FINANCIAL AID THAT WILL OPEN DOORS

Study Abroad

If you receive grant, scholarship or loan(s) as part of your aid package, then this aid can also be used to finance the cost of an approved Fall or Winter Term study abroad program. Grants and scholarships will be reduced in relation to the lesser cost of attendance of the study abroad program, but the family overall contribution should remain consistent with an on-campus term at W&L. You must attend the financial aid study abroad presentation in the academic term prior to your study abroad.

Spring Term Abroad

Spring Term Abroad (STA) is a unique part of the Washington and Lee experience. These courses allow students to get an up-close, intensive, and personal experience of the subject matter abroad with a W&L faculty member during the Spring Term. Unlike oncampus Spring Term courses that do not charge additional fees, there are additional fees associated with STA courses to cover travel, accommodation, facilities, and the other educational costs of the course. Any student who is receiving a need-based grant will be eligible for funding to cover the additional expense related to taking a STA course. Students receiving merit scholarships are not automatically eligible for STA grants and must submit a complete need-based aid application to determine their eligibility. Students that are ineligible for need-based aid can request a loan to cover the cost instead.

Johnson Opportunity Grants

Grants are awarded on a competitive basis and are open to rising sophomores, rising juniors and rising seniors at W&L. The grants cover travel, living expenses, and other costs associated with the proposed project or summer activity. Grants are not limited to recipients of the Johnson Scholarship.

Resident Assistant

The W&L Residential Life program offers free housing and a full meal plan for any student hired to the Residential Life Staff (2024-25). First-year students may apply in the fall of 2023 for the academic year 2024-25. The value of housing and meal plan are reflected on the financial aid package as an award; however, it will not reduce any grant or scholarship you are receiving unless the total of all awards exceeds the cost of attendance.

 Students should be aware that application for Residential Life Staff (2024-25), sign up for Spring-Term Abroad (Spring 2024) and application for many summer 2024 internships and research opportunities occur during the Fall Term of 2023.

Greek Life

Financial aid awards do not increase to cover any of the additional costs related to fraternities or sororities. However, your aid award does provide funding (in the form of grant and/or loans) that covers the standard costs for housing and food, and those funds can be used to help pay your housing and food expenses at the Greek organization.

Budget Worksheet

The College Budget Worksheet to the right is a tool to help you in the financial planning of your education for the nine-month academic year. First, determine your income sources such as grants, scholarships, employment earnings, etc. and allocate the resources in the upper sections titled “Income”. Next, calculate your estimated expenses including tuition and fees, housing, food, utilities, books, and auto expenses. Don’t forget to consider discretionary expenses (fun money) in your estimations. Complete the “Expenses” section of the form with your calculated expenses. The “Totals” section subtracts the expenses from the income you allocated and the difference is what you will need to plan for either through savings, loans, or other resources.