Each year, Wheaton attempts to fund as many financially eligible students as possible. Eligible students who complete the aid application process by the required deadline may receive a financial aid award. This award could include a combination of scholarship, grant, loan and work assistance from federal, state, and institutional resources.
Students should review their award letters carefully. The award letter may contain important messages or instructions to indicate that additional action is needed in order for a student to receive their financial aid award. The back of the award letter contains important information regarding the Terms and Conditions of the Financial Aid Award.
Sources of Financial Assistance on this page
Federal Aid Programs
Wheaton College participates in a variety of federal aid programs sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. To find out more about following the programs including eligibility requirements, please visit the Federal Student Aid web site for information on the following programs:
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Campus-Based Aid (SEOG Grant and Work Study)
- Federal Direct Student Loans (Subsidized and Unsubsidized)
More information regarding federal financial aid such as the Federal Student Aid Estimator and the student loan simulator can be found at the Federal Student Aid web site.
Institutional Aid Programs
Wheaton Grants
The college funds these need-based student grants with general scholarship resources, income from endowed funds, and annual gifts from alumni, parents, and friends. Awards range from $2,000 to $40,000 and need not be repaid. Students may receive institutional funding for a maximum of 8 semesters.
Recipients of need-based financial aid must reapply each year, providing updated family financial information. To the extent that your family’s financial situation does not change, your award will be consistent from year to year. This means that your Wheaton grant and scholarship funding would be renewed at the same amount from one year to the next. For financial planning purposes, families should expect an increase in comprehensive fees each year in the range of 3-4%. This is not covered by Wheaton’s institutional need-based grant program. Federal Direct Loan limits do increase between the freshman to sophomore and sophomore to junior years, enabling students to cover some of the increase in comprehensive fees through the Federal Direct program loan limits. Academic scholarships and merit awards do not change from one year to the next, and renewal is based on maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Wheaton Work
Student employment at Wheaton is designed to help students defray college expenses and to provide student employment supervisors assistance in carrying out their day-to-day responsibilities in the work place. Aid recipients (those with Federal Work funding) have a campus earnings opportunity built into their financial aid awards, and therefore, have priority for campus jobs.
In collaboration with the Life and Career Design Institute, the Student Employment Office recommends methods for making the student-supervisor work relationship mutually beneficial and productive. The many and varied available jobs allow students the opportunity to learn valuable skills and personal development which they will find beneficial, now and in the future.
Please visit Student Employment Program for more information.
State Aid Programs
State Scholarships/Grants
Massachusetts has reciprocal state scholarship agreements with Pennsylvania and Vermont. State scholarships awarded to students from these states can receive their scholarships while at Wheaton.
State Scholarships not packaged as part of an initial financial aid award will reduce need based institutional grant aid dollar for dollar. In addition, Wheaton will not replace anticipated state scholarship awards with institutional funds for students who fail to complete the application process.
Students should check with their state scholarship office for specific eligibility information and application deadlines. To maximize the chances of being eligible for state assistance, we recommend that families complete the FAFSA application by the appropriate state deadline.
Gilbert Grants
The Gilbert Grant Program is made up of funds allotted to Wheaton by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Awarded to high-need residents of the state, Gilbert Grants usually range from $500 to $2,500.