The financial mismanagement of Brandeis University’s Senior Administration has begun to affect the university’s most vulnerable students, exposing broader institutional shortcomings and administrative failures.

Last academic year, issues with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) disrupted the financial aid process for the 42% of Brandeis students who rely on need-based assistance. Many students did not receive their financial aid packages until the summer, and Student Financial Services (SFS) has since faced criticism for inconsistent communication, leaving low-income students confused and stressed as they prepare for the academic year.

This year, SFS has ramped up pressure on low-income students, many of whom are now being forced to take out loans in order to access emergency funding—funds that, for some, are critical to their survival.

“I had to take on a loan, and they basically told me that if I didn’t, I wouldn’t get any emergency aid,” said one student. “That includes the health insurance grant. I would have had to pay $2,000 out of pocket if I didn’t take the loan.”

This same student, who qualifies for Medicaid, was directed by the university to seek medical care outside of Brandeis and now faces monthly medical expenses exceeding $100.

“I’m grateful for the opportunities Brandeis offers, but I wish they were more transparent. I would have considered another school more seriously if I knew then what I know now,” she added.

Like many others, this student was told that her financial aid package would remain consistent throughout her time at Brandeis, provided her family’s income remained the same. Yet she, and others, have seen unexpected and sometimes dramatic increases in their bills. One student was initially required to pay $8,000, only to receive a bill for $18,000 at the start of August—well past the deadline for setting up a payment plan.

Brandeis markets itself as committed to supporting students with financial needs, boasting on its website that it is “one of the few universities in the country able to offer institutional emergency funds.” For some, these funds can be a lifeline. However, students are finding it increasingly difficult to access them without taking on loans, a requirement that many feel was not adequately communicated during the admissions process.

One low-income sophomore who accepted a full-ride scholarship was shocked to receive a bill for $3,500 after repeatedly clarifying that his costs would be fully covered. Though his bill this year dropped to $1,000, he was still required to take out a $3,500 loan in order to access emergency funding.

A recurring theme in these stories is SFS’s lack of transparency.

“Every year, they make you take out more loans,” the sophomore said. “Next year, they’ll give me $4,500 in loans. The year after that, $5,500. It’s not something they tell you up front.”

For students in need of emergency funding for medical bills, laptops, or health insurance, the prospect of taking on unnecessary loans is daunting. Adding to the frustration, students have reported difficulty reaching SFS and receiving contradictory or incorrect information from staff.

One student shared an experience of being told by an SFS representative that her documentation was correct, only to be informed two weeks later that it was wrong. Another student submitted all the required forms in the spring but never received her financial aid package. After months of waiting, she was asked to submit new documents, again without any communication from SFS.

“They give misinformation. They’re horribly trained,” she said.

The growing frustration highlights a critical disconnect between Brandeis’s promises and the reality for many low-income students, who are left scrambling to cover basic needs while grappling with unclear and often contradictory guidance from Student Financial Services.

For low-income students who lack financial literacy, SFS is who they rely on the most, especially if they cannot rely on their families. For students who intend to enroll in post-graduate programs, or even just anyone who cares about their credit, the deception by Brandeis is mortifying.  

“They know I need access to emergency funding, and I can’t drop out because of loans. I have no choice”

Last week in the senior administration open office, the University’s Executive Vice President Stewart Uretsky was directly asked about financial priorities by graduate student protestors, to which he responded “Student tuition affordability…as high as it already is, we want to make Brandeis as affordable as possible for as many people as possible.”

As graduate students are protesting for fair wages and a new contract, and low-income students are frustrated by their financial aid, questions remain about the university’s financial priorities.