Types of Aid
There are two types of financial aid that you can receive at WPI. You can receive financial aid based on your financial need as well as on your academics.
Need-based Financial Aid*
You apply for all need-based financial aid by filing the FAFSA and the CSS PROFILE Application. All need-based financial aid is awarded through the Office of Financial Aid. The amount of financial aid you receive is based on your family's financial need.
If you are receiving any need-based scholarships 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 scholarships are not increased from year to year.
A financial aid package based on need can consist of grant/scholarship money, loans, or Federal Work Study funds.
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. (EFC). 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, or work in an attempt to meet the financial need of the family.
To determine a family's expected contribution toward college, WPI requires that each family fill out and file the Free Application For Federal Student Aid and the College Scholarship Service PROFILE. These forms (or information about how to obtain these forms) are available from your local high school guidance office or WPI's Financial Aid Office. The financial information supplied on these forms enables WPI to determine an expected family contribution.
Please note that if you receive financial aid assistance from WPI, the combination of WPI need based and merit based scholarship funds in addition to any Federal or State scholarship funds cannot exceed the current tuition cost at WPI.
The total assistance received from all sources (including non-WPI funds & and student and/or alternative loans) cannot exceed WPI's current cost of attendance.
Merit-based Financial Aid*
There is no separate application to apply for merit-based financial aid at WPI. All admission candidates are reviewed for merit-based financial aid by the Admission's Office at WPI. Merit-based financial aid is awarded based on a student's academic performance during high school.
If you are awarded merit-based financial aid, it will be incorporated into any need-based financial aid for which you may qualify.
Please note that recipients of the WPI Tuition Benefit are not eligible to receive WPI Academic Merit Scholarships or WPI University Awards.
For further information regarding the types of Merit Award WPI has to offer, please refer to the Merit Aid section of the Admissions Office website.
ROTC Scholarships*
High School seniors applying for Air Force, Army, or Navy ROTC scholarships should be aware if they are awarded either a four-year or three-year advanced designee (full or partial tuition) scholarship, WPI will offer a room and board credit to go against room and board charges in conjunction with their ROTC scholarship. Please note that these room and board credits may not cover the entire room and board costs depending on the room and meal plan a student chooses. The room and board credit does not apply to transfer students or students who are awarded a ROTC scholarship after they have enrolled at WPI. Please call the office of financial aid for details.
For more information on the different types of ROTC programs offered at WPI please visit the individual departments websites, Army, Navy, Air Force.
* Please note that if you receive merit based awards from WPI (including the WPI ROTC Room and Board Waivers/Credits), the combination of WPI need based and merit based scholarship funds in addition to any Federal or State scholarship funds cannot exceed the current tuition cost at WPI.
The total assistance received from all sources (including non-WPI funds & any student and/or alternative loans) cannot exceed WPI's current cost of attendance.
Maintained by webmaster@wpi.eduLast modified: March 14, 2008 08:54:08