JANUARY:

Begin gathering tax documents for income taxes (W2 forms, 1098-t forms, etc.). 

If you haven’t already completed the FAFSA (studentaid.gov), set a goal to fill it out next year’s priority deadline of February 1st. You’ll need your social security number, driver's license, income tax return, bank statements, and investment records. Dependent students will need their parents' records as well. Use this worksheet to gather personal and parent data.

CWU applicants who plan to apply for federal or state financial aid MUST include their Social Security number (SSN) on their admissions application. To receive aid, your name, birthday, and SSN in CWU admissions records, the FAFSA, and the Social Security Administration database must be an exact match. Use your legal name as it appears on your Social Security card.

FEBRUARY:

Check on the status of your FAFSA at studentaid.gov. Make any required changes promptly.

Respond promptly to any request for additional information from the Financial Aid Office. Monitor your To Do list on www.cwu.edu > MyCWU.

MARCH:

March 1: FAFSA priority deadline. Complete FAFSA by this date for priority processing of the financial aid offer.

March 1: deadline to submit the CWU Scholarship Central application.

APRIL:

Aid notices to continuing students begin. All communications from Financial Aid are via email.

Apply for Summer Aid. Instructions for applying for Summer Aid will be posted on the cwu.edu/financial-aid page.

MAY:

May 1: be fully admitted to be considered for recruitment scholarships.

May 1: Complete documents needed before an aid offer can be extended uploaded by May 1 are guaranteed to be processed for an on-time fall financial aid payment.

If you are accepting a PLUS loan, a parent must complete an Application for Plus Loan at studentaid.gov. If this is your first Plus Loan the parent must also complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN). 

JUNE:

If you are a returning student, monitor your Satisfactory Academic Progress.

First-time borrowers complete online Entrance Counseling and the Master Promissory Note.

JULY:

July 15: final priority deadline for income and other complex revision requests. Late requests will not be reviewed until October.

New students should attend Orientation. Visit cwu.edu/orientation for a complete schedule.

Notify the Financial Aid scholarship office of any outside scholarships you will receive. Notify outside donors to make scholarship check out to "CWU for benefit of Your Name and ID."

AUGUST:

If you are accepting a PLUS loan, a parent must complete an Application for Plus Loan at studentaid.gov. If this is your first Plus Loan the parent must also complete the Master Promissory Note (MPN). 

Incomplete to-do list items are now late. Please submit documents as soon as possible, they may still be processed in time for a late payment during fall quarter.

SEPTEMBER:

Aid offered assumes full time enrollment; enroll in sufficient credits to receive the aid you are expecting. You must be enrolled at least half-time to receive loans (half-time is defined as 6 credits for undergraduates and post baccalaureates, 5 credits in 501 level or higher for graduate students). Most grant aid will be reduced for less than full time enrollment (12 credit undergrad).

OCTOBER:

Next academic year’s FAFSA opens and can be completed at studentaid.gov 

Begin your scholarship search for the next academic year. Visit cwu.edu/scholarships.

STUDY! Most gift aid has a GPA requirement.

NOVEMBER:

Next year's Scholarship Central application opens. Know scholarship deadlines and submit applications promptly.

The FAFSA website provides a worksheet that can be used to gather personal and parental data. Remember the FAFSA is a snapshot in time and must be accurate as of the day you apply. To electronically sign the FAFSA you (and a parent if applicable) must have a Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID). Applying for the FSA ID can be done at studentaid.gov and should be done before completing the FAFSA. 

DECEMBER:

Incoming students who have submitted the FAFSA and any additional required documents will begin receiving aid notices. Other than your first aid notice and first bill, communications from Financial Aid and Student Accounts are via email. Regularly check your CWU email account.