Financial Aid       

West Chester University

25 University Avenue, Suite #030
West Chester, PA 19383
Phone: (610) 436-2627
Fax: (610) 436-2574


5 Steps to Financial Aid @ WCU

Step 2: “Show Me the Money” - Packaging and Award Letters

PACKAGING is the assembling of financial resources, on the student’s behalf, based on the information submitted on the FAFSA along with information that may be provided to the aid office from external sources. The aid package is considered “Tentative” until the eligibility requirementsWatch Video governing the funds have been confirmed. "Verification" is a process for confirming the accuracy of the information students and parents provide on the FAFSA. If your application is selected for verification the results of the verification may change the value of the aid offered in your package.

Each year awards for “New*” students packaged in March are available beginning in April. Transfer students must be scheduled to be packaged. Awards for currently enrolled eligible students are available after spring grades have been posted and academic progress for federal and state aid has been determined. From time to time aid packages are adjusted please monitor YOUR records via MYWCU on a regular basis. *New students must pay the Admissions deposit and activate their WCU ID# to gain access to MYWCU.

AWARD LETTERS- We've gone GREEN!

ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS-Financial aid award packages and Financial Aid Award Notification (FAN) letters for 2011-2012 are now available on-line. Students that have been packaged may review the package on myWCU. Sign in to your myWCU account, select "AWARDS" in the Financial Aid Section of the Student Self-Service, and then select "Aid Year" to display your aid. You may view and print your (FAN) by selecting "View Award Notification". DO NOT return the letter to the financial aid office. Grants and scholarships will appear as "Accepted;" you must accept/decline/reduce loans by selecting "Accept/Decline Awards.

After reviewing your awards, select "Key Info About Your FAN Letter" for important information about how to secure your aid and activate your account. For a detailed explanation of your FAN Letter, select "Understanding Your FAN Letter".

The Expected Family Contribution “EFC” is a direct response from your FAFSA. The Cost of Attendance “COA” is an Estimate, provided by the financial aid office, of what it might cost the student for the academic year. The Cost of Attendance will appear on your financial aid award notification letter and is available in your Award Summary, when you log in to MYWCU. The COA is influenced by the student’s state residency, enrollment status and housing status. The COA represents anticipated expenses the student might have. There are other factors that may affect the aid offered to the student.

The Cost of Attendance is not your BILL. The bill will be generated by the Bursar's office.

The Need for aid is the formula of Cost of Attendance minus the Expected Family Contribution. The Cost of Attendance includes tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies, transportation, personal and miscellaneous expenses. Need will vary from school to school because costs will vary from school to school. Our "net price calculator" is an on-line tool that will give you an estimate of your cost to attend this college. The financial aid office will assist the student with the process of securing the financial aid packaged in a professional and timely manner.

Loans must be accepted on-line to initiate the process. Loans that are not accepted will not appear on your billing statement or on your ACCOUNT SUMMARY screen. To ACCEPT your financial aid go to MYWCU on www.wcupa.edu.