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WIU Home > Student Success > Financial Aid

Welcome to Financial Aid

"The mission of the Western Illinois University Office of Financial Aid is to provide all students and their families with resources for success through efficient and timely customer service, equitable disbursement of financial awards, and educational programming related to financial literacy.  Through these actions, our goal is to maintain a positive environment that will help create opportunities for equal access to post-secondary education and increase student retention."

No need to apply for Summer 2023 Financial Aid!

Upon registration for Summer 2023 aid eligibility will be determined automatically by a financial aid adviser. Students will receive award notifications via WIU email. 

The Application Process 

• Register for the Summer 2023 semester via STARS.
• File both 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 FAFSAs if you have not already done so.
• Watch for requests for verification documents if you are selected for verification for either year.
• A minimum of three weeks should be expected for processing the application by the Financial Aid Office (processing to begin April 1, 2022).
• Notifications about your application and eligibility will be sent to your WIU email account.

Loans

• If not already filed, a 2022-2023 FAFSA must be FILED BY JUNE 30, 2023 to be eligible for a federal loan.
• Attendance in a minimum of six hours of degree course work is required for federal loan eligibility.
• Summer loans are normally an extension of your academic year eligibility.  In most instances, the amount you borrowed during the 2022-23 academic year will affect your eligibility for summer borrowing.
• Undergraduate Federal Loan interest begins accruing at 5.05% from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full.  No payments are required until after enrollment ceases or drops below six hours.  Graduate Unsubsidized Loan interest is 6.60%. All interest rates are fixed and will not change for the life of the loan. To determine your interest rate please log into studentaid.gov to view loan history and terms/conditions of your loan agreement.
• If it is your first time taking out loans:
  
  • Complete Student Entrance Counseling
  • Sign a Master Promissory Note

Grants 

• You may be eligible for a 2023 Summer Pell Grant if:
  • You were Pell-eligible during the 2022-23 school year and used less than 100% of your eligibility during the Fall/Spring semester OR are enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours Summer 2023, OR
  • You are graduating Summer or Fall 2023 AND are Pell-eligible after completing the 2023-24 FAFSA review process.
• The Federal Pell Grant will not pay for graduate courses, some repeat courses, audit courses, deleted courses if the charges are also deleted, or courses you did not attend or for which you did not complete any work.
• The Illinois MAP Grant is not funded for Summer terms.

Scholarships

• For Summer 2023 Scholarships, please print, complete, and return the Foundation Summer Session Scholarship Application to the Scholarship Office by May 1, 2023
• The Commitment Scholarship is not awarded for Summer terms.

Disbursement of Aid 

• The Financial Aid Office is required to recertify your aid eligibility (including loans) before your funds are released to your university billing account.  Changes to your schedule could affect your aid eligibility.
• Your summer aid could be withdrawn if you fail to meet WIU Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements.  See the Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements in the Handbook & Policies/Eligibility section.  You will be notified by WIU email after Spring grades are posted if you did not make satisfactory progress.
• See the Repeated Coursework section of Handbook & Policies/Eligibility if you are repeating a course.
• The earliest that aid can be credited to your university billing account is June 13, 2023.
• The earliest that refunds can be disbursed to your personal account is June 14, 2023.
• If you change enrollment after a refund is disbursed, you may owe money back to the university.

Timeline for 2023-24 Financial Aid

**Award Letters for new/incoming freshman will be processed in the order student's filed their FAFSA's starting in January 2023. Award letters for transfer and returning students will be processed starting in March 2023. If you are waiting for your award offer you can utilize our Net Price Calculator to estimate your cost of attendance and financial aid package. You can find a video tutorial on our YouTube channel along with other video tutorials on verification, understanding your award offer and navigating StudentAid.gov.

1. File the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to be considered for federal and state financial aid for the 2023-24 school year if you haven't already (it’s a good idea to do this every year, even if you don’t expect aid). You will use 2021 tax information to complete the application. Make sure to include WIU as a school you would like to receive your FAFSA (school code 001780).
2. Review your Student Aid Report (SAR)   for any mistakes or errors that need correcting.
3. Regularly check your WIU email  and  STARS/Financial Aid Information  for any notifications or requests from our office.
4. IF SELECTED for Verification, submit the requested worksheet and additional requirements as instructed. You will receive an email notification if you have been selected for Verification and a STARS/Financial Aid Information message will also be posted.
5. Review your Financial Aid Award Letter on STARS/Financial Aid Information.
   • Award Letters for new/incoming freshman will be processed in the order student's filed their FAFSA's starting in January, 2023. Award letters for transfer and returning students will be processed starting in March 2023
   • You will be notified by email that your award letter has been completed and is available online.
   • Estimate your expenses using the  WIU Cost Estimator.
   • You may reduce or cancel your loans using  STARS.
6. Start saving for upfront costs and personal expenses
7. Notify our office of any additional aid  you will receive that was not listed on your award letter.
8. Complete Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note if this will be your first time borrowing Federal Direct Student Loans.

See the full Financial Aid Checklist to get prepared for next year!

Check out these Financial Aid Webinars

If you're having trouble completing your FAFSA or understanding your financial aid, check out these webinars by MEFA! These webinars will cover topics like how to file the FAFSA, what types of errors to avoid when filing the FAFSA, and the types of aid you could receive. Also check out their blog for more FAQs on financial aid eligiblity, how to become an independent student, and more!

Get Started

There's a lot to cover, so the best place to begin is our Getting Started section - here you can find checklists, timelines, helpful hints, and other tools created specifically for WIU students.

The first step is always completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which can be completed online. If you're looking for a quick and easy review, check out the:

• 7 Easy Steps to the FAFSA video tutorial
• I've Submitted My FAFSA - What's Next? 

Of course, different types of students may need different information. Click below to determine if there are any specific instructions or requirements that may apply to you:

Stay in Touch

Are you looking for an easy way to stay up to date in the world of financial aid? Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram! These are both great and convenient ways for WIU students and parents to receive regular reminders, updates, and current financial aid news directly from our office.

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