Application Information
To apply for Financial Aid at West Virginia University you must complete the following steps:

1. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in January of the year you plan to attend WVU. There are deadlines for maximum aid consideration that will most likely affect your Financial Aid. You can view the deadline calendar for specific information.
The paper FAFSA can be obtained from the Financial Aid Office or from a high school guidance counselor. Students can also apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

If you need assistance completing the application you can obtain information from the experts at the Federal Student Aid Programs (1-800-4FED-AID), or you can call us at the WVU Financial Aid Office (304) 293-5242) and we will be happy to assist you.

Once your application is processed by the Federal Processing Center, a notification will be sent to you either electronically (if you included an email address on the application) or by a paper Student Aid Report (SAR).

If you listed WVU as a school to receive information, we will electronically receive your information from the processing center and begin to determine your eligibility.

2. Federal regulations require WVU to select a certain number of applications for a review process called VERIFICATION. If your application is selected, you will be notified by our office through a written request for additional information. You will have 30 days to submit the required documents. Your financial aid will NOT be processed until all required documents are received.

3. You will receive an award notification with the type(s) and amount(s) of financial aid you are eligible to receive. Information about different types of financial aid offered at WVU can be found on our Aid Programs page.
You must respond to the aid offer within 30 days, otherwise awards may not be available. Many federal awards cannot be reinstated after being canceled or declined.

Tips on Applying for Financial Aid
1. Apply on time. The application deadline for need-based aid is March 1, and the priority deadline for consideration is February 15. In order to receive academic scholarships, the admissions application process must be completed by February 1st.

2. Be sure applications are complete and correct.

3. When in doubt, ask questions.

4. Know your rights and responsibilities.

5. Read correspondence completely and respond promptly.

6. Establish a budget for your college expenses and stick to it.

7. Complete your Federal tax returns as soon as possible, and keep photocopies.

Please remember that applying for financial aid is your responsibility.