As early as the junior year in high school, students can begin gathering information and marking deadlines on their calendar. Each institution will have a different process for institutional aid; therefore, it is important to pay attention to deadlines. Many outside scholarship deadlines are typically in the spring; although, you may find some early deadlines in the fall. Many high schools have workshops on financial aid. We encourage all students to attend.
FAFSA is an acronym for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This is the form that students must complete to apply for need-based financial aid, regardless of which school they plan to attend. The FAFSA calculates the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to help schools determine what types of aid they may be eligible to receive.
No. The FAFSA is the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid. If you are on a website requesting a payment, then that is the incorrect site. Also, you do not have to pay a third party to help you complete it. Many high schools and colleges will offer free FAFSA workshops.
There are 5 sources of Financial Aid: Federal, State, Institutional, Outside Resources, and Self-help. It’s important to note that any “scholarship” or “grant” awarded does not have to be repaid. Within each resource there are merit and need-based opportunities. Merit aid is based on your academic standing and need-based aid is determined by the results of the FAFSA. Visit our Financial Aid Handbook for additional information.
Those who apply for admission and submit a FAFSA will automatically be considered for institutional merit-based scholarships and all federal, state and institutional need-based financial aid. For more information on institutional scholarships, please see the institutional aid section. For more information about state scholarships and grants, please see the state aid section.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) calculates your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is what the Department of Education states that your family can pay for your student to attend college for one year. Factors used to calculate this number include household size, number in college, income, taxes paid, assets, untaxed income, etc. Institutions use this a guide to determine eligibility for financial aid. This does not mean that you will pay exactly what your EFC is.
Sometimes families experience unforeseen events (i.e. medical, job change, separation or divorce) that may result in the FAFSA not being an accurate picture of their ability to pay. The family may qualify for a Special Conditions review. The Special Conditions process requires submission of several documents and may adjust the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). This will determine the family’s eligibility for potential additional need based aid. Additional aid is not guaranteed.
We encourage all students to complete a FAFSA for their first year in college. Parental income is not the only factor that determines aid eligibility, and some families find they are eligible for some aid they did not expect. Keep in mind, families who do not receive Federal need-based aid can still borrow a federal unsubsidized loan or a Parent PLUS Loan (with approved applications), or may be eligible for state or institutional need-based aid, but the FAFSA is a requirement for these loans and other resources of need-based aid that don’t necessarily have the same stringent guidelines as federal aid.
There are three basic components: Demographic Information, Financial Information, and Signatures.
You will need all W-2s for the parent(s) and student along with their tax returns, if filed.
It is also helpful to have the parent and student social security cards and dates of birth available while filing. All the information links back to the social security number (SSN). If this is typed incorrectly, then a new FAFSA will have to be filed.
The FAFSA becomes available on October 1st of the student’s senior year. Most colleges have priority dates for submitting the form. Wofford's priority deadline for submitting the FAFSA is no later than January 1 for first year students, March 15 for returning students.
Early Decision applicants will receive their award letter along with their acceptance decision, if the FAFSA is received by December 1. Early Action and Regular Decision applicants receive their award letter mid-March. Those received after the deadline will be processed on a rolling basis.
If a student receives any need-based federal, state, or institutional aid, then a FAFSA is required to determine eligibility for the upcoming year.
We do not match other schools' financial aid offers. However, we are available to discuss your questions and concerns about your financial aid package. If you believe that we have made an error in our review or if extenuating family circumstances were not revealed in the financial aid application, we encourage you to contact our office.
Outside scholarships must be reported to the Financial Aid Office. The student’s financial aid will be recalculated and need-based aid (like subsidized lending) could potentially be affected. Also, a student’s total aid package may not exceed the cost of tuition, fees, room, board, and books. If it occurs that a student has met these costs, then aid will be adjusted so that it does not exceed.
Yes, the Office of Financial Aid reserves the right to revise or cancel the financial aid award based on changes in your financial or academic status. The submission of false or misleading information is considered immediate grounds for cancellation of financial aid.
You can reach our office Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. at 864-597-4160 or by e-mail at WoffordFinancialAid@wofford.edu.
Yes! We list the maximum Federal Direct loan award you are eligible for on your award letter. However, we encourage you to borrow the least amount possible. If you would like to change your loan amount, simply e-mail Wofford’s Financial Aid office with your name, Wofford ID Number, and the new amount requested.
Yes. Student Employment positions are offered through numerous on-campus offices, academic departments, and co-curricular programs. In some cases, we may offer an on-campus job as part of need-based financial aid packaging, through federal work study. Although it is up to the student to seek out employment when he/she arrives to campus. During orientation week, there will be a session provided with more information on how to find on and off campus employment.
Students who find employment are paid once a month in an earned paycheck. Work study funds do NOT go against the balance owed on the billing statement.
There are 4 payment options. You can choose a combination of the four. What you choose to do one year does not lock you into using the same plan each year. See the Payment Options for details.