Financial Aid Offer Letter

If you completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and received your FAFSA submission summary, you will then receive your WMU financial aid offer letter. If you are a new or returning student, you will receive your interactive financial aid offer letter via your WMU email. Updated offer letter information is available in goWMU.

Determination of offers

Offer letters will tell you just how much aid you can expect to receive from WMU. Offers are determined based on several factors, including the information you and your family supplied on the FAFSA, your residency and your planned enrollment.

Offerings for new students are usually packaged in late winter for the upcoming year. Offerings for returning students are usually packaged in late spring.

Accept or decline offers

Student borrowers have the right to accept or decline their federal loans electronically on the ‘Accept Award Offer’ tab through goWMU. Students may request subsequent adjustments to their loans using the student financial aid adjustment form, which may be submitted securely through goWMU. Students have up until 30 days after your loan has disbursed to cancel or decrease your loan. More information available at wmich.edu/finaid/aid-types/loans. Once you have accepted your loan, you may be prompted to complete additional items in order for disbursement of the loan funds. Be sure to check goWMU for any unsatisfied requirements.

Financial aid terms you need to know

• Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of how much college will cost that includes tuition and fees, room and board, books, supplies and other university expenses.
• Student Aid Index (SAI) is the amount the federal government believes your family can contribute to one year of college and is used to determine financial need.
• Financial Need is the difference between Student Aid Index (SAI) and the Cost of Attendance (COA).
• Federal Work-study is a need-based program that allows students to work and earn a paycheck that is partially subsidized by the federal government.
• Federal Pell Grant is a federal grant for students with significant need. It is not repaid. Eligibility is determined in part by your student aid index .
• Federal SEOG is the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. It is a federal grant with limited funding and is not repaid. This grant is awarded to students with significant need.
• Federal Direct Subsidized Loan is a student loan that is federally funded and based on need. It carries a low, fixed interest rate.
• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan is not based on need. It offers a low interest rate and minimal fees. Interest accrues with disbursement.
• WMU Grant has limited funding and is provided by WMU to students with need. Eligibility is based in part on your expected family contribution.

Semesters/sessions

WMU breaks the school year into two semesters and two sessions. Financial aid is based on your estimated full-time enrollment. Most students enroll for fall and spring semesters. You may also enroll for classes during summer I and summer II sessions. Both of these sessions require an additional financial aid application available each spring semester on our Forms webpage. Your offer letter shows your aid by semester and session.