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Financial Aid Process

In order for the student to receive the maximum amount of financial aid, all required paperwork must be filled out completely, signed wherever required, and submitted promptly. Early applicants usually receive larger grant awards, and students can receive no aid before submitting all required forms.

FINANCIAL AID FORMS are available online (see below).

LATE APPLICATIONS. Financial aid applications received after April 30 prior to the school year are considered on a first-come, first-served basis as funds are available. Students who submit applications, corrections, or other required information less than two weeks before the start of classes usually receive less financial aid, may encounter delays at registration, and may have to register late unless they can cover the quarter's down payment without financial aid.

LACK OF INFORMATION. Students who do not supply the information required for each type of aid are not awarded aid until the information is received. The award is forfeited if the information is received after the program deadline.

REAPPLICATION. In order to continue receiving financial aid, recipients must reapply for financial aid each year.

TRANSFER OF AID. Funds awarded by Walla Walla University cannot be transferred to other institutions or other students.

Financial Aid Process Checklist

The following outlines the steps involved in the process of applying for and being awarded financial aid:

Step 1. Create your Federal Student Aid ID at studentaid.gov/fsa-id

  • The FSA ID is used to sign the FAFSA in Step 2, as well as certain federal financial aid documents.
  • The student will need an FSA ID and will use the same FSA ID each year.
  • If the student is dependent, one parent will need an FSA ID. The parent will use the same FSA ID each year and will use it for all of their children.

Step 2. Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year.

  • Students are encouraged to complete and submit the FAFSA via the Internet at studentaid.gov. Paper applications are available upon request from the Department of Education by calling (800) 4-FEDAID.
  • For maximum aid, submit the FAFSA by April 30 prior to the academic school year you plan to attend WWU.
  • Remember to provide the WWU School Code (003799) on the FAFSA so your information may be released to WWU.
  • The FAFSA is usually available October 1 prior to the school year and uses the prior year's tax information. However, for the 2024-25 school year, FAFSA is scheduled to be available no later than January 01, 2024, and uses 2022 income tax information.

Step 3. Complete and submit your WWU Financial Aid Application

Step 4. Verification: The federal government selects about a third of all aid applications for verification. Only students who are notified that they have been selected for verification need to complete the following procedures:

  • If you are selected for Verification, you will be notified via email of which information needs to be verified. Complete each item as instructed.
  • If your student (and spouse) income needs to be verified, you can use the IRS Data Retrieval at www.studentaid.gov to update your Tax Return Transcripts to Walla Walla University. If you do not file and will not file, you must complete a Non-Filer Form available at www.wallawalla.edu/forms. If you are an independent student, you will need to request a Proof of Non-filing letter from the IRS and mail that letter to Walla Walla University.
  • If your parent's income needs to be verified, you need your parents to use the IRS Data Retrieval at www.studentaid.gov to update your FASFA and IRS verified information or have your parents send in their IRS Tax Return Transcript to Walla Walla University. If your parents did not file and will not file, they must complete a Non-Proof of Non-Filing letter from the IRS and mail that letter to Walla Walla University.
  • Some forms require a signature, If you are a dependent student, you must also have parents sign the form. The completed forma are all required tax paperwork can be mailed to the Student Financial Services or faxed to (509) 527-2556.

Note: An IRS Tax Transcript is obtained from the http://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript website. Copies of the 1040 tax forms are not acceptable. 

Step 5. Financial Aid Award. After you have submitted all required documents, Student Financial Services will issue a Financial Aid Award.

Your award will include:

  • An award letter detailing your financial aid package.
  • A personalized estimated financial plan showing a quarterly breakdown of expenses and the financial aid from each aid sources that will be credited to your student account. The financial plan will give your estimated down payment and monthly payment for each quarter. 

Unless otherwise noted, financial aid awards are disbursed one-third per quarter for fall, winter, and spring. Each time there is a change in the financial aid award, the student is issued a new award letter by email.

Step 6. Loan Promissory Notes and Entrance Interviews.  If Student Financial Services determines that you are eligible to receive loans and you plan to accept them, including the Federal Direct Loan, the Federal Nursing Student Loan (NSL), or Institutional Loans, you will need to complete the following:

 
  •  Promissory Note - a promissory note for each loan you qualify for will be electronically assigned to you.  You must sign the form online before you may finalize your registration. Make a copy of the form for your record keeping.
  •  Entrance Interview - an entrance interview is required for each type of loan you borrow.  The interview needs to be completed online.  Check your to-do list on myWWU to determine which of the entrance interviews you must complete. 
  • Loan Reference Form -  For Campus-based loans, you'll need to complete the Loan Reference Form. This will also show up on your myWWU to-do list. Make sure you list three references at different addresses. 

Step 7.  Receive Financial Clearance Quarterly through myWWU. Each quarter, students have a financial hold that they must clear before finalizing their registration.  All loan promissory notes and entrance interviews as well as the students down payment are required steps to complete prior to receiving financial clearance.  MyWWU is available to students once they have been admitted.