Good news! WGU is approved by the U.S. Department of Education to offer federal
financial aid—one of the first online universities to receive this recognition. Because of our more affordable tuition, WGU students are able to graduate without large school loans to repay.
You Can Use Financial Aid for:
Federal financial aid will cover most if not all of your direct education expenses,
including:
Tuition and Fees
Textbooks
Technology
Other educational expenses
Student Loans are Available to Most Students
WGU students may qualify for two types of student loans:
Federal Family Education Subsidized Loans —These loans are based
upon demonstrating financial need. The interest is paid by the federal government
while you are enrolled in school at least half time, or during grace or deferment
periods.
Federal Family Education Unsubsidized Loans —These loans are not
based upon financial need, and therefore are available to most WGU students. You
are responsible for the interest from the day you borrow the money until you pay
off the loan.
Pell Grants are needs-based grants—meaning you do not have to pay them back—that
are available only to students who have not yet earned a bachelor’s degree. They
are available to those who have the most need, with need calculated based upon income,
number of dependents, and other factors that are reported on the FAFSA.
Other Federal Grant Programs
WGU offers two grant programs made available through the U.S. Department of Education:
National SMART Grant -Third- or fourth-year full-time undergraduate
students who are Pell Grant recipients in designated degree programs are eligible
for this grant.
Academic Competitiveness Grant First-year undergraduate students
who are Pell Grant recipients are eligible for this grant. You must have never enrolled
in an undergraduate education program prior to WGU.
Answers to your questions Click a question, see the answer below.
How are financial aid funds made available?
Who can answer my financial aid questions?
How are financial aid funds made available?
Financial aid funds are available to students based on six-month payment periods.
You will receive an award letter from WGU’s financial aid department that includes
estimated costs and aid for two payment periods. One-half of the aid is available
for each six-month payment period.
Your financial aid cannot be used to pay your application fee.
Note: Full-time enrollment is required for 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.
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 at:
