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financial aid application forms for
adult and off campus undergraduate students

The steps below outline the financial aid application process for bachelor's degree-seeking students in Lesley University's Adult Bachelor's Programs (both on-campus and off-campus cohort students), Audubon Expedition Institute, and Learning Communities, and provides links to any forms you may need to submit. For forms specific to the Lesley College Online Management program, please click here. Don't hesitate to contact the Office of Financial Aid if you have questions or would like assistance with any part of the process!

Step 1: FAFSA and Institutional Application

Step 2: Verification and Other Required Documents

Step 3: Award Letter, Award Acceptance

Step 4: Disbursement of Funds (Getting the Money)


Step 1: FAFSA and Institutional Application

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an application you submit to the U.S. Department of Education. It is used to determine your eligibility for all types of federal aid, and authorizes Lesley University to disburse funds to you. Lesley also uses the FAFSA to determine your eligibility for institutional need-based grants. For the fastest service, we recommend that you apply online. Please include Lesley University's school code (002160) so that our office can receive it electronically. Don't forget, this form must be filled out each year to renew your financial aid eligibility!

On Campus and Learning Communities Students: You must submit both the FAFSA form and a Graduate/ALD Institutional Financial Aid Application. The institutional application gives us vital information about your enrollment plans.

Massachusetts Cohort Students: If you are applying for the 2009-2010 academic year (September 2009 - August 2010) you must submit the FAFSA form and an Off Campus Application for Financial Aid. Cohorts occurring in the state of Massachusetts tend to have several specializations which result in varied enrollment patterns. The additional form will allow us to make sure your financial aid package accurately reflects your enrollment.

Cohort Students in All Other States: Please complete only the FAFSA, unless we have sent you a letter asking for other documents.

Program Finishers: If the cohort you had previously attended has ended, we need your enrollment plans in order to assemble a financial aid package for you. If you are joining another cohort and plan to continue with its cohort schedule all the way through, simply have your Program Advisor send a Program Change Form to the Registrar's Office. Otherwise, you must submit both the FAFSA form and an Off Campus Application for Financial Aid.

When do I apply?

New students: we recommend applying for aid at the same time as applying for admission. Although we cannot consider you for aid until you are accepted into a program, applying simultaneously will ensure that your materials are ready for processing once you are admitted into Lesley University. For cohort students, we must also wait until your cohort has an approved schedule before determining your eligibility for financial aid, since your eligibility depends on the number of registered credits each semester. However, applying as early as possible will allow us to review your application ahead of time so the awarding process can be expedited once a schedule is approved.

Returning students: We recommend applying for financial aid at least 4 weeks prior to the due date of your first bill of the academic year, to provide sufficient processing time for your financial aid to be deducted from your bill. Bills are due the 15th of the month prior to the start of classes.

The priority deadline for Fall 2009 applicants is June 1, 2009. We continue to accept applications throughout the academic year on a rolling basis, but on campus and Audubon students may . Please note that your state may also have a deadline to file your FAFSA for state grant and scholarship eligibility. The Massachusetts deadline is May 1.

Step 2: Verification and Other Required Documents

After receiving your FAFSA, we will contact you by mail and by email if additional documents are necessary to complete your application. If you have been officially accepted to your academic program, you can also view a list of your required documents on the Lesley Online Information System (LOIS), under the "My Documents" link on the Students menu.

Many students are required to complete a process called verification, which involves submitting your tax returns and other information used in completing the FAFSA to our office. If you are selected for verification, there is no cause for concern! About 30% of students are selected for this process on a random basis by the Department of Education.

Only submit these forms if we request them. Submitting documents that we do not require could needlessly lengthen the application process.

Please fill out either the Dependent or Independent Verification Worksheet based on which one we have requested from you. If you are unsure of which one you need to complete or if you feel we have asked you for the incorrect version please contact our office with any questions.

  • 2009-2010 Verification Forms (for the September 2009 - August 2010 Academic Year)
    • Dependent Verification Worksheet [pdf] - attach signed copies of your parent(s)' 2008 federal tax return (if they filed) and W-2s, as well as your 2008 federal tax return (if you filed) and W-2s.
    • Independent Verification Worksheet [pdf] - attach signed copies of your 2008 federal tax return (if you filed), as well as all W-2s for yourself and your spouse if applicable.
  • 2008-2009 Verification Forms (for the September 2008 - August 2009 Academic Year)
    • Dependent Verification Worksheet [pdf] - attach signed copies of your parent(s)' 2007 federal tax return (if they filed) and W-2s, as well as your 2007 federal tax return (if you filed) and W-2s.
    • Independent Verification Worksheet [pdf] - attach signed copies of your 2007 federal tax return (if you filed), as well as all W-2s for yourself and your spouse if applicable.

Other Forms

The forms below may be requested when more detail or clarification is needed for your Financial Aid Application. Please do not submit any of these forms unless you have received a letter or email from our office specifically requesting them. Submitting documents that we do not require could needlessly lengthen the application process.

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Step 3: Award Letter, Award Acceptance

Once we have reviewed your FAFSA and all other documents requested by our office, we will send you a Financial Aid Award Letter. For more information on the types of aid that may be included on this award letter, and the terms and conditions of your award, please follow the links below:

We assume that you want any need-based grants that have been offered, and you don't have to accept these awards. However, any loans that you have been offered will require additional steps before they can be credited to your student account.

Please take note of the expected enrollment per semester listed on your Financial Aid Award Letter. The amounts offered on your Award Letter are based on that enrollment (which was reported by you on your Graduate/ALD Institutional Financial Aid Application if you are an on campus or Learning Communities student, or based on your cohort schedule if you are a cohort student). If your enrollment plans change, you must notify our office immediately, because your financial aid eligibility may be jeopardized.

Step 4: Disbursement of Funds (Getting the Money)

Financial aid for a given semester is credited to your student account ("disbursed") after the add/drop period for each semester has ended. The Financial Aid Office confirms your enrollment before disbursing your aid. In order to receive your maximum eligibility for federal and state grants, you must register for all classes, including independent studies, and must have submitted any required consortium agreements before the end of each semester's add/drop period.

Your financial aid is used first to pay your tuition, fees, and any other direct charges that you owe the university for the given semester. Any remaining funds will be mailed to you in the form of a refund check by the Student Accounts Office approximately 10 days after the disbursement date. Please take these dates into account if you are planning to use financial aid towards living expenses off campus.

If you are awarded financial aid after your disbursement date has passed, your funds will be disbursed as soon as possible once all requirements have been completed by you.

Upcoming Disbursement Dates:

On Campus and Audubon Students:
Fall 2009: September 28, 2009
Spring 2010: February 9, 2010
Summer 2010: June 21, 2010

Learning Communities Students:
Fall 2009: September 28, 2009
Spring 2010: March 29, 2010

Cohort Students: Funds are disbursed the Tuesday after you begin your second three-credit course for each semester, because most types of undergraduate aid require at least 6 credits of enrollment.

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updated 09/09/09 | 11:45 AM
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