Federal Aid
To apply for federal financial aid, a student must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA must be completed annually in order to be considered for student loans and work-study. There is no federal grant support for graduate level students based on the FAFSA.
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Divinity have the same Federal Title IV school code: E00429.
To receive financial aid from federal programs, you must meet the following criteria:
- be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen;
- be enrolled at least half-time (4.5 hours) as a “regular student”;
- be working toward a degree or certificate;
- be making satisfactory academic progress;
- not owe a refund on any federal grant or be in default on any federal education loan, or have made satisfactory arrangements to repay any defaulted loans;
- have not borrowed in excess of aggregate loan limits;
- not have been convicted of drug distribution or possession
To receive a federal loan, a student must be accepted or enrolled in a degree or certificate program. Admittance to a graduate program as a “Special Student” does not meet the admissions criteria to qualify for federal financial aid. Continuing students must be in good academic standing and making satisfactory academic progress in order to receive financial aid.
All forms of institutional or private aid will be taken into consideration when determining your eligibility for any federal financial aid. After your award has been calculated, the receipt of other aid may cause a revision in your original award. A student must notify Student Financial Aid if you are receiving aid from any outside sources
Loan Information
Five Steps to Receive a Federal Direct Stafford Loan:
1) File a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Wake Forest will receive an electronic version of your FAFSA in 3-5 business days and asses your eligibility for federal aid. An electronic award notification will be sent to your WFU email account with detailed instructions on how to accept your aid offered through the OneWFU.
2) Complete Federal Entrance Counseling. Students beginning a new graduate program and receiving federal student aid must complete federal loan entrance counseling before a federal student loan can disburse
3) Sign Master Promissory Note. First time Stafford loan borrowers must complete a master promissory note. If you received a Stafford loan as an undergraduate student, a promissory note is valid for 10 years. To ensure you have a valid promissory note, please visit StudentLoans.gov
4) Ensure all Requirements are met. Students can view unsatisfied requirements by accessing their Financial Aid Status under the Virtual Campus section of OneWFU.
5) Requesting a Refund. If a student accepts a loan in excess of tuition and fees to assist with living expenses, the student will be eligible for a refund. Any questions regarding the processing of a refund should be addressed to Student Financial Services
The Federal Student Aid website has a helpful repayment tool to calculate what your loan repayment will be.
Additional Information:
Financial Aid Transcripts: Financial aid transcript information is collected electronically from the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) and sent to Wake Forest via the Student Aid Report. If you attend or attended another school after the spring 2003 semester, we may request that your previous school submit a current financial aid transcript to Wake Forest.
Federal Student Loan Ombudsman
The Ombudsman Group is dedicated to helping resolve disputes related to Direct Loans, Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL), Program loans, Guaranteed Student Loans, and Perkins Loans. If you’re in a dispute about your federal student loan, contact the Federal Student Aid Ombudsman Group as a last resort.
| Via on-line assistance: | Submit a Complaint/ Provide Feedback |
| Via telephone: | 877-557-2575 |
| Via fax: | 606-396-4821 |
| Via mail: | FSA Ombudsman Group P.O. Box 1843 Monticello, KY 42633 |