Financial Aid

WPCC Federal School Code – 002982

 

The Financial Aid Office will send all notifications (requests for missing items, offer letters, etc.) electronically.  Students MUST check campus email or Pioneer Pass accounts to see what items are needed by the Financial Aid Office or to see Offer Letters. Please view the video on our New Students page for help on setting up your WPCC student accounts. 

The primary purpose of the WPCC Financial Aid Office is to provide financial assistance to those students, who without such assistance would be unable to attend WPCC.  Financial aid is awarded on a first come – first served basis. The Financial Aid Office participates in a variety of financial aid programs.  Scholarships and grants are gift awards which do not have to be repaid.  Loans and work study are considered self-help aid since repayment or performance of duties are required.

FAFSA Information

  • The 2025-26 FAFSA determines your financial aid eligibility for the Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026 terms.
  • The FAFSA now features fewer questions, fewer requirements, and retrieve tax information using a direct data exchange from the IRS.
  • The need analysis formula to determine financial aid is called the Student Aid Index (SAI). This formula removes the number of family members in college from the calculation, better reflects the FAFSA results, and implements a separate eligibility determination criteria for Federal Pell Grants.
  • The term “contributor,” refers to anyone who is required to provide information on a student’s FAFSA form, including the student, the student’s spouse, a biological or adopted parent, or the parent’s spouse. Being a contributor does not imply responsibility for the student’s college costs.
  • The adjustments to the Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation expands Federal Pell Grant eligibility to more students.

Timeline

December 2024 The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2025-2026 year opened.
Spring 2025

Will begin processing 2025-2026 FAFSA.

If you are admitted to the College and/or registered, and have completed the financial aid process, you will receive updates on your FAFSA via Pioneer Pass.
Summer 2025

Financial Aid Offer Letters begin going out to students. 

If you have completed the financial aid process, you will receive a Financial Aid Offer Letter via Pioneer Pass.

Prepare for the FAFSA

Before completing the FAFSA, you should prepare by doing the following:

  • Create an FSA ID for yourself (the student) at studentaid.gov if you have not previously created one or completed a FAFSA.

    – An FSA ID is an account and password that gives you access to the Federal Student Aid’s online system and serves as your electronic signature. You cannot create more than 1 FSA ID, as it is linked to your Social Security Number.

  • Determine who will be a contributor on your FAFSA, such as your parent(s) or spouse, and assist them in creating their own FSA ID(s).

  • FSA IDs must be created and go through a match process with the Social Security Administration before some parts of the FAFSA, such as IRS tax information direct import, can be completed. This match process usually takes about 1-3 days, so the student and all contributors should have FSA IDs created before making an appointment or stopping by for assistance in completing the FAFSA.

Changes to Your Family’s Financial Situation

If you or your family’s financial situation has changed significantly from what is reflected on your federal income tax return (for example, if you’ve lost a job or otherwise experienced a reduction in income), you may be eligible to have your financial aid adjusted. Complete the FAFSA questions as instructed on the application (including the transfer of tax return and income information), submit your FAFSA form, then contact the school you plan to attend to discuss how your current financial situation has changed. Note that the school’s decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.

Refund/Disbursement Dates

Financial Aid balances remaining after tuition, fees and bookstore charges have been deducted will be mailed to students on the following dates:

Spring 2025

Summer 2025

Fall 2025

  • February 21

  • March 21

  • April 25

  • May 9


  • June 13

  • July 18

  • September 26

  • October 24

  • November 14

  • December 12

WPCC will mail refund checks to the student’s address listed with the Records Department.  If your address has changed since you filled out an Application for Admission to WPCC, you should update your address immediately on Pioneer Pass by following the instructions detailed HERE. For students who apply later in the semester, refund check availability will be determined by when the student’s financial aid application is complete.

Office Hours

The Financial Aid Office is located in Hildebrand Hall on WPCC’s main campus. Financial Aid Counselors are available to serve students during the following hours:

• 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday
• 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 pm Tuesday
• Summer hours may vary

In order to better serve students, appointments are recommended, but not necessary. Contact the Financial Aid Office by phone at (828) 448-6046 or email at financialaidoffice@bjlanjia.com.