FINANCIAL AID UNDERSTANDING YOUR OPTIONS

Transcription

1 FINANCIAL AID UNDERSTANDING YOUR OPTIONS

2 Affording a Best-Value Jesuit Education Every accepted student who attends Wheeling Jesuit University is considered for financial assistance. Wheeling Jesuit is sensitive to the rising cost of delivering higher education excellence, and we are dedicated to working with all families to deliver the best overall financial package. All interested students should contact Wheeling Jesuit s highly trained enrollment team for help with every step of your application, including submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), for which the WJU code is Did You Know? Thanks to grants and scholarships, most students pay less than the published tuition at private colleges and universities. Most of the financial aid undergraduates receive at private colleges and universities is based on financial need. The proportion of low and middle-income students at private colleges and universities is almost the same as at four-year state institutions. Regardless of academic preparation, students are as likely to earn their degree in four years at a private college or university as they are in six years at a state institution. *Source: National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities

3 Applying for Financial Aid A Step-By-Step Plan At some schools, applying for financial aid can be even more frightening than seeing the cost of tuition but not at Wheeling Jesuit. Our enrollment and financial aid teams will help you every step of the way, from applying for aid to understanding your financial aid award. To help you through the process, we ve provided a simple step-by-step checklist. If you have special family circumstances or other questions about the process, please call the financial aid office at any time: or

4 STEP 1 File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) it s the key to unlocking all the financial aid opportunities at the federal, state and university levels. Submit your FAFSA between January 1 and March 1 of your senior year to apply for ally types of aid, and include our federal school code: You should complete this form even if you don t think you ll qualify for any financial aid. For more information, or to apply online, visit the FAFSA Web site at STEP 2 Research and apply for private scholarships and grants from sources for which you may be eligible. Information is available in your high school guidance office or on the Internet at and

5 STEP 3 Look over the Student Aid Report (SAR) that will be ed to you within 72 hours of submitting your FAFSA to verify all information. The SAR uses the information from the FAFSA to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), the amount of money that you and your family are expected to pay toward the cost of attendance. If you included Wheeling Jesuit s school code on your FAFSA, we will automatically receive a copy of your SAR to help us determine your financial aid package. Please note: During November or December, the U.S. Department of Education will send a renewal reminder letter or informing you to reapply for financial aid. To remain eligible for aid, you must also maintain satisfactory academic progress. Ordinarily this means that you must maintain a 2.0 minimum cumulative GPA and earn a minimum of 24 credits per academic year if enrolled fulltime. Part-time students must earn all credits attempted. STEP 4 Your financial aid award letter will indicate all programs for which you are eligible, including scholarships, grants, loans and work-study opportunities. Review, sign and return your letter to the financial aid office at Wheeling Jesuit. If additional steps are necessary, the financial aid team will notify and assist you with completion of the process.

6 Net Price Calculator Our enrollment management team can provide you with an early estimate of available financial aid. Visit or schedule a campus visit to discuss your needs and to develop an overall plan. Federal and State Aid Programs Every student who is admitted to Wheeling Jesuit is automatically considered for the following need-based federal assistance: + Federal Pell Grant + Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) + Federal Work-Study + Federal Perkins Loan + Federal Stafford Loan + Federal Stafford Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) Residents are also eligible for the following state programs: West Virginia + State Grant + PROMISE Scholarship Pennsylvania + State Grant Annual Cost: Tuition and Fees: $25,640* Room and Board: $5,000 to $6,000 * Subject to change. Includes only mandatory fees

7 INSTITUTIONAL GRANTS: Community Connection Grant (CCG): $11,000/year Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston Grant (DWCG): $14,000/year (graduates of Catholic high schools in West Virginia) WJU Grant: Up to $11,000/year (based on need) MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS (CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH CCG OR DWCG): Presidential Scholarship: $9,000/year Dean s Scholarship: $8,000/year

8 COMPETITIVE SCHOLARSHIPS: Stephen J. Laut, S.J. Memorial Scholarship: Qualified high school seniors are invited to compete for two four-year full tuition scholarships. The Arrupe Service Scholarship: For students with a distinguished record of community service; recipients must remain active in community service during four years at WJU.

9 Choral and Music Ministry Scholarships: Competitive awards for students with choral or liturgical music experience; recipients must participate in WJU s choral groups or chapel music programs during four years. INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS: Catholic High School Scholarship: Renewable $1,000 scholarship for students graduating from Catholic high schools outside of West Virginia (cannot be combined with CCG).

10 Endowed Scholarships: More than 55 endowed scholarships; requirements available at The Bottom Line How Your Expected Family Contribution is Determined Your FAFSA information determines your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), which is the amount of money you and your family are expected to contribute toward your education. EFC is an index based on your family s income, the size of your family, the age of your parents and the number of family members in college at the same time. Below is a case study of how two students with the same family income have a very different EFC: Family One Two parents, two children Two in college Older parent is 55 Two wage-earners, making $74K EFC is $4,866 annually Family Two Two parents, one child One in college Older parent is 46 One wage-earner, making $74K EFC is $10,798 annually

11 Glossary of Financial Aid Terms Cost of Education: The total cost to attend a particular school, including tuition, fees, room and board, and other expenses, such as books, transportation and personal expenses. Direct Costs: The charges billed by a college or university, usually tuition, fees, room and board. Expected Family Contribution (EFC): The amount that you and your family are expected to pay toward your education, typically determined by your FAFSA. Financial Aid Award Letter: Official notice from a college or university that describes your financial aid package the total federal, state and institutional aid you are eligible to receive. Financial Aid Package: The complete collection of grants, scholarships, loans and work-study employment from all sources (federal, state, institutional and private) offered to a student. Financial Need: The difference between the total cost of education and the expected family contribution; generally the total amount of assistance for which a student is eligible during the academic year. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): The form used to apply for all federal and state need-based financial aid; the FAFSA should be filed after January 1 of the senior year and before March 1 to receive full consideration for all available assistance. Be sure to list Wheeling Jesuit as a school to receive your information. Our federal school code is Grant: A type of gift aid, financial assistance that does not have to be repaid; typically awarded based on financial need. Loan: A type of self-help financial aid. Loans must be repaid, usually with interest and generally after the student graduates or leaves college. Merit-Based Aid: Financial aid that is awarded to a student based primarily on the student s academic achievement or talent. May also be referred to as non-need based aid. Scholarship: A merit-based award given for outstanding achievement or talent in a particular area; scholarships are gift aid which does not have to be repaid. Student Aid Report (SAR): The report ed to student aid applicants confirming the financial information submitted on the FAFSA; a student s SAR is received within 72 hours after submitting the FAFSA. Work-Study Award: An award that pays wages for a job, usually on campus. Students may use their earnings for personal expenses, books and supplies.

12 WHEELINGJESUITUNIVERSITY 316 Washington Avenue + Wheeling, West Virginia wju.edu [email protected]