Ram's Eye View

You have the right to ask a school:

• The names of its accrediting organizations.
• About its programs; instructional, laboratory, and other physical facilities; and faculty.
• What the cost of attending is and what its policies are on refunds to students who drop out.
• What financial assistance is available, including information on all federal, state, local, private, and institutional financial aid programs.
• What the procedures and deadlines are for submitting applications for each available financial aid program.
• What criteria it used to select financial aid recipients.
• How it determines your financial need. This process includes how costs for tuition and fees, room and board, travel, books and supplies, personal and miscellaneous expenses, etc. are considered in your budget. It also includes what resources (such as parental contribution, other financial aid, your assets, etc.) are considered in the calculation of your need.
• If you have a loan, what the interest rate is, the total amount that must be repaid, the length of time you have to repay the loan, when payments are to begin, and any cancellation and deferment provisions that apply.
• If you are offered a work study job, what kind of job it is, what hours you must work, what your duties will be, what the rate of pay will be, and how and when you will be paid.
• To reconsider your aid package, if you believe a mistake has been made.
• How the school determines whether you are making satisfactory academic progress, and what happens if you are not.
• What special facilities and services are available to the disabled.

You have the responsibility to:

• Review and consider all information about your Financial Aid status using your MyWCU portal.
• Provide all additional documentation, verification, corrections, and/or new information requested by either the Office of Financial Aid or the agency to which you submitted your application.
• Read and understand all forms that you are asked to sign and keep copies of them.
• Accept responsibility for the promissory note and all other agreements that you sign.
• If you have a loan, notify the lender of changes in your name, address, or enrollment status.
• Perform in a satisfactory manner the work that is agreed upon in accepting a college work study job.
• Know and comply with the deadlines for application for aid.
• Know and comply with your school's refund procedures.
• Complete an entrance interview if you are borrowing from the Federal Direct Loan program for the first time.

Who May Apply?
Any undergraduate degree or certificate student who is enrolled at least half-time (six credits) and has been a Pennsylvania resident for at least 12 months prior to the date of application. Academic degree or certificate program must be at least two years in length.

How Much May I Receive?
Grants may range from $500 to $4,254, per year, for a total of eight full-time or 16 part-time semesters

On What Are The Awards Based?
Grants are determined on the basis of financial need.

How Do I Apply?
Free Application for Federal Student Aid available online at studentaid.gov by May 1st each year.
PA State grant from at https://pheaa.org

Who May Apply?
Any student who has been accepted and/or enrolled, enrolled half-time, making satisfactory academic progress in an approved institution.

How Much May I Receive?
Annual loan limits for dependent undergraduate students $5,500 for first-year students, $6,500 for second-year students, and $7,500 per undergraduate year after that, not to exceed a base of $31,000.Independent students qualify for additional $4000 unsubsidized loan for their first two years and an additional $5000 unsubsidized loan after earning a total of 60 credits. Graduate students can borrow up to $20,500 or the school’s cost of attendance per year.

On What Are The Awards Based?
Repayment begins 6 months after enrollment ceases or student drops below half-time status. More information, including current rates, can be found on their website.

How Do I Apply?
Student must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid online.

Who May Apply?
Any undergraduate degree student who does not already possess a baccalaureate degree and has a qualifying Student Aid Index (formerly the Expected Family Contribution) determined by the FAFSA and Federal Student Aid Regulations.

How Much May I Receive?
Award amounts vary from year to year and are based on enrollment.

On What Are The Awards Based?
Grants are determined on the basis of financial need. Students are limited to the equivalent of 12 full-time semesters of Pell Grants.

How Do I Apply?
Student must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid online.

Who May Apply?
Any degree student who has financial need.

How Much May I Receive?
The amount of the award varies based on nature of the position.

On What Are The Awards Based?
Work-Study funds are assigned by the school or college financial aid officer on the basis of financial need.

How Do I Apply?
Student must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid online

Who May Apply?
Any student attending or eligible for enrollment at the school, college, or university. Each scholarship has different criteria.

How Much May I Receive?
The amount of the award varies; contact the Office of Financial Aid.

On What Are The Awards Based?
Institutional awards are determined on the basis of academic and scholarship achievements as well as need.

How Do I Apply?
Contact the Office of Financial Aid at West Chester University. Search and apply for scholarships on the Office of Financial Aid’s website.

Who May Apply?
Veterans and dependents of deceased or disabled veterans.

How Much May I Receive?
The amount of the award varies.

On What Are The Awards Based?
According to Veterans' Administration Guidelines.

How Do I Apply?
Contact the Veterans Center at West Chester University.

Who May Apply?
Any degree student enrolled in the field of certain health professions.

How Much May I Receive?
Usually the cost of attendance minus other financial aid.

On What Are The Awards Based?
Varies depending on the type of loan and lender; credit evaluation always required.

How Do I Apply?
Use the Private Education Loan Comparison tool located on our WCU Financial Aid Homepage in the Loan section

Who May Apply?
Bachelor’s degree students enrolled in the field of nursing

How Much May I Receive?
Up to: $3300 for 1st year & sophomores. $5200 for juniors and seniors

On What Are The Awards Based?
Greatest need remaining after having borrowed the Federal Direct Loan

How Do I Apply?
Contact the Office of Financial Aid at West Chester University.

Who May Apply?
Varies depending on the type of loan.

How Much May I Receive?
Usually the cost of attendance minus other financial aid.

On What Are The Awards Based?
Varies depending on the type of loan and lender; credit evaluation always required.

How Do I Apply?
Students can review the office’s private loan lender list at wcupa.edu/privateloans. Use the Private Education Loan Comparison tool located on our WCU Financial Aid Homepage in the Loan section.