​FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR PARENTS

How do we apply for financial aid and is there a deadline?
• All students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 
• Respond to all requests from our office in a timely manner. 
• UWSP has a priority date of May 1. However, we continue to make financial aid offers until the last week of the spring semester. It is important to keep in mind that the bill is due at the beginning of each semester. In order for aid to apply on time, all requirements in order to receive aid must be completed 2-3 weeks prior to the beginning of the term.

How often does the student need to apply and when should they start the process?
​Students must reapply for financial aid each school year. This includes filing the federal form (FAFSA) and submitting any requested documents. The process can be started as soon as October 1 for the next school year.

* The FAFSA became available to complete for the 2024-2025 academic year on December 31, 2023​. Please check the studentaid.gov​ website frequently for updates. ​

How will you notify my student of their financial aid offer?
​All students will receive a notification to their UWSP email account once a financial aid offer has been made which directs them to log in to their accesSPoint. Additionally, new students will receive their financial aid offer packet in the mail. All students may contact our office for a paper copy of their financial aid offer.

What are the total costs?
​Financial Aid is offered based on an estimated cost of attendance for the academic year. The cost of attendance includes direct educational costs such as tuition/fees and housing/meals as well as also other indirect costs that a student might incur (transportation, books, personal expenses). Available tuition rates can be found on our Student Financial Services website. Or, you can view our estimated Cost Of Attendance (COA) here. 

What about scholarships?
​The FAFSA process does not award scholarships, however scholarship sponsors may use the FAFSA as part of their criteria. Some scholarships are need-based but not usually. Typically, scholarships are based on a student’s academic achievement and come from many different sources. We offer a number of scholarships opportunities each year to incoming first-year students. These scholarships are generally based upon high school academic performance. Visit our Scholarships webpage for more information.

Are there jobs available for students who want to work?
​Students who are offered federal work study in their financial aid offer can apply for designated work-study positions, however, students who have not applied for federal aid or were not offered federal work-study can still apply for jobs on campus. Visit our Campus Activities and Student Engagement (CASE) office for more information. 

My student wasn't offered enough financial aid to cover the costs. Where should we look?

Please visit our Not Enough Aid webpage for more information.

In a divorced/separated family, which parent should file the forms?
​Based on the FAFSA:
  • If the student’s parents are married, answer the questions about both parents. 
  • If the student’s parent is widowed or single, answer only the questions about that parent. 
  • If the student's parents are unmarried and living together, answer questions about both parents.
  • If the student’s​ parents have divorced or separated, answer questions about the parent that the student lived with most during the last 12 months.** If they did not live with one parent more than the other, answer only the questions about the parent who provided most of the student’s financial support during the last 12 months or during the most recent year that the student actually received support from a parent. **For 2024-2025 and forward, questions must be answered about the parent who provided the most support the last 12 months regardless of where the student lived. If support was 50/50, the parent with the highest income and assets must be listed on the FAFSA.
  • If the student’s parent has remarried after being widowed or divorced, answer the questions about both parent and stepparent. 
  • If the student has a legal guardian, they cannot use the legal guardian’s information on the application. A legal guardian is not considered a parent in the financial aid process. 
  • If the student has foster parents, they cannot use the foster parent’s information on the application. A foster parent is not considered a parent in the financial aid process. 
  • If the student was adopted prior to age 13​, follow the instructions above for parents, based on their current marital status. 

Note: The following people are not considered parents on this form unless they have legally adopted the student: grandparents, foster parents, legal guardians, older brothers or sisters and uncles or aunts. 

View more information about this topic on the Department of Education's webpage.

What if our family circumstances change after we filed the FAFSA and/or other financial aid forms?
​In certain circumstances, you may request an appeal for your student’s aid eligibility. Appeals are usually successful only if a family’s income or expense information changes significantly from the information originally submitted for the school year. Changes to the financial aid package are not guaranteed as a part of the review process. For more information and to submit and appeal, see our Financial Aid Appeal webpage.

My student is on their own, when can they be considered independent for financial aid purposes?
​All applicants for federal student aid are considered either “independent” or “dependent.” Dependent students are required to include information about their parents on the FA​FSA. By answering a few questions, you can get a good idea of which category you fit into.

• Will you be 24 or older by Dec. 31 of the school year for which are applying for financial aid? 
• Will you be working toward a master’s or doctorate degree (such as M.A., M.B.A., M.D., J.D., Ph.D., Ed.D., etc.)? 
• Are you married or separated but not divorced? 
• Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you? 
• Do you have dependents (other than children or a spouse) who live with you and receive more than half of their support from you? 
• At any time since you turned age 13, were both of your parents deceased, were you in foster care or were you a ward or dependent of the court?
• Are you an emancipated minor or are you in a legal guardianship as determined by a court? 
• Are you an unaccompanied youth who is homeless or self-supported and at risk of being homeless? 
• Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for purposes other than training? 
• Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces? 

If none of the criteria listed above apply to your student, they will be considered a dependent student for financial aid purposes whether or not they are claimed on your taxes or not. If your student can answer yes to any of these questions, then they may be an independent student and may not be required to provide parental information on their FAFSA.

How do we pay for housing if we want to use financial aid?
​For a student living on campus, the housing and meal charges are added to the student bill. Any financial aid funds received will be applied to the student’s account by our Student Financial Services office; if tuition and fees, housing and meals are fully covered by the financial aid paid and there is an excess, a refund will be issued to the student. The student is then expected to use these funds to pay for other education related expenses, such as books, supplies, etc. 

For a student living off campus, the housing charges are not added to their student bill. Any financial aid funds received will be applied to the student’s tuition and fees by our Student Financial ​Services office; if tuition and fees are fully covered by the financial aid paid and there is an excess, a refund will be issued to the student. The student is then expected to use these funds to pay for other expenses, such as off campus housing, books, supplies, etc. 

When is financial aid available to students?
​Typically, financial aid is disbursed to a student’s bill the week before the start of their classes each term. Once aid is disbursed to the account, it will pay off any direct charges - tuition and fees, housing and meals (if living on campus) are paid each term. Any excess will be refunded to the student (either by Direct Deposit or a paper check) to be used for other educational expenses such as books, rent, food, etc. Students are able to sign up for Direct Deposit in their accesSPoint. For more information, see our Student Financial Services office website.

What if we have questions about the tuition bill?
​Questions regarding the bill and refund should be made to our Student Financial Services office. Depending on the time the bill is created, it may not reflect any financial aid credits. Students may log in to their accesSPoint for the most up-to-date information.
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