Graduate Students

Graduate students who are admitted into a graduate program, may submit a Financial aid for graduate students is primarily limited to student loans, scholarships, and Work Study. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually at studentaid.gov to determine eligibility.

Graduate students are not eligible for state or federal grant programs (with exception of the Federal TEACH Grant Program). 

Graduate students are eligible for Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans if they have not already reached their federal aggregate lifetime loan limit.

All graduate students are encouraged to apply for scholarships via the WWU Scholarship Portal annually or by submitting applications for private scholarships posted on the WWU Scholarship Center's Website.

General Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for financial aid, students must meet the following criteria:

  • Have a complete FASFA on file for the aid year
  • Be admitted into a degree or certificate-granting program at WWU
  • Be enrolled in at least 4 credits each quarter (1/2 time or more) of required coursework
  • Not owe a refund on a previous grant and not be in default on a previous federal student loan
  • Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
  • Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Other General Information

Graduate students are eligible to receive up to $20,500 in Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan. The difference between this and the Cost of Attendance (less any other aid) could be borrowed in the form of a Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan or a Private Educational Loan. 

Graduate students are not eligible for state or federal grant programs.  Exceptions to this include the Federal TEACH Grant (for eligible students) or other conditional scholarship programs through the State of Washington. 

Graduate students may be awarded scholarships or tuition waivers through their graduate program. 

Students who will require less than 3 quarters to complete their program are encouraged to notify financial aid in advance by submitting an Enrollment Change Before Lock form to ensure that the maximum amount of financial aid is available to them for each quarter of attendance.

Combining Graduate and Undergraduate Coursework

Graduate students enrolling in undergraduate coursework must ensure that the coursework is required to meet graduate degree program requirements. Undergraduate coursework that does not satisfy graduate degree program requirements as specified on the Graduate Plan of Study, generally is not fundable with Financial Aid. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with a financial aid counselor to discuss their aid eligibility.

Applying for Financial Aid

  • Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the upcoming academic year beginning October 1st using WWU’s Federal School Code 003802.
  • See the Financial Aid Checklist for additional important steps when applying for financial aid.
  • Review the FASFA Submission Summary for accuracy.
  • Contact our office before making corrections to your FAFSA.  You can contact the federal processor at 800.433.3243 for additional information.
  • Respond promptly to any requests for information from the Financial Aid Department and include the student name and ID number on all documents.
  • Review the Offer of Financial Aid once available in Web4U, the student portal and accept or decline aid as needed.
  • Complete loan borrower requirements as listed in Web4U if you choose to accept loans to assist with educational costs.
  • Maintain a personal financial aid file for your records and keep copies of all documents.
  • Keep your address and phone number current with the Registrar's Office.  You may update your information in Web4U or by contacting 360.650.3432.

Emergency Loans

Financial Aid offers short-term loans ranging from $50 - $900. The eligibility criteria varies and there is a processing fee on each loan. The Emergency Loan application is available on the Financial Aid website.

Teaching and Research Assistantships

A limited number of teaching and research assistantships are available through Western Washington University. Students should contact the Graduate School at 360.650.3170 or their program advisor for more information. Financial aid eligibility might be affected by an assistantship.