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Financial Aid
Each year approximately 80 percent of CWU students receives financial aid. To be eligible for federal aid a student must be a U.S. citizen, a permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen. The FAFSA is also Washington resident students’ application for state aid. Washington state aid programs are available to eligible DREAMers (undocumented students) who complete the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA).
Financial aid is available to matriculated students seeking a degree or certification in an eligible program. Most financial aid programs require a minimum of half-time enrollment, which is 6 credits at the undergraduate or post-baccalaureate level and 5 credits at the graduate level. Students who have a first baccalaureate degree and are not admitted to a master’s program are classified as a post-baccalaureate student. Post-baccalaureate students are eligible for federal loans.
Students must apply and be accepted for admission into a degree seeking program (matriculated) to receive financial aid. To receive federal aid, students and their families must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The application can be completed online at www.studentaid.gov. If ineligible to file the FAFSA, Washington resident students and their families can be considered for the Washington State aid programs by submitting a Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA). The WASFA is available on the web at www.wsac.wa.govwasfa.
The application should be submitted as soon as possible after October 1 each year. This year, March 1 is the priority submission date for limited gift aid. Completing the FAFSA/WASFA accurately and timely response to all requests for additional information are critical. If you are selected for verification, be sure to submit all required documents in MyCWU by May 1 to ensure your Financial Aid will be ready by September.
Students who listed Central Washington University’s Title IV code #003771 on a submitted FAFSA will have a student financial aid file delivered to the university electronically. Once that file completes the quality assurance process the student will receive an award letter. WASFA applications go through the same process before aid is awarded by the financial aid office.
The award letter indicates the estimated student cost of attendance, the federally determined expected family contribution, and an offer of aid including the type and amount. You must accept, reduce, or decline aid offers on MyCWU. Aid is disbursed quarterly in equal amounts. If you have chosen to borrow student loans, the master promissory note and loan entrance counseling are completed electronically at www.studentaid.gov.
Students are expected to maintain “good academic standing” while receiving financial aid. A minimum CWU cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required for undergraduates after two years of attendance; a minimum CWU cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required for post-baccalaureates; and a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required for graduate students. Financial aid recipients are also required to make reasonable progress toward a degree.
Additional financial aid information is available at https://www.cwu.edu/admissions-aid/financial-aid-scholarships/, financialaid@cwu.edu, or by calling 509-963-1611.
Scholarships
Scholarships are gift aid which do not have to be repaid. More information on CWU scholarships is available at https://www.cwu.edu/admissions-aid/financial-aid-scholarships/scholarships/. The Scholarship Central application opens each October and closes March 1st. Scholarships awarded are for the next academic year beginning in fall quarter. Apply online via MyCWU using the path MyCWU>Student Dashboard>Financial>Scholarship Application.
Scholarship eligibility is based on a variety of criteria including, but not limited to, academic proficiency, specialized talent, community service, leadership, and financial need. College and departmental selection committees as well as Financial Aid Office staff select scholarship recipients. Some scholarships require students to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), www.studentaid.gov or WASFA (Washington State Application for Financial Aid), https://wsac.wa.gov/wasfa. In addition, students with talent in athletics, art, music, and/or theatre should contact the department(s) directly for specific audition or exhibition opportunities. Institutional merit aid is awarded to incoming students based on GPA. Scholarships may not require financial need.
Community-sponsored scholarships include awards for which the recipients are chosen by organizations outside the university. Each organization establishes its own eligibility criteria, application process, and committee. More information can be found at the scholarship website www.cwu.edu/scholarships or by contacting the organizations directly. The Washington Student Achievement Council has a free, web-based scholarship matching clearinghouse for Washington residents and students and serves as a simple and central scholarship search and application resource. See https://washboard.wsac.wa.gov/login.aspx to create a profile. Scholarship recipients must inform the CWU Financial Aid Office if they are expecting an award from a community organization. Checks should include student’s name and ID number and be made payable to “Central Washington University.” Send to the CWU Cashiers Office, 400 East University Way, Ellensburg, WA 98926-7490.
Scholarships may change a student’s eligibility for other institutional, state, or federal aid programs.
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