FAQ – APPLYING FOR AID
Students can apply for financial aid each year by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid beginning October 1st at www.FAFSA.gov. Our priority processing deadline is July 15th for Fall semester, December 1st for Spring semester and April 15th for summer semester. We recommend you complete your taxes before you complete the FAFSA, but do not let the priority deadline pass. It is OK to use estimated income information to complete the FAFSA. However, you must go back and update the FAFSA with actual tax data once your taxes are completed in order to receive a financial aid Award offer.
Our school code for the FAFSA is: 005498.
FAQ – AWARDS & DISBURSEMENTS
Your financial aid funds will be disbursed (transferred to your student account) on your specified disbursement date(s). Typically there are two disbursements for a student attending both fall and spring semesters — one in the fall and one in the spring. These disbursements usually occur 30 days after the first day of class for that semester. If a student only attends one semester in the award year, their first disbursements will occur 30 days after the first day of class, and the second will occur at the midpoint of the semester. To find out what your exact disbursement date(s) will be, please contact Financial Aid, 316.677.9400.
All financial aid will be applied to the balance of your student account first (tuition, fees, etc.). However, if the amount of your financial aid is greater than the total of your charges, you will have what’s called a credit balance. The business office will mail any credit balance to your address within 14 days after financial aid transfers your funds to the business office.
Example 1: Your total charges are $3,000, and your total financial aid award is $2,000 — you owe $1,000.
Examples 2: Your total charges are $3,000, and your total financial aid award is $5,000 — you have a credit balance of $2,000, and this amount will be mailed to you.
No, your financial aid will not automatically be canceled or expired. You will need to contact the financial aid office and complete the form ‘Request for FA Cancellation’.
All funds must be accepted or declined two business days prior to the end of the semester.
You should receive a revised Award offer based upon your enrollment status or you completed a form requesting for a change in your financial aid based on additional awards or a change in the semesters you plan to attend WSU Tech.
Students will receive an email notification from the WSU Tech Financial Aid Office. The email is going to both the campus and personal email address on file. Once you receive the email, a direct link will take you to your myWSU Tech student portal where you will see your Award offer.
Funds will be disbursed to WSU Tech according to the number of credit hours you are attending 30 days after your classes begin. Several things to keep in mind: if you are not attending 12 credit hours and are eligible for Pell grant then the grant amount will be reduced; if you are not attending a minimum of six credit hours student loan funds will not disburse; if you do not attend class, drop a class, or withdraw from college your financial aid may be decreased or canceled. Once the funds are disbursed to WSU Tech, the Business Office will post those funds to your myWSUTech account to pay your tuition, fees, and bookstore charges (if applicable) for the semester. When WSU Tech receives your funds, you will receive notification from the Financial Aid Office reminding you that you have 14 days in which to change your mind about using the student loan. If you change your mind, you will need to notify the Financial Aid Office in writing within 14 days of the school receiving the funds that you wish to have the loan canceled. If you want to use the funds you do not need to respond to the 14-day notification. If your financial aid funds are more than your charges, the Business Office will process a refund to you within 14 days of posting the funds to your account.
A course previously completed and passed is eligible to be repeated and included in enrollment status one time for financial aid purposes. A course previously attempted with a grade of F or W is eligible to be repeated and included in enrollment status two times for financial aid purposes. All repeated courses will count toward the student’s total attempted hours but only the most recent grade earned is used to calculate cumulative GPA.
No, WSU Tech does not drop for nonpayment or if a student does not have enough financial aid to cover the cost. During the enrollment process, students are required to read and sign an Enrollment Agreement. This document states the following ‘I understand that payment for classes is my responsibility and that not attending the courses in which I enroll does not negate this responsibility. I understand that students with an unpaid account balance may be placed on a financial hold from the business office.’
Funds will be disbursed to WSU Tech according to the number of credit hours you are attending 30 days after your classes begin. Several things to keep in mind: if you are not attending 12 credit hours and are eligible for Pell grant then the grant amount will be reduced; if you are not attending a minimum of six credit hours student loan funds will not disburse; if you do not attend class, drop a class, or withdraw from college your financial aid may be decreased or canceled. Once the funds are disbursed to WSU Tech the Business Office will post those funds to your myWSUTech account to pay your tuition, fees, and bookstore charges (if applicable) for the semester. When WSU Tech receives your funds you will receive notification from the Financial Aid Office reminding you that you have 14 days in which to change your mind about using the student loan. If you change your mind you will need to notify the Financial Aid Office in writing within 14 days of the school receiving the funds that you wish to have the loan canceled. If you want to use the funds you do not need to respond to the 14-day notification. If your financial aid funds are more than your charges the Business Office will process a refund to you within 14 days of posting the funds to your account.
FAQ – BOOKS
Yes, WSU Tech offers both. If a student has enough financial aid to cover their tuition and fees and have funds remaining, those funds will be transferred to the bookstore to allow students the option to charge against their account. If a student does not have their financial aid Award offer completed, they are unable to charge against their account at the Bookstore. For students in this situation, they can apply for an Emergency Loan with the WSU Tech Foundation.
A student will need to take their schedule and government-issued photo ID into one of the two bookstores. The bookstore staff will have the student sign an authorization which allows the charges to go against their financial aid refund.
NCAT: 4004 N Webb Rd Monday through Thursday 8am-4pm, Friday 8am-noon
WSU Tech South: 3851 E Harry St, Monday through Thursday 8am-6pm, Friday 8am-noon
FAQ – CONSORTIUM AGREEMENT/DUAL ENROLLMENT
Please contact a financial aid representative to discuss options. WSU Tech can only pay financial aid for classes that are required for your degree at WSU Tech.
FAQ – ELIGIBILITY
No, WSU Tech does not process financial aid for conditionally admitted students.
Enrollment status for the fall, spring and summer semesters is determined by registered total semester credit hours:
Full-time: 12 or more hours
3/4 time: 9-11 hours
1/2 time: 6-8 hours
Less than 1/2 time: 5 or fewer hours
FAQ – FA VERIFICATION
Verification is the confirmation through documentation that the information provided on a student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is correct. The federal government requires colleges and universities to verify or confirm the data reported by students and their parent(s) on the FAFSA. The verification process ensures that eligible students receive all the financial aid to which they are entitled and prevents ineligible students from receiving financial aid to which they are not entitled. The student will have required documents that must be submitted. The student may find those items on their myWSU Tech student portal, under the Financial Aid tab.
All required verification documents must be submitted no later than one week prior to their classes ending.
Students may log into their myWSU Tech student portal to complete online forms. Forms are located on the Financial Aid tab and have direct links on all the requested forms.
FAQ – FEDERAL WORK STUDY
Federal Work-Study (FWS) provides part-time jobs on campus for students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to the recipient’s course of study.
FAQ – GENERAL INFORMATION
No, appointments are not required. Walk-ins are always welcomed.
Monday-Thursday 8am-6pm, Friday 8am-5pm
Students may grant certain individuals access to their educational records. They will need to complete the Consent to Release document which is housed with our Registrar’s Office. Please contact their office to complete the form or go to wsutech.edu/forms to print the document out yourself.
Please contact one of the campuses and speak with the Director or Assistant Director of Financial Aid. They may assist you with your request.
Students can access their schedules via the myWSU Tech student portal. Please see your schedule on the ‘Student’ tab.
FAQ – LOANS
Typically processing is 3-5 business days, but during peak enrollment periods, it could take a bit longer.
If you graduate, withdraw or drop below half-time registration status, and you have borrowed a Federal Direct or Perkins loan, you must complete the Exit Loan Counseling requirement. This is an opportunity to remind yourself of your rights and responsibilities as a student loan borrower.
The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a legal document in which you promise to repay your loan(s) and any accrued interest and fees to the U.S. Department of Education. It also explains the terms and conditions of your loan(s).
Our system will reflect received 3-5 business days after completion.
WSU Tech sends monthly reports to the National Clearinghouse. The National Clearinghouse then sends the enrollment records to all loan servicers.
FAQ – MILITARY & VA BENEFITS
The application can be submitted to vets.gov or ebenefits.va.gov if benefits have been transferred. MyCAA is another site that can be used by military spouses.
WSU Tech needs a VCF-Veteran Certification Form (we have this form in our office/online) and a COE-Certificate of Eligibility (this is something the VA will send them once they complete the application process with them.)
Benefits (housing/book stipend) are paid out around the beginning of the month (depends on when holidays and weekends are that could cause a delay in receiving payments).
Benefits are issued by the VA the day your class starts. If there are multiple classes with different start dates the VA will issue multiple payments for the balance at the school.
Yes, a VCF-Veteran Certification Form is needed every semester.
The change needs to be completed at vets.gov or ebenefits.va.gov depending on where initial application was submitted. The VA makes the decision on if a chapter benefit can be changed. If approved a new COE-Certificate of Eligibility will be sent to the veteran and that will need to be submitted to our office.
Once we receive your VCF-Veteran Certification Form and COE- Certificate of Eligibility it usually takes about two weeks to get submitted to the VA.
If a student is receiving housing benefit this could require a portion of that being returned. Also depending on drop date/attendance, the student could also owe for the class that was dropped.
We have certifying officials at three locations. NCAT, South Campus, and City Center (M-W-F) Oldtown (T-Th). Our three certifying officials are Lacey Ledwich, Steve Enriquez, Charis Stanley.
WSU Tech currently does not offer any military scholarships, but continue to check our website for new opportunities that are also changing: wsutech.edu/payingforcollege/scholarships
FAQ – R2T4
The 1998 Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act requires the college calculate a Return of Title IV Funds on all federal financial aid students who withdraw (officially or unofficially) from all classes on or before the 60% attendance point in the semester. A schedule is used to determine the percentage of the semester the student attended based on the withdrawal date/last date of attendance.
Please refer to the R2T4 policy: wsutech.edu/return-of-title-iv-funds-policy
The Return to Title IV calculation is based on the period of enrollment completed per the college’s Academic Calendar. The percentage of unearned aid is computed by dividing the total number of calendar days in the term into the number of calendar days completed as of the student’s last date of attendance. The percentage of Title IV assistance to which the student is entitled (has “earned”) is equal to the percentage of the term completed, up to 60 percent. If the withdrawal occurs after 60 percent of the term is completed, the student has earned all federal aid. The FAO complies with final regulations with the Department of Education, for all programs offered in modules, a student is a withdrawal for Title IV purposes if the student ceases attendance at any point prior to completing the payment period or period of enrollment, unless the school obtains written confirmation from the student at the time of the withdrawal that he or she will attend a module that begins later in the same payment period or period of enrollment.
FAQ – SAP
Yes, students are allowed one warning semester.
Yes, you may. Please refer the SAP Policy for guidelines to appeal: https://wsutech.edu/wp-content/uploads/Policies_Procedures/Chapter%203%20-%20Students/3-13%20SAP%20Formal%20Policy.pdf
The Higher Education Amendment Act of 1965, as amended, mandates institutions of higher education to establish a minimum standard of “Satisfactory Academic Progress” for students receiving federal financial aid.
We make our standard applicable to all federal, state and institutional funds. Satisfactory academic progress applies to all terms regardless of whether financial aid was received.
Satisfactory academic progress will be evaluated for all students (full- or part-time) annually (at the end of the spring semester and each summer session, as applicable). Students re-admitted must also meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards to receive financial aid.
All students receiving financial aid are required to keep and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, complete 67% of all coursework attempted, and have attempted fewer than 150% of the credits required for your program of study. These requirements are a part of the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy.
FAQ – SCHOLARSHIPS
WSU Tech is always looking at new ways to invest in our scholarships. Please check the following link for current opportunities: wsutech.edu/payingforcollege/scholarships
Students may receive only one institutional scholarship per semester.
FAQ – SUMMER AID
Summer financial aid is determined when a student completes a ‘Student Data Form’. The form requires students to select every semester they plan to attend for the academic year. If a student only selects fall and spring but changes their mind, then they will need to complete a ‘Request for Repackaging’ form. Please note that funds could be limited to the annual limits that were used in the fall and spring semester.
The summer term is treated as a trailer.
If students have remaining financial aid eligibility, then they may use that. If all eligibility has been exhausted, then students may establish a payment plan with the Business Office.
Accreditation
WSU Tech is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The Higher Learning Commission
230 South LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500 • Chicago, IL 60604
https://www.hlcommission.org/ • 800.621.7440
Students interested in select programs are eligible to apply for federal financial aid.
