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Important Fall Financial Aid Information

  1. Loans do not appear on the first University Bill. The earliest loan funds are applied to your University account is at the beginning of the semester. You may check your STARS account for the amounts you will receive.
  2. Loan cancellations may be made through STARS.

    If you want to reduce your loan amount, loan revisions may also be made through STARS. Please be aware that the revision process may take up to 10 business days to clear through the lender. This may delay your loan disbursement if changes are requested near the start of the semester.
  3. Talent/Athletic awards are credited as soon as notification is received from the department. If your award is not yet credited, you may wish to check with the awarding department.
  4. Illinois National Guard and Illinois Veteran grants are credited as soon as the information is provided by ISAC. If your award does not appear on your account, you may wish to check on your application with ISAC, 1-800-899-4722.
  5. Outside scholarships are normally sent to the WIU Foundation after September 1.
  6. Academic Promise awards must have a signed acceptance in the Scholarship Office before a credit is placed on your University account.
  7. All Federal Work-Study funds have been awarded. No additional awards can be made at this time. Individuals who wish to be considered in the future may have the hiring department contact the Student Employment Office and have the individual placed on a wait list.
  8. SMART grants will be credited to your account after the 10th day of class. Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG) require a review of the high school transcript. This work will begin after the 10 day of class. Most ACG credits will appear later in the semester.
  9. Applications/Requests for financial aid received after August 7 will be considered in date order after the 10th day of the semester.
  10. Your financial aid can be checked on STARS.

Fall Loan Information

You will soon receive your first bill for the fall semester. Loans will not show on this bill because the earliest loan funds can be applied to your university account is the beginning of the semester.

You may check your STARS account for the amount(s) you will receive. If you are a first-time borrower or your lender has changed, make sure you have signed a Master Prommisory Note with your lender. Also, if you are a first-time borrower, please make sure that you have completed loan counselling on the fa.wiu.edu website. Finally, if you do not need all or any of the loan, you may cancel or adjust your loan through STARS.

Thank you. Have a successful school year.

The Financial Aid Staff

Illinois National Guard Application

The 2009-10 Illinois National Guard application is available. On the application, there will be an academic year drop-down box. Please change the year to 2009-10.

2009-2010 FAFSA and FAFSA Worksheet

The 09-10 Free Application for Federal Student Assistance can be completed on or after January 1, 2009. A link to access this application can be found on our Application/FAFSA web page.

To prepare for the 09-10 aid process, be sure that you have a Department of Education pin number for yourself and your parent, if you are a dependent student. Renewal applicants can use the pin number from this year. First time FAFSA filers may obtain a DE Pin Number at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Click on applying for a pin number.

The FAFSA worksheet is a helpful tool to prepare for completing the application. The worksheet should be available soon. Be sure the Department of Education worksheet is for the 09-10 program year. The worksheet will be available at the same e-address listed for the pin number.

Fall '09 New Borrower Reminders

  1. Select a Lender (if you haven't already) through STARS.
  2. Sign a Master Promissory Note at www.fa.wiu.edu.
  3. Complete loan counseling at http://fa.wiu.edu.
  4. Loan proceeds will not appear on your first University bill. Loan funds are disbursed at the beginning of the semester.

Summary of Loan Benefits

Summary of Loan Benefits (PDF)

Financial Football

Expand your financial education while playing Financial Football. This link is designed to develop your money skills and is sponsored by the Illinois Treasurer's Office.

Help for Consumers (CashCourse) - Learn how to manage your money

A new money management web link for college students is now available. The link is sponsored by the National Endowment for Financial Education (NEFE), a nonprofit, financial planning association. The web site is convenient, easy to use, and highlights items of interest by topic. Check out CashCourse today!

Western Announces 2009-2010 Suggested Lenders and Summary of Loan Benefits*

Last year there were many changes for lenders participating in the Federal Stafford loan program. To provide stability in 2009-10, we are working from last years’ lender list developed from the RFIs(Request for Information) submitted. There is one lone exception, National Education.

We have included National Education based on our experience with them previously and on the quality customer service provided to Western. As you will note, their loan benefits match those of our other suggested lenders. All lender benefits may be compared at the lender benefits section on Hot News and are always subject to change.

As always, borrow no more than you absolutely need. As always, you may select any lender of your choice.

And, now the suggested lenders for 2009-2010 are:

Federal Stafford Loans - Undergraduate Students

Federal Stafford Loans - Graduate Students

Federal PLUS Loans (Parent Loans)

Alternative Loans - No lenders were selected. No suggested lender list will be provided. Rather information will be provided to students on the alternative loan process. Borrowers will make contact with lenders on their own.