Students in discussions, on main campus, Haworth College of Business.

Financial Aid Offer Letter

If you completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and received your student aid report, you will then receive your WMU financial aid offer letter. If you are a new or returning student, you will receive your interactive financial aid offer letter via your WMU email. Updated offer letter information is available in goWMU.

Determination of offers

Offer letters will tell you just how much aid you can expect to receive from WMU. Offers are determined based on several factors, including the information you and your family supplied on the FAFSA, your residency and your planned enrollment.

Offerings for new students will begin late March/April for the upcoming year. Offerings for returning students will begin in June.

Accept or decline offers

Student borrowers have the right to accept or decline all or a portion of their federal loans electronically on the ‘Accept Award Offer’ tab through Self-Service. Students may request subsequent adjustments to their loans using the student financial aid adjustment form, which may be submitted securely through Self-Service. Students have up until 30 days after your loan has disbursed to cancel or decrease your loan. More information available at wmich.edu/finaid/aid-types/loans. Once you have accepted your loan, you may be prompted to complete additional items in order for disbursement of the loan funds. Be sure to check Self-Service for any unsatisfied requirements.

Financial aid terms you need to know

  • Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of how much college will cost that includes tuition and fees, room and board, books, supplies and other university expenses.
  • Expected Family Contribution (EFC) (for 2023-24) or Student Aid Index (SAI) (for 2024-25) is the amount the federal government believes your family can contribute to one year of college and is used to determine financial need.
  • Financial Need is the difference between Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and the Cost of Attendance (COA).
  • Federal work-study is a need-based program that allows students to work and earn a paycheck that is partially subsidized by the federal government.
  • Federal Pell Grant is a federal grant for students with significant need. It is not repaid. Eligibility is determined in part by your expected family contribution.
  • Federal SEOG is the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. It is a federal grant with limited funding and is not repaid. This grant is awarded to students with significant need.
  • Federal Direct Subsidized Loan is a student loan that is federally funded and based on need. It carries a low, fixed interest rate.
  • Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is not based on need. It offers a low interest rate and minimal fees. Interest accrues with disbursement.
  • WMU Grant has limited funding and is provided by WMU to students with need. Eligibility is based in part on your expected family contribution.

Semesters/sessions

WMU breaks the school year into two semesters and two sessions. Financial aid is based on your estimated full-time enrollment. Most students enroll for fall and spring semesters. You may also enroll for classes during summer I and summer II sessions. Both of these sessions require an additional financial aid application available each spring semester on our Forms webpage. Your offer letter shows your aid by semester and session.

Military offer letter

The U.S. Department of Education requires our institution to send a more detailed offer letter to military active duty and veteran students. To view your interactive offer letter, please check your personal or WMU email.

Your offer letter may not include all your offers or resources. It does not include any Veterans Affairs education benefits you may have, including:

  •  Montgomery GI Bill®.
  •  Post-9/11 GI Bill®.
  •  Yellow Ribbon Program.
  •  Federal Tuition Assistance.

For more information about these programs, you should contact the WMU Office of Military and Veterans Affairs at (269) 387-4444.

 

After your offer letter

Once you receive your offer letter, you may be required to complete additional steps. Learn about the process by going to our After Your Offer Letter webpage.

 

Verification

In compliance with federal law, some students will be selected for verification. If you have been selected, we will contact you through your Western email. You will then be required to submit additional documentation detailing household and other information. You need to turn in all requested documents as soon as possible to avoid any delay in processing your aid.

Some financial aid offers are time sensitive and could be reduced or revoked if you do not complete the verification process.

Satisfactory academic progress

To remain eligible for financial aid, you must make satisfactory academic progress at WMU. This means you must:

  1. Pass 67% of all attempted hours
  2. Maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average as stated in the University Catalog.
  3. Not exceed a maximum of 183 attempted undergraduate hours, including transfer credit hours.

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