Emergency Assistance & Special Circumstances

WPI’s financial aid staff is here to help you navigate the financial aid application process and to answer any questions you may have about paying for your college education. Please feel free to reach out to us, and we will help you in any way we can!

We are available for meetings in person, in our office in the Bartlett Center, virtually or by telephone. Please call 508-831-5469 or email finaid@wpi.edu for an appointment. Appointments are available Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9am-4pm EST. Our team will be happy to help to arrange an appointment for you!

Our phones (508-831-5469) are answered Monday - Friday between the hours of 10:30 am and 4 pm EST.

WPI has demonstrated multiple times that it is a community that cares. Funds have been established to assist our WPI community members who encounter an unforeseen financial emergency or catastrophic event. To learn more about these funds, and how to apply, please visit the Dean of Student’s website and the Financial Support & Resources page.

Special circumstances are anything that differentiates the family's finances from those of other families. Reasons for a professional judgement request may include (but are not limited to):

Recent unemployment
Recent death of wage earner
Recent change in marital status
Recent unusually high out of pocket medical expenses not reimbursed by insurance
Other significant, measurable, and involuntary changes in financial circumstances
**Please note that a Professional Judgement request does not guarantee approval. In addition, even if approved, the recalculation of FAFSA data does not always result in an increase of aid eligibility. If the professional judgement is not in your favor, it will not be processed.

If you have questions about this process, and how to request an appeal, please email finaid@wpi.edu.

Additional Resources