Frequently Asked Questions

We know that the financial aid process can be a confusing one. This page is designed to help answer some of the most frequently asked questions that our office encounters over the course of the year.

You can review or download our Financial Aid Handbook for First Year Students [PDF .5Mb] or refer to the questions listed below. As always if you do not find the answers you are looking for here please contact our office.

  1. What is Financial Aid?
  2. How do I apply for financial aid?
  3. How is my need determined?
  4. What is my Expected Family Contribution (EFC)?
  5. Am I dependent or independent?
  6. What if my Non Custodial Parent will not complete the Non Custodial Profile?
  7. What is verification and what documents are needed?
  8. Is aid available for international students?
  9. I didn't receive enough financial aid... can I appeal?
  10. Are there deadlines for applying for financial aid?
  11. When will I get my award?
  12. How do I qualify for work study, and if I don't have work study can I work on campus?
  13. What can I expect for an aid package in future years at WPI?
  14. If I get high grades will my financial aid increase the following year?

What is Financial Aid ?

The concept of need-based financial aid is fairly simple. A college using a need-based approach compares its cost of attendance (including tuition, room and board, fees, personal expenses and books) to the expected contribution from the family. If the family contribution is less than the cost of attendance, a financial need exists. The college then offers the applicant a financial aid package consisting of grant or scholarship, loans, and work study in an attempt to meet the financial need of the family.

How do I apply for financial Aid?

There are forms that need to be completed each year to apply for financial aid. These forms are available on the Financial Aid Web site.

How is need determined?

The basic financial aid formula to determine a family's need is:

Cost of Attendance - Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = NEED

What is my Expected Family Contribution (EFC)?

The College Board has an excellent description of and a web tool to calculate your Expected Family Contribution.

What if my Non Custodial Parent will not complete the Non Custodial Profile?

In cases where the Noncustodial PROFILE cannot be completed by the noncustodial parent, it will be necessary for the student to obtain documentation verifying why this form cannot be completed. Such documentation should be in the form of a letter from one of the following professionals: secondary school administrator (principal, vice principal or guidance person), attorney, family counselor, clergyperson, or social worker and should state their understanding of the lack of relations between the student and noncustodial parent.

Am I dependent or independent?

Under federal guidelines a student is independent only if they can answer yes to at least one of the following : Are they: 24 yrs old, a veteran of the US military, a graduate student, an orphan or ward of the court, are married, or have dependents of their own.

For scholarship determination WPI may still require parental information for students considered independent under the federal guidelines. You will need to discuss your situation with someone in the Office of Financial Aid.

What is verification and what documents are needed?

Verification is a process, required by the federal government, where the Office of Financial Aid compares the parent and student tax to the information that was provided on the FAFSA and CSS Profile.

The parent and student signed Federal taxes (including all schedules) and W2 statements are required for the verification process. Even if you tele-file or file your taxes on line you are still required to sign the copy that you submit to our office. If a student worked but did not need to file a tax return they are still required to supply copies of their W2(s), along with a statement signed by the student stating that they will not be filing a federal tax return.

Is aid available for international students?

There is a limited amount of need based aid available to undergraduate international students. Our Web site has specific information for international students.

I didn't receive enough financial aid... can I appeal?

Students and families can experience changes in their financial circumstances since the time that they filed the financial aid forms for the academic year. In these situations, students and families may submit a letter of appeal for a re-review of their information and offer of financial assistance.

Adequate written documentation is required to support any appeal you may request of your financial aid counselor. Please remember, granting appeals always depends on the availability of funds. Although you may have a valid appeal, our office may not always be able to grant additional funds. In this case, your counselor will make you aware of other financing options to assist with your educational expenses.

Please feel free to contact our office with additional questions that you may have in reference to your change in circumstances.

Are there deadlines for applying for financial aid?

Yes, and missing those deadlines could cost you. Some scholarships offered by WPI, and others offered by State or Local agencies have deadlines. Failing to meet these deadlines may cause the student to lose eligibility for these scholarships.

The deadlines for filing for financial aid are available on our Web site.

When will I get my award?

It will depend on when and how you apply. If you are applying Early Action we will mail an award letter to you approximately two weeks after you receive your Admissions acceptance letter. If you are applying Regular Decision your award letter will be mailed to you sometime during the first full week of April

We will only be able to put together a financial aid package for you if we have the required financial aid applications. In all cases, this means at a minimum the CSS Profile. You may also be required to complete a Non Custodial Profile form, which is available on our Web site.

How do I qualify for work study, and if I don't have work study can I work on campus?

Federal Work Study is a need based fund. This is the smallest allocation of need based funding we receive from the government, and as such it is the last item we put into a financial aid award.

If you do not receive Federal Work study you may still be able to find a job on campus, it will just be a position funded by an individual department and not through the federal work study program.

What can I expect for an aid package in future years at WPI?

If you are receiving any need-based scholarship(s) and you continue to demonstrate a similar level of need as measured through the FAFSA in subsequent years, your award will be renewed at this same level. Please note that both merit and need-based scholarship(s) are not increased from year to year.

Your financial aid can decrease in future years if you fail to pass your classes or if your Expected Family contribution should increase, which would cause your calculated need to decrease.

If I get high grades will my financial aid increase the following year?

Getting straight A's or doing exceptionally well in your classes will not increase your financial aid eligibility for subsequent years. We expect that you will do well in your classes and pass your classes.

A student is allowed to miss one (1) class per year with no effect to their aid package. If a student misses more than one class per year their aid will be reduced.

Maintained by webmaster@wpi.edu
Last modified: January 30, 2008 16:06:05