Student Services

Financial Aid

The Office of Student Financial Aid administers many federal, state and institutional financial aid programs to help students pay for their education. There are four basic types of aid: grants, scholarships, loans and work study. Grants and scholarships do not have to be repaid. Loans must be repaid after graduation or withdrawal from school, with interest charges of five to nine percent (depending on the loan program) accruing during the repayment period. The Work Study Program gives students a chance to work part-time, both on- and off-campus. Financial aid pays a large portion of the salary of work study jobs. These jobs are plentiful and may offer career-related experience.

Please note: Students in the Evening Degree program are not eligible for institutional tuition waiver or grant programs, including the Husky Promise program. However, it is possible for Evening Degree students who qualify to receive federal and state grants, as well as some institutional scholarships.

What is Financial Need?

The basic assumptions behind financial aid are that students have a responsibility to help pay for their education, and that parents, to the extent they are able, are responsible for contributing to their dependent children's education. For most aid programs, "financial need" is defined as the difference between the cost of the student's attending school and the amount s/he can afford to pay.

The amount a student and his or her family should be able to contribute is determined by a standard, federally mandated need-analysis method. The method establishes whether a student is financially dependent on his or her parents and, if so, what they should be able to contribute. It also takes into account past earnings and benefits, a percentage of net assets (savings, investments), and all other sources of support.

To calculate a family's expected contribution, OSFA uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which is mailed to the federal aid processors in the envelope provided. Families may be asked to provide IRS 1040 forms and other documentation as part of the review process, which may result in adjustments in the amount of expected family contribution and aid awarded. If a student has additional medical, transportation, child care or other unusual expenses not covered by the living allowance mentioned above, the student may, by submitting a revision request with documentation (physician's statement, child-care or baby-sitter bills), ask OSFA to consider the additional costs in his or her "budget."

Eligibility for Financial Aid

To qualify, an applicant must:

• be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• be accepted for admission to the University in a degree program (nonmatriculated students are not eligible for grants but may qualify for loans)
• maintain satisfactory progress in a course of study
• not be in default on a federal student loan or owe a repayment on a federal grant
• demonstrate financial need (except for those who are not seeking need-based loans)

For first-priority consideration, an applicant must:

• apply by the priority filing date, usually Feb. 28 for the following academic year
• enroll as a full-time student (12 credits per quarter for undergraduates)
  Part-time students (6 to 11 undergraduate credits) may be eligible for non-priority aid, such as loans and Pell Grant funds.

Here are some points to remember:

• Eligibility notices begin going out in the spring and throughout the summer. If you receive a notice of award, be sure to return it by the deadline printed on the notice.
• Keep copies of all financial documents, including the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), your federal tax return, your parent's federal tax return, and any other statements used to complete the FAFSA. The OSFA may request these forms at any time to verify the accuracy of the FAFSA information.
• If the OSFA sends a request for additional information or verifying documents, the request should be answered as soon as possible, in writing.

How to Apply for Financial Aid

Grants, Loans and Work Study

The UW uses the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), a common application form used by many colleges. The FAFSA is available from the Office of Student Financial Aid beginning in December or early January each year. Applicants can request a complete financial aid packet, which includes all necessary forms and instructions for UW applicants, by writing to: Financial Aid, 105 Schmitz Hall, Box 355880, Seattle, WA 98195-5880, or by calling 206-543-6101 (then press 2). Applicants can apply online via the FAFSA Web site or the Office of Student Financial Aid Web site.

In order for your financial aid application to be processed, it is essential that your correct Social Security number is on all financial aid application materials, as well as on your application for admission. Students should not wait to be admitted to the UW before filing the FAFSA.

FAFSA Filing Dates

It is important that you file the FAFSA on time. Late applicants can be considered for two financial aid programs: Federal Pell Grants and Federal Direct Stafford Loans. The deadline date refers to the date stamped on the FAFSA when it is received by the federal processor. It does not refer to the date the student mails the FAFSA, so be sure to allow two weeks for mailing time, and send the FAFSA no later than mid-February.

The financial aid deadline for priority consideration applies to all quarters of the upcoming academic year which begins with Summer Quarter. The deadline for all quarters of 2003/2004 is Feb. 28, 2003.

Scholarships

The Undergraduate Scholarship Office in 171 Mary Gates Hall (see campus map), 206-543-2550, provides information to undergraduates about UW departmental, local and national merit-based scholarships.

Childcare Assistance Program