To qualify for federal financial aid a student must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
- Have a valid Social Security Number
- Have a high school diploma, an Associate of Arts degree, or a General Education Development (GED) Certificate. GED tests are available at local community colleges. A student who does not have a high school diploma, GED or AA degree may be eligible for federal student aid by achieving a passing score on a federally approved test. Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information.
- Be registered with the Selective Service, if required
- Be formally admitted to WOU and be admitted and enrolled in a degree or certificate program, or be taking required preparatory course work for admittance into a degree or certificate program. Students working toward a teaching endorsement only are not eligible for federal aid.
- Meet federal financial aid guidelines concerning convictions regarding the sale or possession of illegal drugs
- Be making satisfactory academic progress.
- Not be in default on a federal student loan or owe a refund on a federal student grant
- Demonstrate financial need (except for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans and Federal Direct PLUS Loans)
- Have a valid, federally calculated expected family contribution (EFC) on file with WOU’s Financial Aid Office. The EFC is determined by a formula established by the U.S. Congress.
- Submit all required paperwork (signed award letter, etc.) before the end of the enrollment period.
Determining “need or eligibility” for financial aid
Student’s financial aid eligibility is based on a number of factors.
The following formula is used:
Cost of attendance - expected family contribution = student’s financial need or eligibility
- Cost of attendance
First, the cost of attendance (or budget) at WOU is established. Budgets are based on tuition and fees, expenses for meals and housing, books and supplies, and miscellaneous personal expenses. Additional costs can be considered by petition only. These additional costs could consist of commuting expenses, childcare, computer costs, extra costs related to a student’s disability or study abroad costs for WOU approved study abroad programs.
- Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
Congress developed an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) formula to determine the financial strength of a student’s family and the student’s need for federal aid. The EFC is based on the prior year’s income and assets as listed on the FAFSA. The EFC is reported on the Student Aid Report (SAR) which is a summary of the FAFSA information and is sent to the student in a hard copy or electronic format. Schools receive an electronic version of the same information. Changes in the family’s financial circumstances can be reported to the Financial Aid Office.
- Packaging
It is the policy of the Financial Aid Office to provide students with a financial aid package to meet the calculated need or eligibility whenever possible. Providing students with financial aid to the full extent of the eligibility is contingent upon federal, state, and institutional funding and individual aid program limits.
Before the financial aid eligibility is determined, the student’s financial aid file must be complete. If selected for verification, copies of signed federal tax forms, W2s and a verification worksheet will be required. Other documentation may be requested upon review of the file.
Priority for campus-based aid is given to students whose FAFSAs are received by the federal processor by March 1, whose files are complete, who have applied for admission to WOU and who demonstrate a high need based on the EFC. The amount of need-based aid the student is eligible to receive is determined by packaging policies developed by the director of financial aid.
