Table of Contents
- Fall Semester
- July: Charges Post
- August: Financial Aid Disburses
- August: Financial Aid Refunds
- August: Charges Due
- September: Financial Aid Census
- October: Next Year’s FAFSA/WASFA
- Spring Semester
- December: Charges Post
- January: Financial Aid Disburses
- January: Financial Aid Refunds
- January: Charges Due
- January: Financial Aid Census
- February: Verification Deadline
- Summer Semester
- April: Charges Post
- May-July: Financial Aid Disburses
- May-July: Financial Aid Refunds
- May-July: Charges Due
- More Information
Whether you’re just kicking off the semester or coming back to double check a deadline, this post will help you navigate the timeline of your financial aid. This post focuses on undergraduate students and some dates and requirements may vary for graduate, post-bacc or professional students. If you fall into one of those categories, please reach out to our office for disbursement questions.
Your financial aid may not cover all your WSU charges. If you are unable to pay your remaining balance by the tuition due date, the Bursar’s Office may be able to put you on a payment plan so you can avoid late fees. Current payment plan options are viewable through your Student Payment Portal.
Fall Semester
Charges Begin Posting
You will not see charges post to your account until after you have registered for classes. Registration opens on a rolling basis for different student types. If you are a member of a priority group, your registration will be available earlier than others. Check the Registrar’s yearly calendar for registration dates.
Payment is not due until classes begin, so there is no reason to delay registering for classes once you know the schedule you need. The earlier you get your class schedule settled, the easier your financial aid process will be!
Mid- to Late-July
For fall semester, you will start to see charges in mid- to late-July after you are registered. Waitlisted classes will not count towards your charges or your financial aid credit requirements until you have officially been accepted into the class.
In July, registered students will begin seeing charges posted for:
- Tuition
- Mandatory Fees
- Housing and Food
- Applies to Residence Halls and University-Owned Apartments.
If you are living off-campus in non-university housing, your living expenses are still factored in to your financial aid offer. See our Cost of Attendance page for more information.
Note!
Keep an eye on your account. Elective charges like sports passes and yearbooks are not automatically paid by financial aid. (You may authorize your financial aid to pay all charges on your account automatically in the “Student Permissions” section of myWSU, which is found on the “Account Services and 1098-T” tile.)
Additional charges may also appear later if you have adjusted your schedule at all after registering. Check in on your account a few times throughout the semester to make sure you don’t accrue late fees from charges you hadn’t noticed.
Financial Aid Begins Posting
Your aid will likely disburse significantly later than your charges posted. Do not worry! No late fees will accrue until after the semester has started.
One Week Prior to the First Day of Classes
Grants, scholarships, waivers and accepted loans will begin disbursing approximately one week before the first day of instruction. Disbursement is automatic for students enrolled at least half time. If you are enrolled in fewer than six credits, please contact our office to discuss your financial aid disbursement.
Our office cannot legally disburse financial aid any sooner than this time. Even if you are studying abroad or have other expenses that require funding at an earlier date, we cannot disburse aid early.
Your initial WSU financial aid offer shows numbers for the entire academic year. Most financial aid is set to disburse on a semester-by-semester basis, meaning you will see half of the award in the fall and the other half in the spring.
Your financial aid offer also shows you aid based on full-time enrollment. If you are enrolled in fewer than 12 credits, you may receive prorated amounts of some grants.
Unlike grants, waivers, and scholarships, loans have a few extra steps. First you must accept your loans in you myWSU account. We will not automatically accept loans for you. Once you’ve accepted your loans, you will need to do two more things:
- Sign your master promissory note
- Complete your entrance counseling
You will only need to accept your loans once per year. After accepting your loans and completing the additional steps above, you will receive half of your loans in the fall and the other half in the spring. There is no need to accept your loans a second time for spring semester.
If you find that your financial aid has not disbursed, please refer to the financial aid FAQ.
Refunds Begin Sending
A refund occurs when you have received an amount of financial aid greater than the balance on your myWSU account. This can happen because indirect costs like transportation and school supplies are factored in to your aid offer but are not directly charged to you through WSU.
One Week Prior to the First Day of Classes
Once financial aid has paid off your due charges, any remaining aid will be sent to you as a refund. Check your address for a check in the mail. Keep in mind, not every student will get a refund. For the fastest way to receive a refund, enroll in Direct Deposit.
Remember: Financial aid funds automatically cover all tuition and mandatory fees on your account. After receiving your refund, be sure to double check your myWSU account to make sure you don’t have any outstanding miscellaneous fees, like parking tickets. (To authorize your financial aid to pay all charges on your account automatically, visit the “Student Permissions” section of myWSU, which is found on the “Account Services and 1098-T” tile.)
Charges Due
First Day of Classes
Charges are due in full on the first day of classes each semester. If you expect to experience a delay in your ability to pay, let the Bursar’s office know as soon as possible. Going on a payment plan early is the easiest way to avoid late fees.
WSU Late Fee Schedule
- Third Week: 3% Late Fee
- Fifth Week: 5% Late Fee
- Seventh Week: 7% Late Fee
Continued failure to pay your balance beyond the seventh week may result in your account going into collections.
WSU will not remove you from classes or on-campus housing as the result of an unpaid balance. However, a bill on your account will prevent you from registering for any future classes and may even affect your ability to officially graduate from the university.
Financial Aid Census
Tenth Day of the Semester
It is not uncommon for class schedules to change a few times early in the semester as students drop and add courses, move up on waitlists and get settled. Since your financial aid is connected directly to your enrollment levels, we need an accurate picture of your actual enrollment, not just the classes you were registered for at the very start of the semester.
This is what “census” is for. On the tenth day of each semester, WSU takes a “snapshot” of the classes you are now enrolled in, and your aid will be adjusted accordingly. For most students, this does not result in any changes. However, if your enrollment level changes (for example dropping from full time enrollment to part time or vice versa), your aid will have to be recalculated and adjusted.
Important things to remember about census:
- You cannot make changes in myWSU while census is running
- This includes adding and dropping classes
- For part-time students: adding more classes after census will not result in more grant money
- Your grants will remain at the prorated amount you received based on part-time enrollment
- However, you may see an increased federal loan offer if you increase your course load after census
Apply For Next Year’s FAFSA/WASFA
To receive the most aid that you qualify for, you’ll want to submit your next year’s FAFSA or WASFA as soon as the application opens. This open date can vary from year to year but usually it is in October. Submitting your aid application almost a whole year early might seem like overkill, but it is crucial to making sure you don’t miss any aid opportunities!
Each year (typically in January) you will also see a FAFSA priority date. This date is not a hard deadline, but submitting your application after this date may make you ineligible for some aid, as many funds are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Visit our Financial Aid FAQ to see the exact dates for this year’s FAFSA priority, as well as more important dates and deadlines.
Yes!
There is no downside to filling out your financial aid application even if you are graduating and think you won’t need it. Both the FAFSA and WASFA have aid opportunities for grad students, so if you think there is even a small chance you might return for graduate school, fill out your application!
Spring Semester
Charges Begin Posting
You will not see charges post to your account until after you have registered for classes. Registration opens on a rolling basis for different student types. If you are a member of a priority group, your registration will be available earlier than others. Check the Registrar’s yearly calendar for registration dates.
Payment is not due until classes begin, so there is no reason to delay registering for classes once you know the schedule you need. The earlier you get your class schedule settled, the easier your financial aid process will be!
Early December
For spring semester, you will start to see charges in early December after you are registered. Waitlisted classes will not count towards your charges or your financial aid credit requirements until you have officially been accepted into the class.
In December, registered students will begin seeing charges posted for:
- Tuition
- Mandatory Fees
- Housing and Food
- Applies to Residence Halls and University-Owned Apartments.
If you are living off-campus in non-university housing, your living expenses are still factored in to your financial aid offer. See our Cost of Attendance page for more information.
Spring Start Students
If you did not attend WSU in the fall, you will want to make sure that you have the correct year’s FAFSA or WASFA on file and that you have cancelled off any unused aid offered from previous institutions (if transferring). See our nonstandard terms and enrollment FAQ for important spring start information.
Financial Aid Begins Posting
Your aid will likely disburse significantly later than your charges posted. Do not worry! No late fees will accrue until after the semester has started.
One Week Prior to the First Day of Classes
Grants, scholarships, waivers and accepted loans will begin disbursing approximately one week before the first day of instruction. Disbursement is automatic for students enrolled at least half time. If you are enrolled in fewer than six credits, please contact our office to discuss your financial aid disbursement.
Our office cannot legally disburse financial aid any sooner than this time. Even if you are studying abroad or have other expenses that require funding at an earlier date, we cannot disburse aid early.
Spring Start Students
The FAFSA and WASFA typically open in October of the preceding year. If you were not enrolled at WSU in the fall, you may have missed our communications about the next year’s financial aid forms opening. Make sure you have filed your FAFSA or WASFA for next year before the priority date, which typically occurs in January.
Find exact priority dates and deadlines on our Financial Aid FAQ.
Refunds Begin Sending
A refund occurs when you have received an amount of financial aid greater than the balance on your myWSU account. This can happen because indirect costs like transportation and school supplies are factored in to your aid offer but are not directly charged to you through WSU.
One Week Prior to the First Day of Classes
Once financial aid has paid off your due charges, any remaining aid will be sent to you as a refund. Check your address for a check in the mail. Keep in mind, not every student will get a refund. For the fastest way to receive a refund, enroll in Direct Deposit.
Remember: Financial aid funds automatically cover all tuition and mandatory fees on your account. After receiving your refund, be sure to double check your myWSU account to make sure you don’t have any outstanding miscellaneous fees, like parking tickets. (To authorize your financial aid to pay all charges on your account automatically, visit the “Student Permissions” section of myWSU, which is found on the “Account Services and 1098-T” tile.)
Possibly.
This will depend on your enrollment levels, the types of aid you received and your total lifetime limits. If you received a refund during fall semester, consider the following scenarios to estimate whether you can expect a similar refund in spring.
Enrollment levels
If you were enrolled in significantly more or fewer credits in fall than in spring, you may see a difference in your tuition charges and the amount of aid you receive. Fees associated with your account may also change between semesters.
Aid types
Most aid disburses evenly between semesters. However, some forms of aid, particularly scholarships, may be set to disburse all in the fall, resulting in a smaller expected refund in the spring.
Lifetime limits
Federal and state aid have aggregate lifetime limits, and many scholarships are only renewable for a certain number of semesters. If you have used up all of a certain type of aid, your expected refund will be lower. If you are used to receiving specific grants, loans or scholarships, be sure to double check the terms and conditions of those awards so you are not surprised by a change in your offered aid.
Charges Due
Charges are due in full on the first day of classes each semester. If you expect to experience a delay in your ability to pay, let the Bursar’s office know as soon as possible. Going on a payment plan early is the easiest way to avoid late fees.
WSU Late Fee Schedule
- Third Week: 3% Late Fee
- Fifth Week: 5% Late Fee
- Seventh Week: 7% Late Fee
Continued failure to pay your balance beyond the seventh week may result in your account going into collections.
WSU will not remove you from classes or on-campus housing as the result of an unpaid balance. However, a bill on your account will prevent you from registering for any future classes and may even affect your ability to officially graduate from the university.
Financial Aid Census
Tenth Day of the Semester
It is not uncommon for class schedules to change a few times early in the semester as students drop and add courses, move up on waitlists and get settled. Since your financial aid is connected directly to your enrollment levels, we need an accurate picture of your actual enrollment, not just the classes you were registered for at the very start of the semester.
This is what “census” is for. On the tenth day of each semester, WSU takes a “snapshot” of the classes you are now enrolled in, and your aid will be adjusted accordingly. For most students, this does not result in any changes. However, if your enrollment level changes (for example dropping from full time enrollment to part time or vice versa), your aid will have to be recalculated and adjusted.
Important things to remember about census:
- You cannot make changes in myWSU while census is running
- This includes adding and dropping classes
- For part-time students: adding more classes after census will not result in more grant money
- Your grants will remain at the prorated amount you received based on part-time enrollment
- However, you may see an increased federal loan offer if you increase your course load after census
Submit Verification Documents
February
Some students are selected for a process called verification. This is a form of quality control that requires our office to verify certain information before disbursing financial aid. If you are selected for verification, you must submit all the required documentation before the deadline to receive your financial aid.
Verification can take a week or more to complete, so don’t delay in getting your documents to us. Some documents, like proof of citizenship, must either be delivered in-person or notarized before being mailed. Please note that while some notaries are available for free, others may charge.
The exact deadline for submitting verification documents will vary from year to year. Please see our Financial Aid FAQ for this year’s exact dates.
Summer Semester
Summer semester consists of five different “sessions”. Classes range between 6 and 12 weeks and you may enroll in courses across different summer sessions. Keep these different sessions in mind as you navigate your summer aid. Although all summer sessions are considered part of the same semester for aid purposes, there are some differences compared to how fall and spring function, particularly when it comes to enrollment and timing. If you are interested in summer session, reach out to us with questions as soon as possible so nothing delays your financial aid!
Available summer sessions
- May: Early 6-week
- May: Early 7-week
- May: 12 week
- June: Late 6-week
- June: Late 7-week
Additional dynamically dated classes and intersession courses may also be offered, depending on your major.
Note!
Summer session is quite a bit different from the fall and spring semesters. It is considered the third and final semester of the academic year, so in general the only aid available for summer is remaining aid you have not already used during fall or spring. (For Pell-eligible students, you may qualify to receive additional Pell even if you have used your yearly allotment.)
Summer aid requires you have a FAFSA on file for the current academic year. (Example: Summer 2025 requires you complete the 2024-25 FAFSA.)
Charges Begin Posting
You will not see charges post to your account until after you have registered for classes. Registration opens on a rolling basis for different student types. If you are a member of a priority group, your registration will be available earlier than others. Check the Registrar’s yearly calendar for registration dates.
Payment is not due until classes begin, so there is no reason to delay registering for classes once you know the schedule you need. The earlier you get your class schedule settled, the easier your financial aid process will be!
Mid-April
For summer semester, you will start to see charges around the middle of April after you are registered. Waitlisted classes will not count towards your charges or your financial aid credit requirements until you have officially been accepted into the class.
In April, registered students will begin seeing charges posted for:
- Tuition
- Mandatory Fees
- Housing and Food
- Applies to Residence Halls and University-Owned Apartments.
If you are living off-campus in non-university housing, your living expenses are still factored in to your financial aid offer. See our Cost of Attendance page for more information.
Note!
Tuition for summer semester works differently. Instead of a flat rate for full-time students, all students pay per credit, and all students get in-state tuition! So don’t be surprised if the cost of classes is different from your normal fall and spring charges.
Financial Aid Begins Posting
One Week Prior to the First Day of Classes
Grants, scholarships, waivers and accepted loans will begin disbursing approximately one week before the first day of instruction. Disbursement is automatic for students enrolled at least half time. If you are enrolled in fewer than six credits, please contact our office to discuss your financial aid disbursement.
Our office cannot legally disburse financial aid any sooner than this time. Even if you are studying abroad or have other expenses that require funding at an earlier date, we cannot disburse aid early.
Summer session at WSU is unique because classes are shorter and have rolling starts. There are multiple different summer sessions, each with a different length and different “first days”. Regardless of which summer session(s) you sign up for, your aid will disburse on the first day of your first enrolled session and a current year FAFSA must be on file by July 17.
Remember that waitlisted classes and classes added after aid disbursement will not be calculated into your initial aid award. If you are planning to add additional courses after summer session has started, please contact our office to make sure you receive your full award.
Refunds Begin Sending
A refund occurs when you have received an amount of financial aid greater than the balance on your myWSU account. This can happen because indirect costs like transportation and school supplies are factored in to your aid offer but are not directly charged to you through WSU.
One Week Prior to the First Day of Classes
Once financial aid has paid off your due charges, any remaining aid will be sent to you as a refund. Check your address for a check in the mail. Keep in mind, not every student will get a refund. For the fastest way to receive a refund, enroll in Direct Deposit.
Remember: Financial aid funds automatically cover all tuition and mandatory fees on your account. After receiving your refund, be sure to double check your myWSU account to make sure you don’t have any outstanding miscellaneous fees, like parking tickets. (To authorize your financial aid to pay all charges on your account automatically, visit the “Student Permissions” section of myWSU, which is found on the “Account Services and 1098-T” tile.)
Charges Due
First Day of Classes
Like spring and fall semester, summer charges are due on the first day of classes. If you are enrolled in classes that have different start dates, then you will have multiple tuition due dates.
Payment plans are not available for summer session.
WSU Late Fee Schedule
Unlike fall and spring, where late fees are a percentage of your unpaid tuition, summer late fees are always $33, regardless of how much you owe. Up to three late fees (a total of $99) can be added to your account during summer (one in May, one in June, and one in July). Sessions that start in May will have a total of three late fee assessment dates, and later-start summer courses will only have two.
Remember that only three late fees can be added to your account. If you are enrolled in classes across different summer session, late fees will not double up.
WSU will not remove you from classes or on-campus housing as the result of an unpaid balance. However, a bill on your account will prevent you from registering for any future classes and may even affect your ability to officially graduate from the university.
For More Information
Have any questions? Our full FAQ is a great place to start, and we also have a handy glossary page to help you understand all the different terms associated with your financial aid.
Still have questions? We’re here to help! Please reach out as soon as possible so we can assist. For questions regarding financial aid disbursements, please reach out to our office. Select your WSU campus from our contact page to get ahold of the Student Financial Services employee most able to help you.
For questions regarding payments and fees, please contact the Bursar’s Office.
For housing holds and related housing charges, please first reach out directly to housing.
Note!
Is someone else reaching out on your behalf? Make sure you have granted them third-party access to your myWSU account. Otherwise we will not be able to speak to them in-depth about your financial aid information. Third party access can be set up for anyone, including parents, siblings, school counselors, or other trusted individuals.