Student Financial Aid Philosophy and Guidelines
On this page:
- Statement of Philosophy
- Packaging and Awarding Guidelines
- Expectations for Financial Aid Recipients
- Wright State University Notice of Non-Discrimination
Statement of Philosophy
The financial aid program at Wright State University is designed to provide merit- and need-based aid to students. Although the primary responsibility for meeting college costs lies with the student and/or family, the university’s goal is to provide assistance when the student and/or family is unable to meet the student’s educational expenses. Financial assistance from the university is viewed as supplementary to the efforts of the student and family, with an emphasis on in-state tuition and fees.
A portion of our financial aid program is designed to recognize students for outstanding academic performance. We encourage and promote academic excellence through a number of special merit and endowed scholarship programs. We award these programs based on academic excellence, program of study, extracurricular activities, talent, and within prescribed university-set budgetary guidelines. These funds are first-come, first-served and are not guaranteed to all students who attend Wright State and/or meet all award criteria. Wright State University-Lake Campus students have access to scholarship funds provided to Lake Campus through the Western Ohio Education Foundation (WOEF). Those scholarship programs have a separate application process supported by Lake Campus.
Need-based financial assistance is available in the forms of grants, loans, and work-study. Need-based financial aid may be provided by the Federal Government (U.S. Department of Education), the State of Ohio, private lending institutions, the Wright State University Foundation, and Wright State University. All need-based financial assistance programs are granted on the basis of demonstrated financial need. Need is defined as the difference between the cost of attendance minus the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) or Student Aid Index (SAI). The EFC/SAI is determined by a standard formula established by the U.S. Department of Education using data from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Wright State need-based funds are subject to availability and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The Wright State need-based grant may be used to offset SEOG (Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant) when funds are exhausted. All federal and state grants, loans, and work-study programs are awarded based on programmatic requirements set by the federal or state government or funding entity.
The Wright State University Foundation does provide emergency tuition assistance through the Graduation Fund for Ohio residential undergraduate students who have exhausted all federal, state, and institutional financial aid eligibility while pursuing their first undergraduate degree. Students must be within their last two semesters prior to graduation to apply for funds. This emergency funding is limited to tuition only, and may not be used for other costs associated with obtaining a degree at Wright State.
Packaging and Awarding Guidelines
- Student eligibility for funds will be determined or confirmed prior to making awards, annually. Criteria such as financial need, citizenship, hours of enrollment, academic level, grade point average, state of residence, Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), and other eligibility criteria as defined by specific aid programs or donor requirements will be used to determine awards made to students on an annual basis.
- Priority is based, generally, on financial need and on the time by which all requirements of a completed FAFSA and student file have been met. A priority FAFSA deadline is published annually. The priority deadline is used to award financial aid that is first-come, first-served within each award criterion. Awarding priority is based on the highest financial need and is followed within the limits of funds available.
- Students selected for verification of their FAFSA information will not be granted any federal, state, or need-based institutional financial aid resources until the verification process is completed. Students are encouraged to complete the verification process as quickly as possible to benefit from a variety of financial aid resources.
- Awards made from sources outside of the Office of Financial Aid (such as academic colleges and departments and external organizations) are incorporated into the financial aid award notifications. These awards may replace any loans that have been offered. This incorporation of aid complies with all federal, state, and institutional award requirements.
- When packaging need-based financial aid for undergraduate students, the intent is to fulfill tuition costs, when possible.
- The award sequence below allows the Office of Financial Aid to determine which types of financial aid a student will receive. Ultimately, scholarships are awarded prior to other types of financial assistance (grants, work-study, and loans).
The undergraduate awarding sequence which will be used in awarding aid is as follows (by fund):
- Wright State University Academic Merit, Talent, or Athletic Scholarships
- Wright State University Foundation Awards
- Outside Scholarship Awards
- Pell Grant
- Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG)—Dayton Campus students only
- Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
- Wright State University Need-Based Grant
- Federal Direct Subsidized Loans
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
- Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loans
- Private/Alternative Loans
The sequence above is within all federal, state, and institutional guidelines for awards made to undergraduate students.
- The award sequence below allows the Office of Financial Aid to determine which types of financial aid a student will receive. Ultimately, scholarships are awarded prior to other types of financial assistance (grants, work-study, and loans).
The graduate and professional awarding sequence which will be used in aid awarding is as follows (by fund):
- Graduate Tuition Scholarships, Assistantships, and other Wright State Scholarships
- Wright State University Foundation Awards
- Outside Scholarship Awards
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans
- Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans
- Private/Alternative Loans
Expectations for Financial Aid Recipients
- It is the student’s responsibility to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and other financial aid documents to the Office of Financial Aid by the prescribed deadlines that are outlined on the Wright State University Enrollment Services (RaiderConnect)/Financial Aid website. Additionally, students are required to reapply for financial aid each academic year by submitting a FAFSA by the preferred deadline. Students who submit a FAFSA after the preferred deadline are limited in funding options and may need to take alternative measures to pay for an education at Wright State .
- Students must remain eligible to receive financial aid by meeting all Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) regulations and Scholarship SAP regulations (if the student receives a Wright State scholarship).
- Students are expected to graduate from Wright State within 150% of the time to normal degree completion. Please refer to the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy for specific details.
- Students must meet all regulations in the Student Code of Conduct along with all academic integrity policies.
- Students must meet all federal regulations to maintain eligibility for federal financial aid. Regulations include, but are not limited to, Drug Offense Violations, Fund-Specific Requirements, and Selective Service Registration.
Wright State University Notice of Non-Discrimination
Wright State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, national origin, national ancestry, sex, pregnancy, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, military service or veteran status, mental or physical disability, or genetic information in employment, admission, treatment, or access to its programs or activities. For more information regarding our non-discrimination policy with regards to Title IX, please visit the Office of Equity and Inclusion webpage. For more information regarding our non-discrimination policy with regards to ADA/Section 504/Title II, please visit the Office of Equity and Inclusion's American's with Disablility webpage.
