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Washington State University
A step by step guide The awarding process

Step by step process

1. How to Apply

Visit our Getting Started page to determine which financial aid application you need to complete (FAFSA or WASFA), a link to the WSU General Scholarship Application, and when our priority deadlines are for both Current or New/Former WSU students.

2. Financial Aid Offer

When we have determined how much aid you qualify for, we’ll send you a financial aid offer (generally by email) detailing all the financial aid we can offer you.
View your financial aid offer on myWSU

New undergraduate students who complete the FAFSA or WASFA will receive an estimated financial aid offer.

3. Verification

We might need more information from you OR your parents in order to verify the accuracy of your financial aid application numbers. If selected, you will receive an email requesting more information. Be sure to return this information on time. We cannot deliver your financial aid without it. Please make sure to check which Priority Deadline you need to meet. This date will be the date in which our office needs to receive your documents by in order to award you federal/institutional priority funding.
Check your award status

4. Accept your aid

Accept your financial aid and notify WSU of your decision. Your financial aid offer will probably include more than one type of aid. You’re free to accept or decline each award based on what’s best for you.
Accept financial aid offers

5. Loan acceptance

If your aid includes loans, you’ll need to go through some additional steps to accept and receive student loans.
Accept student loans

How aid is delivered to you

During the week before school starts, financial aid funds will be posted to student accounts and will automatically be applied toward university charges. (Note: Pell Grant, Washington College Grant, Institutional Grant, College Bound, and Cougar Commitment will not disburse if a student is enrolled less than full time.)

On the first day of classes, any remaining aid money after all charges have been paid will be transferred to the student’s bank account. If direct deposit hasn’t been set up, a check will be mailed later in the week.

Fall

Mid-July: Charges begin to post to student’s myWSU.

One Week Prior to the First Day of Classes: Financial aid for the term will electronically deliver to students’ accounts and pay university charges posted.

One Week Prior to the First Day of Classes: Direct deposits and paper checks will be issued to students who have “leftover” aid after all charges have been paid.

The Tenth Day of Class: Census Date: a “snapshot” of all WSU students’ enrollment will be taken for the  term.

Early September: Using the Census Enrollment Snapshot … students enrolled less than full-time will have their awards automatically adjusted. Emails will be sent out once the process has completed.

Spring

Late-November: Charges begin to post to student’s myWSU.

One Week Prior to the First Day of Classes: Financial aid for the term will electronically deliver to students’ accounts and pay university charges posted.

One Week Prior to the First Day of Classes: Direct deposits and paper checks will be issued to students who have “leftover” aid after all charges have been paid.

The Tenth Day of Class: Census Date: a “snapshot” of all WSU students’ enrollment will be taken for the term.

3rd Week in January: Using the Census Enrollment Snapshot … students enrolled less than full-time will have their awards automatically adjusted. Emails will be sent out once the process has completed.

Setup Direct Deposit

To set up direct deposit via myWSU, visit the Financial Account tile and then select Enroll in Direct Deposit under “Account Services”.

Please note: if charges post after a refund check is sent to a student, the student is responsible for paying charges remaining to the account.

Census Policy

WSU’s Census Date is the 10th day of the semester. On this day, WSU will take a “snapshot” of your enrollment for the semester. This snapshot determines what financial aid (loans and grants) you will receive for the term.

It is extremely important that you finalize your class schedule by 4:00 PM (PST) on the tenth day of the semester. This will allow us to ensure that your award is accurate. Also, you will be unable to access your myWSU account to make any changes while our “snapshot” is being taken. Your financial aid will be recalculated if you are less than full time on this date.

Other Things You Should Know:

  • Your aid will be recalculated for enrollment changes based on or before this date.
  • To be eligible to receive federal loans, you need to be enrolled at least half-time (Undergrad — 6 credits; Grad — 5 credits). Loans will automatically disburse for students’ enrolled half-time.
  • Pell Grants, Washington College Grant, Institutional Grant, Cougar Commitment Grant, and the College Bound Scholarship are reduced/pro-rated for students in less than 12 credits, based on enrollment level.
  • If you are enrolled in less than full-time credits, Student Financial Services will adjust your grants based on your credit level and will deliver these monies after this date. No action is required on your part. You will be notified by your WSU email when this is done.
  • If you are enrolled in full-time credits, no action is required on your part and there is no impact to your financial aid offer.