Cost & aid
What it costs
In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $51,593 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $27.3K more than the national median. The 54% who received grants paid $22,174 on average; the other 46% paid the full sticker price of $86,290.
- Full price
- $86,290 a year
- tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
- Need-based aid
- Published data end at $110K
- use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
- Merit aid
- None
- all grants are need-based
Cost by family income
Per year for a typical family of four with one child in college. Up to $110K it is the average price federal aid recipients paid (2023–24).
Hover, tap, or use the arrow keys to read the price at an income.
- Published federal figures
View as a table
| Family income | Price per year |
|---|---|
| $0–30K | $3K a year |
| $30–48K | $3K a year |
| $48–75K | $7K a year |
| $75–110K | $12K a year |
| $150K | Published data end at $110K |
| $200K | Published data end at $110K |
| $250K | Published data end at $110K |
| $300K | Published data end at $110K |
| $350K | Published data end at $110K |
| $400K and above | Published data end at $110K |
At $150K: Published data end at $110K
Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for a number.
Your own number depends on the details below, so use the college's calculator for it.
What can change this
- Savings and investments above a typical amount raise the price. The curve assumes typical assets.
- Home equity: some colleges that use the CSS Profile count it. Check this college's own aid page or calculator.
- Divorced or separated parents: colleges with their own formula usually ask for both parents' finances.
$51,593
Tuition, housing, food, books & other expenses, after grants · 2023–24
54% got grants averaging $64,116; 46% got none.
Who pays what
Share of first-year students, 2023–24.
Housing and food use the college's on-campus rates, so the estimate runs high where many students live at home. “Other expenses” is the college's estimate of personal and transportation costs. Loans aren't subtracted because they're repaid.
$10K
≈ $106/month for 10 years
2.4 yrs
of median salary to cover 4 years of net price
About 1 in 6 undergrads borrows federally.
Everyone who borrowed and left, whether or not they graduated.
Three years into repayment
Where former undergraduates stand on their federal loans.
- Paid in full45–49%
- Paying it down25–29%
- Payments paused15–23%
- Not paying it down0–5%
- Behind or in default0–10%
- Forgiven or discharged0–5%
Some shares are published as a small range to protect privacy.
Who actually gets aid
Aid generosity
GenerousGrants cover 40% of the $86,290 full price on average across all first-years (generous), more than at 50% of colleges. The sticker price overstates what most students here actually pay.
$34,697 in grants per first-year ÷ $86,290 full price.
Who gets grants and scholarships
Full-time first-year students (571), 2023–24
About 1 in 2 first-year students got no grant aid and paid the full sticker price of $86,290.
Where the aid comes from
Share of first-year students receiving each; averages are per recipient.
Aid by family income
The whole first-year class (571)
- Federal aid + grants197avg grant $66K
- Grants, no federal aid112avg grant $60.7K
- No grants262pay full price
Students with grants but no federal aid usually got the college's own need-based aid (without federal loans or Pell) or merit aid.
By family income: only students who received federal aid (214 of 571), because income is only reported for them.
From Wellesley College's Common Data Set
First-years and all full-time undergraduates, 2024–25.
| First-years | All full-time | |
|---|---|---|
| Have financial need | 56%320 students | 52%1,186 students |
| Average aid package | $72,294 | $72,999 |
| Average need-based grant | $71,018 | $70,519 |
| Average need-based loan | $1,113 | $1,640 |
| Merit aid without need | – | 0%average $55,716 |
6% of the college's own grant dollars were awarded without regard to need.
Each college decides what a family needs, so “100% of need met” can mean different prices at different colleges. Merit awards that went toward a student's need count as need-based here.
Applying for aid
For fall 2026 entrants.
Priority date: January 15 · Aid offers: about April 1 · Reply by: May 1
Dates for fall 2026 entrants; the next cycle's are usually similar.
International students
Need-based aid offered.
International applicants file: the college's own form.
Sources:IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, 2023–24;College Scorecard, most recent release;Wellesley College Common Data Set 2025–26, 2024–25;Wellesley College Common Data Set 2025–26, 2025–26;Wellesley College Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2026 entrants;IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD), 2025–26;Wellesley College (2026–27), 2026–27;Common Data Set, most recent releaseAbout the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)