Financial Aid & Scholarships

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One of the most affordable, private universities in New England, our number one priority is to make your college education both financially feasible and an investment in your life plan.

The philosophy of the Student Financial Services Department is to make Bay Path University affordable for all candidates who apply for admission. We offer the following forms of financial aid to our traditional first-year and transfer students.

Pell Grant Free Tuition Program

If you are a residential transfer student for Spring 2022 or a first-year, first-time, traditional student for fall 2023 and qualify for a Pell Grant, you will receive free tuition to Bay Path University. Bay Path believes that every female student nationally should be able to attend college and that your financial situation should not stand in the way. Learn more about our Pell Grant Free Tuition Program.

Signature Scholarship Competition Program

The competition for Fall 2023 entrants has concluded. Thank you to everyone who participated!

The Bay Path University Signature Scholarship Competition Program provides prospective first-year, first-time undergraduate students the opportunity to compete for a limited number of scholarship awards, ranging from $500 to full tuition.

Need-Based Scholarships

For students who do not qualify for a Pell Grant, we attempt to meet your financial need with a combination of scholarships, on-campus jobs, and loans. Click here for more information.

Academic Scholarships

For students enrolling in Bay Path University programs except for our Physician Assistant PAthway Program, Bay Path offers academic scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $20,000. These are based on GPA and also take into account SAT and ACT scores if submitted. Click here for more information.

Federal Work-Study

These funds provide a portion of the wages paid to students who are awarded campus jobs as part of their financial aid packages. Click here for more information.

Federal & State Aid

All federal and state awards are determined by financial need as calculated using the information supplied on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Click here for more information.

Apply for Financial Aid After October 1

After submitting your admission application, you must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to determine your aid eligibility. The University will receive your information directly from FAFSA. The Bay Path University school code is 002122.

Financial Aid Terminology

We have put together a glossary of commonly used financial aid terms to help you better understand the process.

Academic Year

A period of at least 30 weeks of instructional time during which a full-time student is expected to complete at least 24 semester or trimester hours, or at least 36 quarter hours, at an institution that measures program length in credit hours; or at least 900 clock hours at an institution that measures program length in clock hours.

Cost of Attendance

The total amount it should cost a student to go to school--usually expressed as a yearly figure. The cost of education covers tuition and fees, on-campus room and board (or a housing and food allowance for off-campus students), and allowance for books and supplies, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses. Certain other items may be added at the discretion of the Student Financial Services. Your cost of attendance is affected by your enrollment status whether full or part-time.

Default

Failure to repay a student loan according to the terms agreed to when you signed a promissory note. If you default, your school, the organization that holds your loan, the state, and the federal government can all take action to recover the money, including notifying national credit bureaus of your default. Your wages and/or tax returns may be garnished, and you will no longer be eligible to receive federal financial aid.

Disbursement

The release of loan funds to the school for delivery to the borrower. Disbursements for most loans are made in equal multiple installments per term.

Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

The amount of money that the family is expected to be able to contribute to the student's education, as determined by the Federal Methodology need analysis formula approved by Congress. The EFC includes the parent contribution and the student contribution, and depends on the student's dependency status, family size, number of family members in school, taxable and nontaxable income and assets. The difference between the cost of attendance and the EFC is the student's financial need, and is used in determining the student's eligibility for need-based financial aid. If you have unusual financial circumstances (such as high medical expenses, loss of employment or death of a parent) that may affect your ability to pay for your education, please tell Student Financial Services. We can adjust the cost of attendance or EFC to compensate.

Enrollment Status

An indication of whether you are a full-time or part-time student. Generally you must be enrolled at least half-time (and in some cases full-time) to qualify for financial aid.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Form used to apply for Federal and State financial aid. It is free to complete and file. This form is filed online by visiting the Federal Student Aid website.

Federal Work Study

Program providing students with part-time employment during the school year. The federal government pays a portion of the student's salary, making it cheaper for departments and businesses to hire the student. For this reason, work-study students often find it easier to get a part-time job. Eligibility for federal work study is based on financial need. Money earned from a federal work study job is not counted as income for the subsequent year's need analysis process. Salary is usually minimum wage and the students work 10 hours per week.

Financial Aid

Money provided to the student and the family to help them pay for the student's education. Major forms of financial aid include gift aid (grants and scholarships) and self-help aid (loans and work).

First-Time Borrower

A first-year undergraduate student who has never borrowed a Stafford or Direct student loan before. First-time borrowers may be subjected to a delay in the disbursement of the loan funds. The first loan payment is disbursed 30 days after the first day of the enrollment period. If the student withdraws during the first 30 days of classes, the loan is canceled and does not need to be repaid.

Grant

A type of financial aid based on financial need that the student does not have to repay.

Holds

Placed on a student’s account usually because of billing charges, missing financial aid forms or incomplete medical immunizations. This hold can keep a student from registering for classes and reviewing their final grades. It will be there until the account is brought up to date. Also this will prevent the receipt of transcripts and diplomas.

Independent Student

An independent student is at least 24 years old as of January 1 of the academic year, is married, is a graduate or professional student, has a legal dependent other than a spouse, is a veteran of the US Armed Forces, or is an orphan or ward of the court (or was a ward of the court until age 18). A parent refusing to provide support for their child's education is not sufficient for the child to be declared independent.

Interest

Amount charged to the borrower for the privilege of using the lender's money. Interest is usually calculated as a percentage of the principal balance of the loan. The percentage rate may be fixed for the life of the loan, or it may be variable, depending on the terms of the loan.

Lender

A financial institution (bank, savings and loan, or credit union) that provides the funds for students and parents to borrow educational loans. For example, the federal government is the lender for Direct Loans.

Master Promissory Note

The binding legal document that must be signed by the student borrower before loan funds are disbursed by the lender. The promissory note states the terms and conditions of the loan, including repayment schedule, interest rate, deferment policy and cancellations. The student should keep this document until the loan has been repaid.

Title IV School Code

When you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) you need to supply the Title IV Code for each school to which you are applying. The school code for Bay Path is 002122.

Tuition Payment Plan

Tuition payment plans are short-term installment plans that split your tuition into equal monthly payments. Please contact the Student Financial Services concerning the payment plan.

Verification

A process of review to determine the accuracy of the information on a student's financial aid application. Student applications are selected by the Federal Processor for review. Bay Path currently participates in this standard verification program. If you have been selected for verification please complete the necessary forms with a copy of your signed and dated Federal Tax Return to Student Financial Services as soon as possible.

Withdrawal

Resignation from the College before the end of an official term of study by completion of the official withdrawal form in the Registrar’s Office.

Request Information

File the FAFSA

Accept Financial Aid

Schedule an Appointment

FAFSA Friday's

Contact Info

Student Financial Services

Bay Path University
588 Longmeadow Street
Longmeadow, MA 01106 413.565.1256 sfs@baypath.edu

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