Private Scholarships

We encourage students to pursue private scholarship awards. Scholarships are grant awards that do not have to be paid back, therefore, they can be a valuable component to your college financing plan. We have compiled a list of scholarships that may be of interest to you. It is available by viewing our scholarship list. A hard-bound copy of this list is available by visiting the financial aid office during our normal business hours.

Scholarship Search:

Many resources exist for identifying and applying for private scholarships on both the local and national level, including high schools and local libraries, employment and extra-curricular activities, and parents' places of employment. Today, the Internet is one of the best resources for identifying and applying for private scholarships. The following web-sites offer on-line scholarship information and search services:

College Board
College Net
Finance Authority of Maine (FAME)
Fast Web
FinAid
Gates Millennium Foundation (private scholarship links)
Go College
Peterson's
The Sallie Mae Fund - Scholarship Search
Scholarship America
Scholarship America - Dollars For Scholars
Scholarship Experts
Scholarship Resource Network (SRN) Express
Scholarships.com
Student Rewards
Student Scholarship Search
USA Funds - College Answer Free Scholarship Search
Yahoo! Scholarship Search

Resources for
Study Abroad and International Students:

AIFS Study Abroad
Council on International Educational Exchange
International Education Financial Aid
International Student
Institute of International Education

Resources for
Graduate Students:

Ford Foundation National Academies Fellowships

Resources for
Spanish Speaking Students:

FinAid.org - Spanish

How will a private scholarship affect my financial aid award?

In most cases private scholarships are added to any existing financial aid, and do not result in a reduction of existing financial aid. An adjustment in need-based aid will be required only if the total need-based aid exceeds the calculated need. Self-help aid (such as loans and Federal Work-Study) will always be reduced before any adjustment to the grant portion of an award. An adjustment in merit-based aid will be required only if total awards exceed the cost of attendance.

Notification letters from private scholarship donors should be submitted to:

Lesley University
Financial Aid Office
29 Everett St.
Cambridge, MA 02138

or by fax to: (617) 349-8667