More Information About Financial Aid

Making financial aid work for you

Disbursement of Financial Aid Funds

Financial aid funds are used for educational costs only. Educational costs include WGU tuition and fees, technology, books and supplies, travel for assessments, and living expenses. Funds are applied to the student accounting in the following order as need: Scholarships, Pell Grant, Subsidized Loan, and Unsubsidized Loan. Financial aid funds are available to students based on six-month payment periods. The Financial Aid Award letter includes estimated costs and aid for two payment periods. One-half of the aid is available for each six-month payment period. Excess funds, after WGU tuition and fees are paid, will be disbursed directly to you by check approximately six weeks after you begin your academic program. Please note that you will be responsible for expenses that exceed the amount of aid awarded to you.

Full-time enrollment is required of all financial aid programs. Failure to progress at the full-time rate and in accordance with your Academic Action Plan may result in loss of eligibility for additional aid and for loan deferment.

Annual Stafford Loan Limits

Loan Limits for the 2008-2009 Award Year (for loans disbursed on or after 07/01/2008)
There are federal annual limits on the amount of aid you are eligible to borrow for educational costs

The value of the Stafford Loans for Post-Baccalaureate Students and Graduate Students cannot exceed $12,500 per year. You may request a higher loan limit through our appeals process. Please refer to the Additional Unsubsidized and GRAD Plus Loan Application Appeal on the Special Financial Aid Forms page.

Stafford Loan Interest Rates

Click here to see rates for loans disbursed from 07/01/1998 to 06/30/2008

Financial Aid Repayment

If you receive a Pell Grant and/or Student Loans while attending Western Governors University and then withdraw up through completion of the six-month period of enrollment for which you were charged WGU tuition, you will be subject to the federal Return of Title IV funds calculation. The calculation determines the amount of Title IV funds you have earned as of the date of withdrawal. The amount of Title IV program assistance earned is based on the amount of time you spent in academic attendance and has no relationship to your incurred institutional charges. Click here for examples of a typical financial aid repayment plan.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Federal regulations require that all students who receive financial aid maintain satisfactory academic progress (SAP) by making measurable progress toward a degree or certificate. The number of assessments passed/competency units earned during each six-month term measures progress. Click here for more details about the SAP policy.

Return of Title IV Financial Aid Policy

If a student receiving Title IV funds ceases to be enrolled in a term, the federal government mandates that WGU determine the amount of Title IV funds that the student earned as of the date enrollment ceased (withdrawal date). Unearned Title IV funds must be returned to the federal government. Ceasing enrollment in a term may result in the student owing aid funds to the university, the government, or both.

Funds that are returned to the federal government are used to reduce the outstanding balances in individual federal programs. Financial aid returned (by the university and/or the student) must be allocated in the following order:

1. Unsubsidized Federal Family Education Loan
2. Subsidized Federal Family Education Loan
3. Federal PLUS Loan
4. Federal Pell Grant
5. Academic Competitiveness Grant
6. National SMART Grant
7. Private Funds
8. WGU Funds
9. The Student

Answers to your questions
Click a question, see the answer below.

• What can I use financial aid for?
• Who can answer my financial aid questions?

What can I use financial aid for?

As a WGU student, you can use financial aid to pay for tuition, fees, books, other school-related supplies, technology needed for online study, and personal living expenses. The “technology needed” can include a new computer, internet service fees, and software.

Your financial aid cannot be used to pay your application fee.

Who can answer my financial aid questions?

Speak to an Enrollment Counselor who can answer most of your basic financial aid questions. The WGU Financial Aid Office can answer more specific questions about your personal situation once you have completed the WGU Financial Aid Application. The Financial Aid Office can be reached:

Financial Aid Office
finaid@wgu.edu
877-435-7948 ext. 3104 (toll free)