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Application and FAFSA

• How do I apply?
• What is a PIN?
• Is parental information needed for the FAFSA?
• How to confirm student's FAFSA is complete and the School has received it?
• If I filed my FAFSA online and did not use my PIN number, how many days do I have to mail the signature page to Department of Education?
• Who has access to the information on the FAFSA?

Processing

• How is my financial aid determined?
• When will the financial aid award process start?
• What if my financial situation changes?
• What if I have unusual circumstances?
• Should I apply for financial aid?
• Is my application complete? What is my status for financial aid?

Special Circumstances

• Can international students get financial aid?
• What if my financial aid is delayed?
• Do I apply for financial aid each year?
• What is a Master Promissory Note?
• How do I report address changes?
• Are there academic progress rules?

Additional Questions

• I have questions about the Hope Scholarship and Lifetime Learning Credit benefits?
• What if I have other questions about my financial aid?
• Is an Alternative Loan For Me?
• Why would I want to get an alternative Loan?
• What's the difference between Federal and alternative loans?
• How do I repay?

Application and FAFSA

For all federal financial aid programs, students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). FAFSA on the Web is a free U.S. Department of Education Web site where students can complete an Online FAFSA. The school code for Western University of Health Sciences is 024827. In order to complete an electronic application or make corrections via the web, students will need a Department of Education Personal Identification Number (PIN). Students may request a PIN at the Department of Eduation's PIN Registartion web site. All students are encouraged to file electronically to minimize processing time.

A PIN is your Personal Identification Number (PIN), which serves as your identifier to let you access personal information in various US Department of Education systems and some lender systems. Because your PIN is your electronic signature, you should not give it to anyone.

Students entering Western University are considered independent. Therefore parental information is optional but may be required for some scholarships.

Students will receive a confirmation number upon completion of FAFSA online. We suggest students print a copy for their records. If the WesternU school code is included on the list of schools the student plans to attend, a copy of the FAFSA data will be electronically sent to each of the schools identified.

The Central Processing Center (CPS) will hold your electronic information for 14 days only. The electronic results will not be transmitted to WesternU, until the signature page is obtained at CPS. Student(s) prompt response is necessary to complete the FAFSA process.

The Financial Aid Office at WesternU has access to your financial information. All information is kept confidential between student and aid administrator.

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Processing

All federal financial aid is determined by comparing your resources to a predetermined student budget. The Financial Aid Office determines the budget annually. All students in graduate school are automatically considered independent. Resources are calculated with the contributions of student and spouse. All these contributions are added to any other support such as Social Security, or GI Bill payments. The total is subtracted from the student's budget, and the difference is the student's financial need. After deducting all reported scholarships and other resources, the student receives an offer of financial aid also known as an award letter.

The award process begins in early spring. Student(s) will receive instructions on how to accepts or decline any portion of their awards.

Financial aid recipients are required to report in writing any changes in their status, including but not limited to student and spousal earnings, resources from family, receipt of financial support from other WesternU departments, receipt of financial support from outside agencies, changes in marital status, etc. A financial aid counselor will review the documentation, and make adjustments if necessary in the student's financial aid award.

Make an appointment to see a financial aid counselor.

Yes. Many families mistakenly think they do not qualify for aid and prevent themselves from receiving financial aid by failing to apply for it. In addition, there are other sources of aid such as the Grad Plus Loan, Unsubsidized Stafford Loans that are available regardless of need. The Grad Plus Loan and Private or alternative loans are available on a credit basis.

Students can view their financial aid status via BanWeb. If further assistance is needed please contact the Financial Aid Office at (909) 469-5353, Monday, from 7:30 a.m. until 9 a.m. and noon to 5 p.m.; and Tuesday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Special Circumstances

To receive funds from the Financial Aid Office a student must be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States . Alternative or private loans may be available to international students. Lenders require a creditworthy co-borrower who is a citizen or permanent resident in order to qualify.

Financial aid recipients may be eligible for an emergency loan. These are short term, interest free advance for students who have a delay in receiving their financial aid. Repayment is required within 90 days and payment will be withheld from future financial aid disbursements. Emergency loans are not available for periods of non-enrollment. Emergency loans are limited to availability, and only available to students with an upcoming approved financial aid loan disbursement. Please contact the Bursar's office to verify if funds are available.

Yes. Student(s) are required to file a FAFSA by March 2nd of each year.

A Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a legal binding document you sign promising to repay Subsidized and or Unsubsidized Federal Stafford loans. The MPN opens a line of credit for educational expenses and is good for 10 years from the date signed. A new MPN is required if there is a change of lender.

Address changes should be reported to the Office of Student Affairs. Students who borrow a federal Stafford loan and/or a private loan must contact their lender if the permanent address on their application changes.

Students receiving financial aid are required to maintain satisfactory academic progress toward their degree objectives. Students must also make sufficient progress each year toward completion of degree requirements within a "normal" time frame and must meet the specific academic requirements established for the curriculum.

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Additional Questions

For more information regarding the Hope Credit, the Lifetime Learning Credit, and other tax benefits for postsecondary students, see the Internal Revenue Service's Tax Incentives for Higher Education Expenses

Financial Aid staff are available to answer questions via telephone at (909) 469-5353, Monday, from 7:30 a.m. until 9 a.m. and noon to 5 p.m.; and Tuesday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or via email at finaid@westernu.edu.

Alternative loans are distributed by private lenders. These lenders include banks, credit unions and private lending companies (not loans from the government).

An alternative loan may provide enough funds to enable you to attend and pay for the college of your choice. However, alternative loans frequently have a higher interest rate, so you may want to consider this option only after exhausting all other financial aid options such as government loans and scholarships.

Almost all alternative loans are going to have a higher interest rate than any government loan. Alternative loans may offer more flexibility in terms of when you repay.

Each repayment plan has its own terms, and it's important to research the options of each prospective plan. In addition to your monthly payments, you may have to pay a guarantee fee.

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