Financial Aid

If I have questions regarding my FAFSA, who do I contact?

Either contact the WCTC Financial Aid Department or contact the U.S. Department of Education at 800.4333.243.

• Check the status of your FAFSA
• Order a duplicate Student Aid Report (SAR)
• Get help filing your FAFSA or correcting your SAR
• Add WCTC's school code (005294) to your SAR
• Obtain general student aid information

May I decline all or part of my Award Offer?

Yes. Declining some of your awarded aid will not affect your other awards.

If I add or drop credits, will my financial aid change?

Yes. Your financial aid is based on the number of credits you enroll in; therefore if your number of credits changes, your financial aid may change. If you drop a course after starting it, your financial aid may change. If you are considering dropping a course, please contact the financial aid department or refer to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

How do I re-apply for financial aid for next year?

To apply for financial aid for subsequent years all you will need is your U.S. Department of Education PIN. If you have forgotten your PIN, you can request a duplicate from the PIN Web site, you can ask to have your PIN sent to you by e-mail or U.S. postal mail. You will receive your duplicate PIN in 4 hours by e-mail or in 7-10 days by postal mail. Once you have your pin all you need to do is complete the Renewal FAFSA. This can be done anytime after January 1.

Do I have to include my parent(s)' information on the FAFSA?

The IRS and U.S. Department of Education (ED) have different rules for whether or not a student is considered dependent versus independent. Moreover, a student could be considered independent by IRS rules but dependent by ED rules. The only way a student can be considered independent for 2008-2009 by ED rules, and therefore not be required to include parental income on the FAFSA, is if the student can answer "yes" to one of the following:

1. Were you born before January 1, 1985?
2. At the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year, will you be working on a master's or doctorate program?
3. As of the date you filed the FAFSA, are you married?
4. Do you have children or other legal dependents who receive more than half of their support from you?
5. Are (a) both of your parents deceased, or (b) are you (or were until 18) a ward/dependent of the court?
6. Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or currently serving active duty?

If the student answers "no" to all of the above the student is required by ED to include parental income regardless of whether or not the parents claim the student on their taxes. If the student answers "yes" to at least one of the above the student is not required by ED to include parental income, again regardless of whether or not the parents claim the student on their taxes.

I am an international student, can I receive financial aid?

In order to be eligible for federal or state financial aid, you must either be a U.S. Citizen or an eligible noncitizen. Generally, you are en eligible noncitizen if you are: (1) a U.S. permanent resident with a Permanent Resident Card (I-551); (2) a conditional permanent resident (I-551C); or (3) the holder of an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the Department of Homeland Security showing any one of the following designations: "Refugee," "Asylum Granted," "Parole" (I-94 confirms paroled for a minimum of one year and status has not expired), or "Cuban-Haitian Entrant." If you are in the U.S. on an F1 of F2 student visa, or a J1 or J2 exchange visitor visa, or a G series visa (pertaining to international organizations), you are not eligible for federal or state financial aid.

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