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Colleges / Wellesley College

Wellesley College

Wellesley, MA 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate20%
Acceptance Rate20%

Wellesley College Tuition Information

In 2022, tuition for full-time Wellesley College students was $61,584 a year.

In 2022, tuition increased 1.92%–from $60,424 the previous year. On average, colleges raise tuition about 3% each year.

Remember, the total cost of tuition isn't the final cost for attending college. Many students owe a lot less than the sticker price after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are awarded. And, student loans can make theprice of collegemore manageable until you're done with college.

In-state vs. Out-of-state Tuition at Wellesley College

Wellesley College is a private, nonprofit institution, which means it has the same tuition for residents of Massachusetts as it does for residents from other states.

Public schools receive funds from the state to help them cover costs. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Choosing a college where you qualify for in-state tuition can cut the cost of college tuition. Be sure to confirm your state's eligibility criteria for in-state residency. Every state has its own rules about what makes someone eligible for in-state tuition. In many states, students must have lived in the state for 12 months before starting school to qualify for in-state tuition. There may be other criteria as well, depending on where you live.

Explore other Massachusetts colleges

Do International Students Pay More to Go to Wellesley College?

Tuition at Wellesley College is the same for every student.

Students from outside of the U.S. usually do not qualify for for loans or grants from the U.S. government, but should research private or school-specific aid and scholarships. International students with need may qualify for the following types of financial support at Wellesley College:

•On-campus jobs •Wellesley College-specific loans •Wellesley College-specific scholarships


Wellesley College Room, Board, Fees, and More


Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when estimating the cost of attendance for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Wellesley College.

House and Food Costs at Wellesley College

Housing and campus dining at Wellesley College is $19,080 a year. This number covers the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a meal plan that enables you to eat all or some of your meals the Wellesley College's on-campus cafeterias and dining halls.

Meal-plan costs vary based on on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

How Much Do Books Cost at Wellesley College?

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The actual cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy used textbooks and materials.

Annual Fees

Most schools charge some yearly fees to help cover the cost of facilties, like the computer labs and libraries, athletic facilities, and more.

There may be additional fees associated with participating in certain activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Most colleges have resources so that those with demonstrated need to get help covering these costs.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation costs at Wellesley College

The cost of getting around in college depends on a few key factors. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Is on-campus parking free, or will you need to budget for parking? Is the campus walkable? Do you plan to bring a car or are you planning to use busses, subways, or other modes of transportation? All of these questions can drastically impact your estimated cost of transportation. Keeping in mind, first-year students are not allowed to park a car on campus.

Where are a college is located can impact your transportation budget. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the other hand transportation in a city is often pricey, but there may be more trains, busses and affordable flights to actually get to school. The Wellesley College campus is in a suburban setting in Massachusetts, not far from Boston.

Other Costs

When estimating your budget for college, don’t forget to factor in personal expenses, like entertainment, clothes, furnishings and toiletries.


Financial Breakdown for Wellesley College


Now, let’s do a rundown of all of the costs associated with college, to get a better idea of the actual cost of attending Wellesley College.

Total Cost of Wellesley College

What will the cost of attending Wellesley College be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2022 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition $61,584
Room and Board $19,080
Other expenses $1,250

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus $83,050
Off-Campus $64,970

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.


Financial Aid at Wellesley College


The majority of Wellesley College undergrads use financial aid to finance their education. In 2022, 1,373 of the 2,280 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Wellesley College meets 100% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $64,345 a year. Around 38% of Wellesley College undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Wellesley College graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $19,297 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans $10,010
State Loans $44,813
Wellesley College-Specific Loans $7,969
Private Loans $40,110
Most Common Loans for Wellesley College Students
Federal Loans 33%
State loans 1%
Institutional Loans 24%
Private loans 4%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Wellesley College financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Wellesley College

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2022, Wellesley College awarded 1,353 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $82 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $1.36 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Wellesley College

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Wellesley College students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Wellesley College was $64,345 in 2022. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Wellesley College seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus $18,705
Off-Campus $625

What will attending Wellesley College really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families make more informed decisions about the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Wellesley College's net cost calculator on their website.

Wellesley College Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Wellesley College offers an Installment Payment Plan, which allows students to pay tuition in a series of smaller chunks instead of one lump sum.

Wellesley College Tuition Waivers

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to offset the cost of attending. Some schools offer tuition waivers for faculty, staff, and their families , underrepresented students, or military students. Even with a tuition waiver, students are usually responsible for housing, meal plans, and other expenses.

Wellesley College has some full or partial tuition waivers available for: - Employees or Children of Employees

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.


Learn More About Wellesley College


Choose one of the options below to find out more about about Wellesley College:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about Wellesley College

Wellesley College Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$81,800

In State

$81,800

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$61,584
$61,584
Fees
$336
$336
Housing
$19,080
$19,080
Books
$800
$800

Wellesley College Financial Aid

Students Who Receive Need-Based Aid

58%

Average Financial Aid Package

$57,044

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

2,280

Campus Setting

Suburban

Acceptance Rate

20%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$61,920

Out-of-State

$61,920

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Jan 8
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