Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Federal School Code for UW-L?
003919

Is there a deadline date for applying for financial aid?
The priority date for applications for the fall semester is March 15th. This is not a deadline since applications are accepted throughout the academic year. Students applying for the current spring term whose applications are received after April 30th are unlikely to have their applications processed in time to receive aid.

How do I check on the status of my financial aid?
If you are checking on the status of your FAFSA, visit the FAFSA website. If you are a continuing student and your FAFSA has been processed, you can check the status of your aid by clicking "Display Financial Aid Status" on TALON. If you are a new student and your FAFSA has been processed and you are waiting to hear from UW-L, contact the Financial Aid Office.

What is the process to apply for financial aid?
You can find the application process for the appropriate year under "Applying For Aid" on the navigation bar on this page.

Do I need to apply every year?
Yes. You must reapply each year. The FAFSA is available every January for the upcoming year.

How do I apply for summer financial aid?
After January 1, you must complete the Summer School Financial Aid Application and submit it to UW-L for consideration of student loans and federal work-study only. Loan amounts borrowed in the summer may affect eligibility for the upcoming academic year.

How can I apply for UWL/institutional or private scholarships?
Visit the UW-L Foundation website and download the application information. Deadline is March 1st of each year. Also check the scholarship resources on the UWL Financial Aid Website.

If I am not currently admitted to UW-L, may I still apply for financial aid?
Yes. However, a financial aid award will not be sent to you until you have been admitted.

Do scholarships, assistantships, or Residence Hall Staff positions affect my eligibility?
Yes. If it is necessary to reduce other financial aid as a result of a scholarship, assistantship and/or RA position, aid would be reduced in the following order: loans, work-study and grants. Report any scholarships or other resources on the Scholarship & Other Resources Notification Form.

Will my financial aid be affected if I receive a WI G.I. Bill tuition remission?
Financial aid awards may need to be adjusted for students who receive the WI G.I. Bill tuition remission benefit. If your WI G.I. Bill tuition remission is approved after your financial aid award has already been issued, your financial aid award will need to be reassessed to reflect the new tuition resources you have received. As a result, your loans, grants and federal work study may need to be reduced. Financial aid reassessments may occur throughout the semester and are required by federal law whenever a student's financial need changes as a result of receiving additional loans, grants, remissions or other resources.

Does my credit load affect my financial aid?
Your financial aid is awarded based on your enrollment status. Half time and 3/4 time students will have their aid reduced accordingly. You must be at least half time to be eligible for financial aid.

Full time -
    12 credits undergraduates
    9 credits graduate students
Half time -
    6 credits undergraduates
    5 credits graduate students
3/4 time -
    9 credits undergraduates
    7 credits graduate students

What if I am not eligible for work-study, can I still work on campus?
Yes. There are a number of student employment opportunities on campus that are non work-study. See the Student Employment Job Board page.

How do I fill out the FAFSA if my parents are separated or divorced?
Answer the questions about the parent that you lived with more during the last twelve months. If this parent has remarried, answer the questions on the rest of the form about that parent and the person whom your parent married (your stepparent).

What should I do if my family has special circumstances or changes in income since our taxes were filed?
Inform the student financial aid office of these changes. If necessary, documentation will be requested and in some cases an adjustment to your financial aid award can be made.

How can I be independent?
If you can answer 'YES' to any of the following questions:

Are you 24 years old?
Will you be working on a Master's Degree in the upcoming year?
Are you married?
Do you have children that you provide at least half of their support?
Are you an orphan?
Are you a veteran?

What happens to my financial aid if I drop credits or withdraw from school?
Depending on the date of your withdrawal, all or a portion of the student financial aid awarded to you may be returned to the student financial aid programs.

What is the difference between subsidized and unsubsidized loans?
Subsidized loans are 'subsidized' by the Federal government. The government is paying the interest on the loan while you are enrolled in school.

Unsubsidized loans are not 'subsidized' by the Federal government. As such, the borrower is responsible for the interest while enrolled. If the interest is not paid by the borrower during that period of enrollment, the interest will capitalize on the principal and the loan amount to be repaid will increase.

Is there financial aid available for a study abroad experience?
Yes. There is the possibility of increased loan eligibility and there is a small need-based grant available to Wisconsin students who qualify.

I am an international student; do I qualify for federal student financial aid?
You must be a US citizen or an eligible non-citizen to be eligible for federal student assistance.

How do I make a correction to my financial aid application?
Contact the UW-L Financial Aid Office and inform us of the error.

How do I report scholarships that I receive?
Inform the Financial Aid Office of the amount and the name of the donor of all scholarships you will be receiving on the Scholarship & Other Resources Notification Form and return the form to the UWL Financial Aid Office. If you have questions, contact the UW-L Financial Aid Office.

Should I pay for a scholarship search?
No. Often these types of organizations are scams and you are able to locate the same information for free. Visit the scholarship page for additional information.

How will I receive my financial aid change check?
    Once your bill is paid in full, any additional funds will generate a change check. When you activated your Tower One card, you had to choose one of three options for your change check:
    1- deposit it into your Tower One debit account,
    2- deposit it into an account at your own lending institution, or
    3- a paper check to be mailed to you. Your change check will be disbursed to you in which ever manner you chose.

Why does the Financial Aid Office need my Social Security Number?
Disclosure of your Social Security Number (SSN) is requested for the student records system of UW-L and for compliance with Federal and State reporting requirements. Federal law requires that you provide your SSN if you are applying for financial aid. The privacy and confidentiality of student records is protected by law and the University will not disclose your SSN without your consent for any other purposes except as allowed by law.

What can I do if my Education Loan is in default?
If your student loan is in default, you are not eligible to receive further financial aid until the default has been cleared. The US Department of Education has set up a website to help you clear the record. http://www.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/DCS/default.html. This site provides information of Federal Stafford, PLUS, Direct and Perkins Loans and discusses the consequences of default, help determine which agency holds your defaulted notes, outline options for clearing your default status, and explain how to possibly resolve disputes on your status. You may also want to contact your lender and/or guarantee agency.

Other questions?
Please feel free to contact us at the UW-L Student Financial Aid Office.