Q & A's

Questions and Answers for Graduate Students

Q: What types of financial aid are available to me?
A: Federal Loans, Federal Work Study, graduate assistantships, and various departmental scholarships.

Q: Why am I not eligible for grants?
A: Grants are only awarded to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's or professional degree.

Q: What types of loans are available?
A: The University participates in both the Federal Stafford and Federal Perkins Loan Programs. Private alternative (non-need based) loans are also available.

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Q: What is the difference between Federal Stafford and Federal Perkins Loans?
A: Federal Stafford Loans are processed throughout the year, whereas the Federal Perkins Loans require early filing due to its limited funds. There are some additional differences in how each type of loan must be repaid.

Q: What is the difference between a subsidized and an unsubsidized Stafford Loan?
A: A subsidized loan is awarded on the basis of financial need. If you qualify for a subsidized loan, the federal government pays interest on the loan until you begin repayment. An unsubsidized loan is not awarded on the basis of financial need. If you qualify for an unsubsidized loan, you will be charged interest from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. You can choose to pay the interest while in school or defer it and allow it to accumulate. If you allow the interest to accumulate, it will be capitalized--the interest will be added to the principal amount of your loan and will dramatically increase the amount you must pay.
Note: All Perkins Loans are subsidized.

Q: Who is my lender as a graduate student at WIU?
A: WIU is the lender for graduate students at Western under the Federal Stafford Loan Program. The Illinois Designated Account Purchase Program (IDAPP) will service the loans, provide the Master Promissory Note, and collect repayments on behalf of Western. IDAPP's customer service number is 1-800-961-4327. Visit IDAPP's web site for more information.

Graduate students who have previous loans may wish to have those purchased by IDAPP or consolidated after graduation. For more information on either of these two options, please contact either IDAPP at the above number or the Financial Aid Office.

Q: How much can I borrow?
A: The annual loan limit for a graduate student is to $18,500 each academic year (Only $8,500 of this amount may be in subsidized Stafford Loans). Your loan amount will be determined by your cost of attendance minus other resources.

Q: How do I know how much I am eligible for in Stafford Loans?
A: Graduate students will have their loans through WIU and serviced by the Illinois Designated Account Purchase Program (IDAPP). The loan servicer will mail your master promissory note (MPN) directly to you.

Eligibility for Stafford Loan at the graduate level requires admission to WIU in a regular graduate degree program. The following information is applicable to graduate students, students combining graduate study with teacher certification, an approved post baccalaureate certificate and students working on a second baccalaureate degree program:


Enrollment Status
Six (6) hours for graduate credit.



Six (6) hours prerequisite undergraduate courses alone or combined with less than 6 hours of graduate courses.









Six (6) hours of required course work in a teacher certification program or approved post-baccalaureate certificate program.


Six (6) hours of required undergraduate course work in a second baccalaureate program. 		Loan Limits
Subsidized loan - $8,500
Additional unsubsidized loan - $10,000


Subsidized loan - $5,500
May be eligible for additional unsubsidized loan - $5000
unless taking 6 hours graduate (see #1 above)
Note: Graduate students taking pre-requisite course work are limited to 12 months of course work taken in a single consecutive 12 month period.



Subsidized loan - $5,500
May be eligible for additional unsubsidized loan - $5000


Subsidized loan - $5,500, $3,500 or $2,625
(depending on number of hours required to complete the program)
May be eligible for additional Unsubsidized Stafford loan of $4,000 to $5,000.

Note: Individual amounts will vary according to financial need, prior loan history and federal regulations.

Please note the following important information concerning student loans:

Loans are processed assuming an enrollment status of nine (9) hours of graduate credit. Please notify the Financial Aid Office if your status will include more or less than nine hours of graduate credit, both graduate and undergraduate hours, or you will be in a teacher certification or second baccalaureate program.

Audit hours are not considered in the enrollment status in processing your student loan.

Q: What is an aggregate loan limit?
A: The federal limit (highest amount) one can borrow during his/her collegiate career.

Q: How do I apply for loans?
A: The first step in the process is to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Renewal FAFSA. After you have been accepted to Western and receive your financial aid award notification, your loan data will be transmitted to the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). ISAC will guarantee your loan (unless you are in default on other loans, have reached your aggregate limit, etc), and transmit the loan data to your loan servicer. The servicer will send you a promissory note, which you must sign and return to the servicer before any funds are disbursed.

Q: Where can I find a FAFSA?
A: Western encourages all students to file electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Q: When can I apply for loans?
A: You should complete the FAFSA (or Renewal FAFSA) as soon as possible on or after January 1. The FAFSA is also used for other loan programs which may depend on limited funds (first come-first serve). So send off that FAFSA as quickly as possible after January 1.

Q: I filled out a FAFSA last year, do I need to fill out one for this year?
A: Yes! If you filled out a FAFSA last year, you are eligible to fill out a Renewal FAFSA. The federal processor will no longer be sending out paper Renewal FAFSAs in the mail. To access this you will need a PIN (Personal Identification Number).

Q: What if I never received a PIN in the mail or lost it?
A: You can request a duplicate or a new one at www.pin.ed.gov.

Q: Can I still fill out a paper Renewal FAFSA?
A: No, but you can submit a regular paper FAFSA by mail if you prefer not to file electronically.

Q: What information will I need to fill out a FAFSA?
A: You will need the following:

Q: What is WIU's Title IV Code?
A: 001780

Q: If my current year income is considerably below what it was last year, how do I show that on the FAFSA?
A: You must fill out the FAFSA as directed, using last year's information. Then make an appointment to see your WIU Financial Aid Advisor to determine if you are eligible for an adjustment based on your special circumstances.

Q: When do I pay back my Stafford Loan?
A: After you graduate, leave school, or drop below half-time enrollment, you have six months before you begin repayment. This is called your grace period. You will receive information in the mail from your loan servicer about repayment and the date repayment begins.

Q: How much time is given for students to pay back their Stafford Loans? When do payments start?
A: Usually loan repayment covers a 10-year period. After leaving school as at least a half-time student, there is a six-month grace period before repayment begins. In addition to the 10-year plan, there are new options being developed to extend repayments beyond 10 years.

Q: Is it possible to postpone repayment of my Stafford Loan?
A: Yes, under certain circumstances, you can receive a deferment or forbearance of your loan. During a deferment, no payments are required. Forbearance means your payments are postponed or reduced. If you have a subsidized loan, the federal government will pay the interest that accrues during the deferment. If your loan is unsubsidized, you will be responsible for the interest on the loan during the deferment. If you do not pay the interest on the unsubsidized loan as it accrues, it will be capitalized. Contact your loan servicer or lender to receive a deferment/forbearance application form. You will need to provide documentation to support your request, and you must continue making scheduled payments until you are notified that your deferment/forbearance is granted.

Q: I have a loan deferment form. Does the Financial Aid Office complete it?
A: No, the Financial Aid Office does not complete deferment forms. The Office of Graduate Studies completes deferment forms for graduate students.

Q: I took out loans as an undergraduate and was making payments until I started graduate school. After I graduate, do I get a grace period to pay back those loans?
A: No, if you went into repayment status with your undergraduate loans you will not have any grace period left. However, you will get a grace period for your graduate school loans.

Q: What are graduate assistantships and how can I receive one?
A: Graduate assistantships are academic merit based award programs which provide students with work opportunities in a job closely related to the academic field of study. Students with graduate assistantships will receive a stipend up to $5,864 per academic year and a waiver of tuition. Assistantships are available only to graduate students who have been accepted in degree programs. Probationary students are not eligible to hold graduate assistantships. For more information on the application process, contact the Graduate Office, Stipes Hall 527, (309) 298-1806.

Q: If I receive a graduate assistantship, when will a tuition waiver be applied to my account?
A: A tuition waiver will be applied to your account after you sign your assistantship contract.

Q: Are there any programs available to minority graduate students?
A: Financial assistance programs are available to students who are members of ethnic groups which have been traditionally underrepresented in higher education. These programs include the President's Minority Graduate Access Program (PMGAP) and the Illinois Consortium for Equal Opportunity Program (ICEOP).
For more information on the above programs, contact the Graduate Office, Stipes Hall 527, (309) 298-1806.

Q: What scholarships are available to graduate students?
A: Some departments have special scholarship opportunities for graduate students. Information concerning these scholarships can be obtained from the Scholarship Coordinator, 308 Sherman Hall, or from the academic department.

Q: If I receive a scholarship will that reduce my financial aid?
A: Possibly. The outside scholarship is considered a resource which helps meet your financial need. Scholarships usually will first offset amounts borrowed.

Q: Is there a cumulative hours limit for graduate student financial aid?
A: Yes. WIU is required by federal regulation to limit financial aid, including federal student loans, to no more than 150% of the minimum hours required for graduation. See WIU Satisfactory Progress Requirements for additional information.