Financial Aid FAQs
Click on one of the links below to see answers to frequently asked questions.
- Applying for Financial Aid
- Receiving Financial Aid
- Canceling or Changing Your Financial Aid
- Miscellaneous
How do I apply for Financial Aid?
In order to apply for financial aid, students must be eligible for federal financial aid and file Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For eligibility requirements see Eligibility. For detailed information on the application process, see Applying for Financial Aid.
When should I apply?
If you are seeking aid for 2007-2008 academic year, you may file the 2007-2008 FAFSA until July 2, 2007 (for UW Oshkosh, by May 1, prior to the end of spring term).
If you are seeking aid for 2008-2009 academic year, we recommend filing 2008-2009 FAFSA by UW Oshkosh's March 15, 2008 priority date. The 2008-2009 application become available January 1, 2008. This will ensure that students are considered for all types of federal financial aid.
Can I apply after the priority date?
Yes. However, we cannot guarantee that the students who file FAFSA after the priority date will be considered for all types of financial aid due to limited availability of certain funds.
Should I apply for a PIN?
Yes. We strongly encourage our students to file FAFSA online. Therefore, in order to complete the online process, student first must apply for a PIN from U.S. Department of Education. For more information see Applying for Financial Aid.
Do I have to reapply or renew my Financial Aid?
You must reapply for financial aid every year you are planning to attend UW-Oshkosh and receive financial aid.
Will my Financial Aid be renewed after freshman year?
You must reapply for financial aid each year! You will receive aid application renewal information and instructions in December/January each year. Your aid "package" may vary depending on the funds available in individual aid programs and the .
What if I need help filling out my FAFSA application?
Our staff will be happy to assist you with filling out your FAFSA application. Please call to make an appointment and bring all of the required documents.
What is the difference between Dependent and Independent student?
The basic philosophy of federal and state need-based financial aid is that students and their families have the first responsibility toward meeting educational expenses. A major issue in the determination of financial resources is the dependency status of students: are they considered to be dependent upon their parents or are they independent (e.g self-supporting)? The criteria used to make this determination will include:
- Age of Student
- Veteran's status of the student
- Student's status as a graduate or professional student
- Student's marital status
- Student's status as an orphan or ward of the court
- Legal dependents of student other than a spouse
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) asks specific questions related to the above criteria, which will in turn determine the student's dependency status. If the student is determined to be dependent, a parental contribution is calculated from the financial information reported by the parents. This information will include, but not be limited to, income, assets, family size, number in college, and age of older parent. Large portions of the parental income and assets are protected by offsets in the determination of the parental contribution. If the student is determined to be independent, then the resources of the student and spouse (if applicable) are used in the financial aid eligibility determination.
Can I get Financial Aid for a study abroad program?
Students can be eligible for study abroad Financial Aid. Please see Study Abroad for more information.
Whom do I contact if I have more questions?
If you have more questions, please call us or stop by our office.
Is my Financial Aid Award the same as my Account Statement?
No. The Office of Financial Aid sends you a Financial Aid Award postcard saying your financial aid package is ready. The postcard directs you to your TitanWeb account, which lists grants, loans, or work-study that you are eligible to receive. Your UWO Account Statement is sent to you by the Student Accounts Office. This statement is the actual amount you owe the University. Financial aid awards received by the Office of Financial Aid, is applied directly to the charges listed on your Account Statement, usually during the first month of the term. You are responsible for paying any amount not covered by these awards.
Why did I receive another Financial Aid Award postcard?
If you received another postcard, then something has changed with amounts of Financial Aid you are being awarded. Please carefully review the your TitanWeb account, the link to which is listed on the postcard.
I have not received my Financial Aid Award postcard. What should I do?
Please review your SAR. If no mistakes were were indicated on SAR and you had applied over one (1) month ago, please give us a call or stop by our office.
Why did my Financial Aid Award change?
Your award may have changed if you requested different aid amounts than listed on your previous award or received a scholarship. Please log into your TitanWeb account to see any changes to your financial aid.
My financial aid is contingent on receipt of additional documents or information as noted on the award letter. Does that mean my financial aid award could change?
It is possible that your financial aid award will change. You may receive a postcard which will direct you a To Do List on your TitanWeb account. There, you will be able to see which documents or information you must submit to the Financial Aid Office (FAO) before we can determine your award for the academic year. If these documents reflect different information than previously reported to the FAO, your award will be reevaluated.
What if my financial situation suddenly changes?
If you or your parents (for dependent students) experience a change in financial situation, you can request that the Financial Aid Office reevaluate your aid eligibility. We will ask that you complete a form describing the change and provide some form of substantiating documentation. Common situations that are considered include loss of employment, reduction in income, medical/dental expenses, divorce, and death. If you are not sure about your particular situation, make an appointment with a financial aid counselor.
My parent (PLUS) loan was denied. How can I apply for more Financial Aid?
If your PLUS loan was declined, please send us a copy of your denial notice and a request for a specific amount you wish to borrow. You can also drop off the documents at our office in person.
Which lender should I use?
The Financial Aid Office cannot recommend a specific lender. However, as a convenience for our students and parents, our office offers a list of lenders through the Stafford Loan promissory note process. Borrowers can use other lenders not listed through this process. To begin the promissory note lender selection process, please go to the Stafford Loans Processing page. Under the promissory section, click Begin Process Now, then follow the steps to select a lender.
When do I receive Financial Aid?
The funds for Financial Aid usually being disbursed a few days before a semester starts. Since the money comes in batches, we cannot tell you the exact date. However, you can check your TitanWeb account to see if money have been applied to your student account. Please see instructions on how to check your TitanWeb account at Receiving Financial Aid.
How does Financial Aid get disbursed?
Financial Aid is being disbursed electronically into a student's account at UW-Oshkosh. For more information see Paying Your Bills.
Why do I need to complete Loan Entrance Counseling?
Federal regulations require that all first time borrowers in the Stafford Loan and Perkins Loan Programs must complete loan entrance counseling prior to receiving any loan funds. The entrance counseling session provides useful tips and tools to help you develop a budget for managing your educational expenses and helps you to understand your loan responsibilities.
How can I find out whether my Financial Aid came in?
If Financial Aid came in and has been applied to your account, you will see the transactions on your TitanWeb account. Please see instructions on how to check your TitanWeb account at Receiving Financial Aid. If you have more questions, please call or stop by our office.
What if I am enrolled less than half-time?
In order to receive federal financial aid, student must be enrolled at least half-time. If you are expecting financial aid and enrolled in less than half-time, the financial aid will not be applied to your account untill your enrollment status changes.
Canceling or Changing Your Financial Aid
How do I cancel my Financial Aid at UW-Oshkosh?
There are a couple of options:
- If you are planning to withdraw from the University all together, please fill out a cancellation form at the Registration office. The rest of the cancellation will be handled through the Registration office.
- If you are only planning to cancel all or a part of your Financial Aid and the money has not been already disbursed to your account, then please send us a signed and dated request letter about which type of Financial Aid you would like to cancel and its amount(s).
I am transferring: What should I do about Financial Aid?
You must cancel Financial Aid at UW-Oshkosh (see question above) or the school you are currently attending. If you are planning to receive Financial Aid at a different school, you are also required to change school code on your FAFSA. Students who have a PIN can make changes to their FAFSA online. Otherwise, call Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-433-3243 or 1-319-337-5665. If you are hearing impaired and have questions, please contact the TTY line at 1-800-730-8913.
What if I am planning to take classes outside of UW-Oshkosh?
You may be eligible for financial aid for taking classes outside of UW-Oshkosh.
General guidelines require for the classes be transferable to UW-Oshkosh and
count towards your degree. For more information, please
call our office.
Where can I go on the web to have general financial aid questions answered, unrelated to UWO?
You can go to FinAid! The Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid, located at http://www.finaid.org/questions. Also, you may find other financial aid guide resources listed on our Links page useful.
Do I report Financial Aid to IRS?
We encourage students and parents to consult with a professional tax specialist about the questions regarding income taxes and reportable income. The following are some general guidelines:
- Loans: Student and PLUS loans are not reported on the taxes. However, your paid student loan interest may be tax deductible. Consult a professional tax specialist or visit IRS website for more information.
- Work-study: Work-study counts as income if a student worked and received work-study wages, which results in a W-2 form sent to a student by his/her employer.
- Scholarships and grants: amounts used for expenses other than tuition and course-related expenses (for example, room, board, travel, etc.) must be reported as income. See Form 1040 instructions book (page 19) or IRS website for more information.
