October
- Students and their parents should individually obtain a FSA ID using the Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website.
- You must have an FSA ID to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Students can complete and submit their FAFSA online this year in December 2023.
- To apply for Federal Financial Aid and receive the $1000 FAFSA grant, please visit the FAFSA website and submit your application by March 1 with our school code: 003767. (At the top of the webpage, use the drop down menu for Apply for Aid, then it is the second item in the first column- COMPLETE FAFSA FORM). *Although you must be accepted for enrollment at VWU before your financial aid will be packaged, you should apply for aid before being admitted
New students: Financial Aid Award Notifications are mailed to new admitted students starting as soon as you are admitted and your 2024-2025 FAFSA has been received by VWU
Returning students: You will be notified through your VWU email account when your financial aid package is ready to be viewed in the Financial Aid Self Service portal
- Begin searching for outside scholarships in October
November
- Continue researching outside scholarships
December
- Apply for Federal Financial Aid and receive the $1000 FAFSA grant- please visit the FAFSA website and submit your application by March 1 with our school code: 003767. (At the top of the webpage, choose "Apply for Aid'', and you will find it as the second item in the first column- "COMPLETE FAFSA FORM"). *Although you must be accepted for enrollment at VWU before your financial aid will be packaged, you should apply for aid before being admitted
- Review your processed FAFSA by checking your FAFSA submission summary. Correct any mistakes online
- Returning students using Military Benefits must submit a copy of their Spring and/or January Term schedule to the VA School Certifying Official, located in the Financial Aid Office in Godwin Hall
January
- Check for open outside scholarship applications
- Returning students: Check the Financial Aid Self Service portal for Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress status
March
- Check Financial Aid Self Service
- Review and accept/reject financial aid awards
- Check Missing Documents for forms or documents required for financial aid
- If you are taking out Federal Student Loans for the first time, complete your Entrance Counseling and sign the Master Promissory Note (links are listed in the checklist box)
April
- Returning students using Military Benefits must submit a copy of their Summer and/or Fall schedule to the VA School Certifying Official, located in the Financial Aid Office in Godwin Hall, and review their remaining months of benefits
May
- Review your Satisfactory Academic Progress status the Financial Aid Self Service portal
- Accept/Reject Awards
- Complete Entrance Counseling and sign Master Promissory Note (if necessary)
- Check Missing Documents
June
- Complete Direct Parent PLUS Loan Application or apply for a Private Education Loan to cover balance
- Set up a payment plan with the Office of Finance if necessary
July
- Tuition payments are due the end of the month
- Check the Financial Aid Self Service portal for any new or changed awards to accept/reject
- Complete Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note
- Virginia Tuition Assistance Grant applications are due for all new students who are residents of Virginia by July 31(see Missing Documents under Financial Aid Self Service for a link to the application)
August
- Make sure your student account has been satisfied
- Check Financial Aid Self Service
- Accept/Reject all Financial Aid awards
- Turn in all missing documents
- Apply for a Direct Parent PLUS Loan or Private Education Loan to cover balance if needed
- Set up a 4 or 5 month payment plan with our Office of Finance to cover your balance if necessary
- Notify the Financial Aid Office of outside scholarships
- Financial Aid Credits are released to use in the University Store to purchase books 10 days before the start of the semester
- Financial Aid will finalize awards and disburse them to your student account during the 2nd week of classes