Consumer Information and Disclosures

If you are a Cooley Law, Medical or International student, contact your respective office for financial assistance information. All other students, contact the Student Financial Aid office for information on:

• Applying for Aid
• Eligibility
• Offers
• Study abroad
• FAQs
• Types of Financial Aid
• Work-study
• Institutional Offers
• Private Scholarships

WMU Financial Aid Offer

Your current financial aid offer is always up to date and available on goWMU. As a first year student, you will receive a digital interactive offer and a printed mailed offer that is sent to the address on file. Returning and graduate students will only receive a digital interactive offer. An example of your digital offer letter is provided here. Please note that this is an example and may not completely reflect your exact offer. 

Student Financial Aid institutional criteria for selection and awarding

Western Michigan University’s Student Financial Aid office uses algorithm-based and data-driven Institutional optimization consultant modeling, to distribute institutional scholarships and grants fairly. These resources assess financial need, academic performance and student success potential, allowing us to allocate scholarships efficiently while promoting fair access and retention.

Professional judgement 

Professional judgment refers to the discretion granted by federal regulations to financial aid administrators. This discretion allows them to make tailored adjustments, based on individual circumstances, to specific aspects of a student's FAFSA information. These adjustments serve the purpose of achieving a more precise evaluation of a student's eligibility for federal aid. At Western Michigan University Student Financial Aid, professional judgment provides the flexibility to modify student aid index for educational expenses, the standard cost of attendance (COA) budget, and/or their financial aid dependency status in accordance with federal guidelines. Any adjustments submitted for consideration must be well-documented and reasonable in relation to the cost of attendance, and they are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

College Scorecard

College Scorecard provides information about college costs, graduation rates and earnings of graduates. 

College Navigator

College Navigator is a consumer tool that provides school information to include tuition and fees, retention and graduation rates, use of financial aid, student loan default rates and features a cost calculator and school comparison tool.

Your rights and responsibilities. 

Refund policy

The University has a tuition refund policy that stipulates the amount of tuition and fees that are refunded to a student who withdraws from all or a portion of classes during a semester. The dates and corresponding refund percentages are published by the Registrar’s Office in its academic catalogs. More information on refunds is available through Accounts Receivable. 

Repayment policy (Return of Title IV aid)

The federal government mandates that students withdrawing from all classes may keep only the financial aid (federal "Title IV" grant and loan assistance) they have "earned" up to the time of withdrawal. Students are offered Title IV funds with the idea that the student will attend the semester in its entirety. If the student withdraws, this may impact the student's eligibility for Title IV funds. The school is then responsible for calculating the amount of aid the student has "earned," and the amount of aid that must be returned by the University and/or the student. More information is available through the Student Financial Aid office.

Withdrawal procedures

Information on withdrawing procedures is available through the Registrar’s Office. Before withdrawing from a class, it is advised to speak with a Financial Services Specialist and understand all options. 

Satisfactory Academic Progress

If you want to remain eligible for federal and state financial aid programs, you must make satisfactory academic progress toward your degree. Standards of satisfactory academic progress are applied to all students who wish to establish or maintain financial aid eligibility, regardless of whether they have received financial aid in the past. You may also file a SAP appeal if you wish to have your eligibility reconsidered.

Consortium agreements

Consortium agreements allow students to enroll in courses at another institution (also known as the 'Host' institution) that are transferrable to his/her degree program at WMU. Consortium agreements allow a student to be registered at both institutions simultaneously while receiving financial aid at WMU based on the combined enrollment of both institutions. To be eligible, course(s) taken at the host institution are not currently offered at WMU, or degree completion will be significantly delayed due to course sequencing and/or prerequisite requirements for WMU courses. 

Disbursements

Financial aid is scheduled to pay toward your account approximately 10 days before the semester for which you have enrolled begins. When and how you receive your aid depends on the type of aid you receive and whether you have completed all requirements for receiving your aid. 

Loan forgiveness

There are some circumstances for which your loans can be cancelled or forgiven due to volunteer service or work in a public service job. 

Loan repayment

There are many options when it comes to repaying your loans. Contact your loan servicer to discuss repayment plan options. You can review your loan history in the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) by visiting studentaid.gov and logging in with your FSA ID and password. Every federal student loan you have received will be listed on this website in the order they were disbursed. 

All federal loans are assigned a loan servicer. You can review their information on NSLDS by clicking the number to the left of each loan and scrolling down. You will contact the servicer with billing inquiries on your loans, including deferment and forbearance requests.

Borrower Defense Rules (BDR)

The Borrower Defense Rules, specifically BDR4, establish a provision that empowers federal student loan borrowers to request loan forgiveness if they believe they have been defrauded or misled by Western Michigan University. This form of repayment is referred to as "Borrower Defense to Repayment" and is governed by 34 CFR 668.41(h), Sec. 685.206(e), and Sec. 685.206(e)(6)(ii).

Scholarship fraud

The College Scholarship Fraud Prevention Act of 2000 was passed to protect students against student financial aid fraud by establishing stricter sentencing guidelines for criminal financial aid fraud. According to the Federal Trade Commission, perpetrators of financial aid fraud often claim the following:

• Your scholarships are guaranteed.
• Request for credit card or bank account information.
• Scholarships cost money up front.
• You have won a scholarship, though never entered a contest.

Career outcomes

More information on career outcomes is available through the Career and Student Employment Services. 

Graduation and retention rates

The Institutional Research office offers extensive data on degrees confirmed, enrollment reports, retention and more. 

• Student Achievement Data
• Retention and Graduation Reports and Dashboards
• Common Data Set - 2023-24

Graduation and retention rates for student athletes

The NCAA reports graduation retention rates for student athletes annually. 

Employment for graduates

Information on career outcomes, employment data and salary ranges are available through the Career and Student Employment Services office.

Graduate and professional education for graduates

There are many options for graduates who wish to continue education. Information on professional development is available through Online Education. Specific graduate college information is available through the Graduate College. 

Athletic program participation and financial support data

Information regarding WMU athletic program participation and financial support data can be requested through WMU Athletic Academic Services. Each year, the WMU Athletic Department reports date regarding equity in athletics. 

Teacher preparation annual report card

The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) administers a system for determining Educator Preparation Institution (EPI) Performance Scores to identify, assist and report teacher preparation programs which are not performing at a satisfactory level. More information about the Educator Preparation Institution Performance Score is available through the Teacher and Administrator Certification office. 

Campus safety and security

WMU prepares and publishes an Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report each year on Oct. 1. The report contains detailed information about campus safety including emergency services, safety tips, University policies, state laws and additional support services. Additionally, it contains information about fire safety in on-campus housing, confidential crime reporting, missing student notification protocol, and a summary of the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Copies are available through the WMU Department of Public Safety. 

Vaccination policy

WMU has policies and procedures regarding new student immunizations and information on scheduling appointments through Sindecuse Health Center. 

Drug and alcohol abuse prevention

Students at WMU are required to follow student code and conduct and measures are taken when violations occur. Information on these violations is available through the Student Conduct office. Information and counseling services for students regarding alcohol and substance abuse is available through Sindecuse Health Center. 

Nondiscrimination Policy Statement

Western Michigan University prohibits discrimination or harassment which violates the law or which constitutes inappropriate or unprofessional limitation of employment opportunity, University facility access, or participation in University activities, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, protected disability, veteran status, height, weight or marital status. 

University complaints

WMU encourages students and prospective students to address complaints relating to consumer protection issues first with personnel in the office, department, school or college that led to the complaint alleged. Students and families have various ways to submit complaints and have those complaints addressed. 

At the University: The Ombudsman, Department Director or divisional Vice President, Dean, Associate/Assistant Dean, Associate/Assistant Provost, Provost or President.

The State of Michigan has no Coordinating Board or oversight authority for public universities. Public universities are charted in the State of Michigan’s Constitution. Western Michigan University was chartered on May 27, 1903. The Michigan Constitution of 1963, Article VIII, Section 4 speaks of higher education institutions, appropriations, accounting, public sessions of boards that specifically lists Western Michigan University.

At the State Level: The Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs Corporations, Securities & Commercial Licensing (CSCL) Bureau P.O. Box 30018 Lansing, MI 48909 (517) 241-7000 and Michigan Association of State Universities 101 S. Washington Square, Suite 600, Lansing, MU 48933 (517) 482-1563. LARA - CSCL Complaint Process (michigan.gov) and STATEMENT OF COMPLAINT (michigan.gov)

Finally, complaints about the University which have not been successfully resolved through these channels may also be referred to the Office of Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division with submission of a Consumer Complaint / Inquiry Form.

Information on this website is subject to change because of the nature of federal, state and institutional guidelines that affect financial aid programs. A pdf version of Consumer Information Guide is also available. For more information, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Bronco Express.

Western Michigan University 
Student Financial Aid and Bronco Express
2510 Faunce Student Services
Kalamazoo MI 49008
wmich.edu/finaid
(269) 387-6000
@email