How to Apply for Financial Aid Consideration and Eligibility Criteria

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is required of all applicants for financial aid consideration. It is submitted directly to the U.S. Department of Education by utilizing the studentaid.gov website. You must indicate "Lesley University, 29 Everett Street, Cambridge, MA" and the Title IV School Code "002160" on the application for the filing results to be received by the Financial Aid Office. Students and (if determined necessary by the U.S. Department of Education) parents should complete the entire FAFSA application. Lesley University will receive this information electronically from the U.S. Department of Education within three to five business days after its successful signing and completion.

Priority FAFSA Filing Dates

The Lesley University Financial Aid Office encourages all students to apply for financial aid consideration even if the date of the application is past the above-listed priority dates. The most basic eligibility requirements to receive need-based financial aid consideration are that you must:

• be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen (as defined by the U.S. Department of Education),
• have a valid Social Security number,
• maintain satisfactory academic progress,
• demonstrate financial need (except for certain loans),
• be accepted by the Admissions Office for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certificate in an eligible academic program,
• certify that you are not in default on a federal student loan and do not owe money on a federal student grant,
• certify that you will use federal student aid only for educational purposes.

The Financial Aid Office will make every attempt to complete the application review process in a timely manner when the FAFSA application is filed prior to the above filing dates. The Financial Aid Office will notify students about their financial aid eligibility as well if the U.S. Department of Education mandates that other materials (such as copies of citizenship documentation, federal tax returns or other corroborating documentation) are required to be supplied to the Financial Aid Office before an official award announcement can be made.

In applying for financial assistance, a student is considered for all types of federal, state, and institutional aid programs for which they may qualify. A financial aid package is designed for each student and is communicated to the student in the form of a financial aid award letter. All financial aid is to be used to help the student defray the costs of tuition, fees, room and board, and other educationally related expenses incurred during the academic year. In order to receive financial aid consideration, a student must intend to be registered at least half-time (6 credits) per semester. The only exception is the Federal Pell Grant, which offers limited grant consideration to students enrolled at less than half time status. A description of the application process and a listing of applicable forms can be found at www.Lesley.edu under “Apply for Federal & State Financial Aid.”