Understanding Your Financial Aid Award Letter - Bachelor's Degree Completion Students

This guide will help you understand the different components of your Lesley University bachelor's degree completion financial aid award letter.

Let's start by breaking down the first page.

1. Basic Information

At the top of your award letter, you'll find:

• Your personal contact information on the left side
• Your Lesley student ID number and program information on the right side

2. Annual Costs

The first section breaks down your estimated direct costs for the academic year:

• Estimated tuition based on your anticipated credit enrollment
• Comprehensive fee
• The total estimated direct costs you can expect to be billed

Note: Tuition is calculated based on the number of credits you plan to take. The standard calculation is based on 18 credits per academic year, but your actual costs may vary depending on your specific enrollment.

3. Estimated Financial Aid Awards

This section details all financial aid you've been awarded, which may include:

• Federal Direct Subsidized Loans
• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
• Other types of financial aid
• The total financial aid available to you

4. Estimated Remaining Direct Costs

This section shows:

• Your total estimated direct costs
• The net financial aid available after loan fees
• The remaining amount you'll need to plan for

Important: The net financial aid amount will be slightly less than the total awarded amount due to federal student loan origination fees.

5. Payment Options

There are two common ways to manage remaining costs:

1. Interest-Free Payment Plan
   • Divide your balance into monthly payments
   • No interest charges
   • Managed directly through Lesley University
2. Private Education Loans
   • Available through various lenders
   • Interest rates and terms vary
   • Requires separate application process

6. Additional Costs to Consider

Your award letter includes estimated indirect costs that won't appear on your bill but should be considered in your financial planning:

• Books, supplies, and equipment
• Living expenses
• Other personal expenses

Note: Living expenses are included to give you an idea of costs during the school year, particularly if you may be relocating to the area or need to reduce your earned income to attend Lesley.

7. Semester Breakdown

Page two of your award letter shows:

• How your financial aid is distributed by semester
• Your anticipated number of credits per term

Important: To be eligible for most federal financial aid, you must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) per semester. If you need to change your enrollment information from what is listed on your financial aid letter, let the Financial Aid Team know by submitting a ticket on the Support Hub at support.lesley.edu.

Need More Help?

We understand that this can be a lot of information to absorb. Don't hesitate to reach out if you need help beyond this guide. You can submit a ticket on the Support Hub or call us at 617.349.8760. Don't forget to include your student ID number and specific questions. We'll connect you to a member of the Financial Aid team to assist you.