Aid Office.

  Let us know if you have tuition reimbursement, alternative (non-government) loans, or state grant money from a state other than Massachusetts.

  Your total resources can’t exceed the budgeted costs for your education, including tuition, fees, and living expenses. Financial aid from outside resources can be used to reduce your need for federal assistance or loans.

• Step 3: Register for classes.

  Register for classes and independent studies before the end of the add/drop period. This includes submitting consortium agreements (PDF) if you’re taking classes outside of Lesley.

  Changes in your enrollment can affect the amount of aid you receive, and when you receive it. If your plans change, notify Lesley's Financial Aid Office immediately by submitting a ticket on the Support Hub.

  We’ll review your registered credits to confirm your enrollment. We’ll email your Lesley address if your financial aid is at risk.

  Online and Bachelor’s Degree Completion Students

  Use this online form to submit your enrollment changes.

• Step 4: Get your bill, and finalize your financial plan.

  If you’ll have a balance due after your financial aid is applied to your tuition, fees, and other charges, you’ll need to find a way to pay it.

  For example, set up a payment plan or get a loan.

  Contact our Financial Aid Office by submitting a ticket on the Support Hub for support as you finalize your financial plan.

  Set up a payment plan, or pay your bill.

• Step 5: We credit the funds to your student account.

  This process is called “disbursement.” We’ll disburse your financial aid funds once:

  • We’ve confirmed your registration
  • You’ve begun classes, and
  • You’ve completed the steps for accepting certain awards

  
  When will my financial aid be applied to my bill?

  The date you get your funding depends on your program.

  Review disbursement dates.

  If you’re awarded aid after your disbursement date has passed, we’ll credit the funds once you’ve completed the requirements.

  Refunds

  You may have a credit balance if your billed tuition and fees are less than the amount of financial aid applied to your student account.

  In this case, we’ll refund you within 14 days of the disbursement date. Use the refund for living expenses, transportation, or personal expenses you incur as a student.