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:
- Were you born before January 1, 1986?
- As of the date you filed the FAFSA, are you were married?
- Do you have children or dependents who receive more than half of their financial support from you?
- At any time since you turned 13, were both of your parents deceased, were you in foster care, or were you a dependent or ward of the court?
- Are you currently serving on active duty or are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
- Are you or were you an emancipated minor as determined by a court in your state of legal residence?
- At any time on or after July 1, 2008 did your high school district homeless liaison, a director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or a director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program determine that you were an unaccompanied youth who was homeless?
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.
Why do I have to repay some of my financial aid?
Students who receive Financial Aid then drop a class may be responsible for repaying a portion of their Pell Grants. To prevent Financial Aid Suspension, students must achieve a GPA of at least 2.0 and complete at least 67% of the total credits attempted.
Federal law requires that if a student totally withdraws from college prior to the 60% point of the semester, then the amount of ‘unearned’ financial aid must be returned to the government. If a student received more assistance than was ‘earned,’ then the excess funds must be returned. This is known as ‘Return of Title IV Funds.’
Students who fail to earn a passing grade in any of their classes during the semester are also subject to Title IV repayment. Until the money is repaid in full, a student may not re-enroll at WCTC and may be ineligible for financial aid at other collegews.
What is WCTC's Federal School Code?
005294
How do I obtain Educational Tax Credits?
WCTC students may be eligible for one of several Federal Educational Tax Credits.
In addition to qualified tuition expenses, tax filer may include the actual cost of books, and estimated room and board expenses.
Qualified tuition expenses are included on the Form 1098-T, Tuition Statement. In addition to the amount displayed on the 1098-T, other expenses can be included for tax purposes:
To determine book expenses, actual store receipts for textbooks purchased during the year should be used.
To determine room and board, WCTC students may use estimated Financial Aid Budget amounts found on the WCTC website.
For more information, refer to the IRS Form 8863, Education Credits, found on the IRS Website.
What information is needed for my financial aid?
The WCTC Financial Aid Office notifies students of additional information. You may also view these checklist items in your OIS Account.
Requested information may include:
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Federal and State tax returns
- Unemployment Compensation
- 3rd Party documentation
How do I apply for Veterans Benefits?
The WCTC Veterans Service Office is located in C-019 of the College Center. You may also refer to the WCTC Veterans / Military website for information on Federal and State VA Educational Benefits.
To contact WCTC's Veterans Service Officer, email Veterans@wctc.edu or call (262) 691-5431.
To contact the Waukesha County Veterans Service Office, email vetserve@waukeshacounty.gov or call (262) 548-7732.
Is the Financial Aid Application available online?
WCTC students may begin the online Financial Aid application process online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov as soon as the previous year's tax returns are complete. WCTC's School Code is 005294
How do I apply for Financial Aid at WCTC?
The best way to apply for Financial Aid is to visit the WCTC Financial Aid website for application and information on grants, loans, student employment, scholarships, and veterans benefits.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step to obtain most of these resources.
For additional assistance with other Financial Aid questions, call the WCTC Financial Aid Office at (262) 691-5436 or email money@wctc.edu
Is my Financial Aid affected if I drop a course?
Yes, your Financial Aid may be affected if you drop a class. Changing classes may also delay Financial Aid disbursement.
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If you drop a class before your Financial Aid is disbursed, then your Award may be reduced or even cancelled.
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If you drop a class after your Financial Aid is disbursed, your chances of completing 67% of your attempted credits is at risk, so your future financial aid may be affected.
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If you do not meet the minimum 67% Completion Rate or 2.0 GPA (Grade Point Average) requirements, then you will be Suspended from future Financial Aid.
Financial Aid Suspension means NO FINANCIAL AID for at least one semester.
Before dropping a class, be sure to review WCTC's Standards of Academic Progress or contact the WCTC Financial Aid Office at (262).
What happens to my financial aid if I drop below half-time status?
If you drop below half-time status (6 financial aid eligible credits), you will enter the 6-month grace period to begin repaying your student loans.
If your financial aid has already been disbursed, your future financial aid could be at risk. Please review the Standards of Progress prior to prevent repayment or suspension of financial aid.