Undergraduate Financial Aid
Academic Scholarships
Wheaton College strives to acknowledge academic strength through scholarships, while keeping Wheaton affordable for students and their families. Academic scholarships are awarded to qualifying students through the admissions process. Individual departments also give out academic scholarships. Students are eligible to receive those scholarships for 8 semesters, or the total semesters needed to finish their program of study, as long as they maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. Conservatory of music scholarships require the student remain in the Conservatory. If they leave the program, they will no longer be eligible.
Need Based Aid
In order to apply for need based aid, students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This serves as the financial aid application for federal, institutional, and Illinois state funds (if applicable), as well as Federal Direct loans and Federal Work Study. Each applicant must remember to indicate Wheaton College (school code 001781) as the school to receive the information. Since awards are made on a first-come, first-served basis, and funds are limited, the FAFSA should be completed as early as possible after October 1. The FAFSA is available online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.
Enrollment
Students must be enrolled full-time to receive maximum aid; however, degree seeking students enrolled less than full-time may receive pro-rated aid awards. Students must be enrolled a minimum of half-time to be eligible for pro-rated institutional scholarships and grants.
Federal Grants
Upon completing the FAFSA, students are evaluated for both the Pell Grant, and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant. Both grants are available to Undergraduate students who have exceptional financial need and who have not earned a bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree.
State Grants
The State of Illinois offers Monetary Award Programs (MAP) grants to eligible students. The FAFSA serves as the application for the MAP grant. Students must be enrolled in at least 14.5 hours in order to retain their full eligibility. Students who take less than 14.5 hours will have their Map grant prorated. Students who submit their FAFSAs by that academic year’s priority deadline date (set by ISAC annually) will receive priority access to appropriated MAP funds. Wheaton College does not make up funding due to late application.
Vermont allows students to receive state grant funds even if they attend college in another state. Students must apply for these funds and must complete the forms provided by their state.
Federal Direct Loans and Parent Plus Loans
Students must complete a FAFSA to be eligible to receive Federal Direct Loans. Students are eligible to receive up to $5,500 in their freshman year, $6,500 in their sophomore year, and $7,500 in their Junior and Senior year based on completed credit hours. If a student has financial need, they may be eligible for a portion of their loan to be subsidized.
Federal Direct PLUS loans, which are not based on need, are available to parents to help cover the full cost of attendance minus any other aid that has been accepted. Students must have completed a FAFSA for their parent to be eligible to apply for a Federal Direct Plus Loan.
Student Employment
https://www.wheaton.edu/life-at-wheaton/cvc/job-and-internship-search/on-campus-employment/
Undergraduate and graduate students with demonstrated financial need as determined by the FAFSA may be eligible for the Federal Work-Study program. Students who are eligible are expected to find a Federal Work-Study position and submit paperwork by a certain date. All information can be found online.
All on-campus student positions are posted on the student career site at Wheaton Career Site Careers (oraclecloud.com).
Verification
https://www.wheaton.edu/admissions-and-aid/cost-and-financial-aid/disclosures/verification-policy/
As part of the financial aid application process, some students are selected for what is termed “verification”. This means that we are requesting additional documentation to verify the information provided on the FAFSA. Not all students will be asked for the same information. In addition, the need to verify is assessed each year, so a student may be selected one year but not another. It is also possible that a student may be asked to submit the same information each year. Either way, the goal is to have an accurate assessment of a family’s financial situation. Finally, at any point in the financial aid process, additional information may be required.
CPOS
For financial aid purposes, full-time enrollment for undergraduate students is a minimum of 12 hours. A student enrolled in less than 12 credit hours is part time. Financial aid will be prorated for part time students to reflect both total credit hours and CPOS hours (where applicable). Federal financial aid will be based on the student's Course Program of Study (CPOS) hours. The cost of attendance budget will only include CPOS course applicable to the undergraduate degree. Therefore, to receive full financial aid eligibility, students must be registered in 12 credits of CPOS coursework each semester. If the reduced Cost of Attendance creates an over-award for a student, Federal Work Study or the loan portion of the financial aid award will be reduced before reducing any institutional grants.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
All students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress in order to retain their financial aid eligibility. All students must maintain a 2.0 GPA, must pass at least 66.7% of their classes, and must complete their program within a maximum time frame of 150%. The first time a student does not meet these standards, he will be put on financial aid warning. The second time a student does not meet these standards, they will be put on financial aid probation and, without an approved appeal, will lose all eligibility for financial aid. Student Financial Services policy for SAP may differ from the Registrar's policy.
Repeat Coursework
Wheaton College follows federal rules regarding financial aid eligibility for repeat coursework. If a student fails a class, they are allowed to keep taking the class and retain their financial aid eligibility as long as they remain within Satisfactory Academic Progress. Once a student passes a class, they can take the class one additional time and still retain their financial aid eligibility. If they take a class a second, or third time, the class will not be counted in their Course Program of Study and will lose eligibility for federal aid for that class. Student Financial services policy for repeat coursework may differ from the Registrar's policy.
Refunds and the "Return of Title IV Funds" Policy
If a student withdraws or is expelled from Wheaton, the school or the student may be required to return some of the financial aid funds awarded to the student. The student may also be eligible for a refund of a portion of the tuition, fees, room, and board paid to Wheaton for the semester according to the College refund policy. If the student received financial assistance from outside of the family, a portion of the refund will be returned to the grant, scholarship, or loan source from which the assistance was received.
The federal "Return of Title IV Funds" formula dictates the amount of Federal Title IV aid that must be returned to the federal government by the school and the student. The federal formula is applicable to a student receiving federal financial assistance in the form of a Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Direct loans, or Federal PLUS loan, and who withdrew before completing 60% of the semester.
NOTE: If funds are released to a student because of a credit balance on the student's account, the student may be required to repay some of the federal financial aid if the student withdraws.
Special Scholarships
National Merit Scholarship
National Merit Semifinalists are automatically awarded the highest academic scholarship which is $24,000 per year for up to four years. Students who advance to Finalist status can receive additional funding from National Merit based on their awarding criteria. Wheaton College is a sponsor in the National Merit Scholarship Program and offers a scholarship to National Merit Finalists indicating Wheaton as their first-choice college. The awards for incoming freshmen are either $1,000, renewable up to four years, or a one-time $2,500 award for those selected for a National Merit Corporate Scholarship. The award type is determined by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
Army ROTC Scholarships
Four-year, full-tuition scholarships are offered by the U.S. Army to outstanding students enrolling in the ROTC program. Detailed scholarship information and links to applications are available from ROTC units and high school counselors across the country, on Wheaton College's website (https://www.wheaton.edu/academics/departments/rotc/), or the U.S. Army ROTC Homepage (https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/find-your-path/army-officers/rotc/scholarships). Four-year and three-year scholarships are offered to first year students. Those interested should contact the Department of Military Science for more information at military.science@wheaton.edu. Army ROTC full-tuition scholarship recipients are not eligible for Wheaton academic scholarship or need grant funds. The ROTC Housing and Food scholarship is provided valued at the double occupancy dorm room rate, and the full 18 meal plan.
Questions pertaining to financial aid should be directed to Student Financial Services at sfs@wheaton.edu.
Graduate Financial Aid
https://www.wheaton.edu/graduate-school/financial-aid/
Graduate Admissions will notify the student of any merit eligibility. Students seeking additional assistance may apply for loans by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. Each applicant must remember to indicate Wheaton College (school code 001781) as the school to receive the information. Federal loan eligibility will not be awarded until this information is received. Students must be enrolled and at least half-time to receive a Federal Direct Stafford Loan.
Federal Direct Loans
https://www.wheaton.edu/graduate-school/financial-aid/loans/stafford/
The most readily available resource to degree-seeking graduate students comes from the Federal Direct Loan Program. This loan is based on enrollment status and hours carried per term. The unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan has a fixed interest rate which accrues during enrollment and during the grace period. The interest rate is set based upon the 10-year Treasury Note each year in June for loans first disbursed between July 1st through June 30th of the following year.
Graduate students may borrow up to $20,500 per year, or the total budget cost minus other financial aid received, whichever is less. The maximum aggregate total for the Direct loan program, including any undergraduate loans, is $138,500.
Students may apply for Federal Direct Loans by completing a FAFSA which serves as the loan application. If they have been accepted for enrollment in a degree program at Wheaton College Graduate School and have a current FAFSA on file in the Student Financial Services Office, the loan will be processed.
For additional information about Federal Direct loans for graduate students, please check http://www.wheaton.edu/graduate-school/financial-aid/loans/stafford/
Billy Graham Loan/Scholarships
https://www.wheaton.edu/graduate-school/financial-aid/loans/billy-graham-scholarshiploan
The Billy Graham Loan/Scholarship Program offers financial assistance to carefully selected students in any master’s degree program (not doctoral or certificates) at the Wheaton Graduate School. Qualified applicants may be experienced international Christian workers, or domestic (U.S. or Canada citizenship) missionaries, missionaries in preparation, health care workers, or ministry workers serving urban and inner cities and ethnically diverse populations. All awards are loan/scholarships, meaning 25% is forgiven for each year of eligible Christian service completed following completion of the Wheaton degree. If this obligation is not met, the loan principal must be repaid with interest.
Internationals must have completed at least two years of full-time Christian service in their national contexts or cross-culturally and be affiliated with a Christian organization, national denomination, or mission agency which will indicate future plans for applicant, in order to apply for the Billy Graham International Christian Leader Scholarship, or the Billy Graham International Missionary Scholarship.
North American Missionaries are U.S. or Canadian citizens who have completed at least two years of overseas service with a recognized mission organization and intend to return to their ministry. North American Missionary Scholarship.
Pre-field Missionary Candidates are U.S. or Canadian citizens who are preparing for careers as missionaries outside these countries. Pre-field Missionary Candidate Scholarship
Workers in Urban/Ethnic Ministries are U.S. or Canadian citizens who have completed at least two years of urban or ethnic ministry in North America with a recognized mission agency, Christian organization, or denomination and intend to return to their ministry. Urban/Ethnic Ministry Worker Scholarship.
Inquirers may learn more about eligibility requirements, scholarship amounts, application processes, and timelines on the webpages above. Questions may be directed to the Billy Graham Scholarship Program Coordinator: bgc.scholarship@wheaton.edu
Financial Aid for Ph.D. Students in Biblical and Theological Studies
https://www.wheaton.edu/graduate-school/degrees/phd-in-biblical--theological-studies/
Full tuition remission will be granted to Ph.D. students in Biblical and Theological Studies. In addition, each student will be awarded a research fellowship, carrying an annual stipend. The tuition remission will apply to the duration of the student’s program, while the fellowship will be granted for three years of the program, with possible extension to a fourth year. As a condition of the research fellowship, the student will be asked to serve the Biblical and Theological Studies Department or the institution for 8-10 hours per week. The service will include, but not be limited to, research and classroom assistance to specific professors, tutoring of undergraduate and graduate students, clerical support of the program and the department, and supervised pedagogical experiences.
Graduate Assistantships in Residence Life (GRA)
https://www.wheaton.edu/graduate-school/financial-aid/graduate-assistantships/
Graduate Assistantships are available to graduate students who are interested in working with students in the residence halls, apartments, or houses of Wheaton College. Graduate Resident Advisor (GRA) positions are available for all MA degree programs except Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, M.A.T. and TESOL. The appointment is for a ten-month period providing a stipend, 10 meals a week in Anderson Commons throughout the school year, partial tuition remission, a one or two-bedroom furnished apartment, and other employee benefits. A two-year commitment is required. If you would like to receive more information and application materials, please contact Human Resources, 630.752.5060. For questions about the position, please contact the Dean of Residence Life, 630.752.5427.
Graduate Assistantships in Student Development (GA)
https://www.wheaton.edu/graduate-school/financial-aid/graduate-assistantships/
Student Development Graduate Assistantships (GA) are part-time, one to two year professional positions that work alongside various departments within the Student Development Division. There are GA positions in the Office of Christian Outreach, Office of Multicultural Development, International Student Programs, Student Activities, and Learning and Accessibility Services. GA positions provide graduate students with the opportunity to both earn an income and gain career experience specific to the field in which they work. Students are paid from a stipend and work roughly 20 hours a week during the academic year.
Graduate Academic Assistantships
https://www.wheaton.edu/graduate-school/financial-aid/graduate-assistantships/
A limited number of assistantships are available to graduate students who desire to work in a specific department of the Graduate School. The duties include clerical work, test grading, classroom or research assistance, and so forth. Pay is on an hourly basis up to ten hours per week. Second year students are given preference.
Veterans Benefits
The Post 9/11 GI Bill® and other programs provide financial educational assistance to veterans and their families. Further information can be secured from your local U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs office or the Web site at http://www.gibill.va.gov/.
Wheaton College students eligible for VA Benefits should contact Student Financial Services to discuss the process for certifying students to receive benefits. Students eligible to receive veterans' benefits should submit their VA Certificate of Eligibility to Student Financial Services to certify enrollment to the Department of Veterans Affairs.
In order to receive full-time VA benefits, undergraduate students must carry a minimum of 12 credit hours during both quads, and graduate students must carry a minimum of 8 credit hours. All courses in which a student is enrolled must meet program requirements in order for the hours to be certified.
NOTE: Eligibility for Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits by a dependent undergraduate student may impact Wheaton institutional aid. Undergraduate students receiving 100% benefit rate Post 9/11 GI Bill® benefits are eligible for a match from the Yellow Ribbon program to cover remaining tuition costs. The Yellow Ribbon Award will supersede any other Wheaton College institutional scholarships or grants.
Students attending Wheaton College are not eligible to receive the Illinois Veterans Grant, which is available only for students enrolled in Illinois public colleges and universities.
Compliance with 38 USC 3679(e) - VA Pending Payment Compliance
Beginning August 1, 2019, and despite any policy to the contrary, this educational institution will not take any of the four following actions toward any student using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch. 33) or Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Ch. 31) benefits, while their payment from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs is pending to the educational institution:
- Prevent their enrollment
- Assess a late penalty fee
- Require they secure alternative or additional funding
- Deny their access to any resources (access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities) available to other students who have satisfied their tuition and fee bills to the institution.
However, to qualify for this provision, such students may be required to:
- Produce the VA’s Certificate of Eligibility by the first day of class
- Provide written request to be certified
- Provide additional information needed to properly certify the enrollment as described in other institutional policies (see our VA School Certifying Official for all requirements).
International Students
Advance Payment Requirements
Included in the undergraduate international student application is information about payment requirements, and a Certification of Finance form to be completed requiring confirmation of funding available to pay for personal, and family costs if applicable, for the entire time of enrollment. Undergraduate intentional students are subject to the standard timing for billing and payment due dates.
For graduate international students, the Certification of Finance form will be sent from the Graduate Admissions Office after the student has been accepted.
For graduate students, before an I-20 can be issued, Student Financial Services must receive the deposit amount indicated on the Certification of Finances Form by June 1 (for fall enrollment) prior to enrollment. For graduate school spring enrollment, the deadline is November 1, and for summer enrollment, this deadline is May 1.
The student shall pay the remainder of any billed costs by the regular due date prior to the start of the term. The student will be personally responsible for all books, personal, and miscellaneous expenses that will be incurred. The tuition money received from new students by June 1 will be held by Student Financial Services and applied to the student’s bill at the appropriate time. Funds needed for the student’s books, food and housing (if not provided by the College), and personal/miscellaneous expenses will be the responsibility of the student to provide. If the family will accompany the student, or plans to come at a later time, the Certification of Finance form must be completed certifying their financial support and accompanied by signed documentation. Payment for any billed costs will need to be sent in advance of issuing the I-20.
For international students who are Billy Graham scholarship recipients, the remaining balance due for their entire study programs will be required to be documented by the Certification of Finances Form by June 1 prior to fall enrollment. After the total amount of the budget is met, the Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20) will be issued. Families who come later will need to have all costs documented in advance before an I-20 can be issued for them.
The student will not be allowed to enroll in subsequent terms until the billed costs for the next term are paid by the first day of that term. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of the student’s enrollment at Wheaton.
If the student has a financial guarantor, at no time will the College directly approach the guarantor for funds. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure his guarantors have solid commitments and are capable of fulfilling them.