Financial Aid

Consortium Agreements

What is a consortium agreement?

A consortium agreement allows WIU students receiving financial aid through the university to register for classes at a partner community college and add those credit hours to their Financial Aid Award at WIU. Without a Consortium Agreement, the credit hours at the Community College will not be added to the student's Financial Aid, which may impact the student's overall eligibility for State and Federal Financial Aid Programs.

Who is eligible to participate?

To be eligible, a WIU student must be receiving financial aid and taking a minimum of three credit hours per semester at WIU.  The courses taken at the community college must be required for a WIU degree and the hours must be able to transfer to WIU. Coursework eligibility will be confirmed by a WIU academic advisor before financial aid approval is granted.

If coursework is taken at a community college without a consortium agreement, the Financial Aid Office is unable to include those hours in the determination of the financial aid package.

WIU currently has consortium agreements with the following community colleges:

  • Black Hawk Community College
  • Eastern Iowa Community College District (EICCD):
    • Scott Community College
    • Clinton Community College
    • Muscatine Community College

What is the application process?

The following paperwork must be submitted every semester before a Consortium Agreement is complete:

  1. Consortium Acknowledgement Form
  2. Transcript Request Form
  3. Community College Enrollment Agreement
  4. A copy of the community college course schedule
  5. Other documentation depending on the community college the student has chosen to attend

Coursework taken at a community college without an approved consortium agreement cannot be included in the determination of financial aid eligibility at WIU. 

Consortium paperwork must be submitted every semester - packets containing information for specific schools can be retrieved from your academic adviser.  

When a consortium agreement is submitted, the WIU Financial Aid Office calculates the number of hours taken from both schools to give full consideration for financial aid funds.  Adjustments may be made to: Pell Grant, MAP Grant (if attending an Illinois community college), Federal Direct Loan funds and Institutional Aid (if applicable).

Have Questions?

Complete our Consortium Agreement Information Request Form here.