Apply for Financial Aid
Ready to make your college education more affordable? Discover how federal, state, and institutional financial aid and scholarships can help you reduce the cost of your education. Have questions? We're here to help. Call Enrollment Services at 937-775-4000 or email us at enrollmentservices@wright.edu.
Apply for Admission
Your first step in the financial aid process is to submit your admissions application. Once admitted, use your WINGS portal to log in to access your student and financial aid records online at any time.
Scholarships for New High School Graduates
First-year scholarships are academic performance and need-based opportunities if you are a new college student just graduating from high school. They are renewable and awarded based on your admission and FAFSA applications. No separate scholarship application is required. Submit your admission application and FAFSA by our priority deadline to qualify for the most scholarship funds available. Offers will begin mid-December and can be accepted by logging into WINGS.
- Login to WINGS at https://portal.wright.edu/
- Click on the Financial Aid tile located under Your Launchpad
- Select the appropriate Award Year from the drop-down list at the top right corner of the screen.
- Select the Award Offer tab.
- Take Action on each type of financial aid then scroll down to the bottom of the page to click the Submit button after you Take Action on offered aid.
Transfer Student Scholarships
Transfer Scholarships are merit-based and awarded to students seeking their first bachelor's degree. Some scholarships do not require a separate application; simply complete the admission process and, if applicable, submit your final transcript reflecting your earned associate degree.
File Your FAFSA
File your FAFSA each year to be considered for federal, state, and institutional need-based financial aid. Typically, the FAFSA opens on October 1 of every year. ED has announced that the 2025-26 FAFSA will be available on or before December 1, 2024. The 2024–25 FAFSA form is currently available. To become eligible for the most federal, state, and institutional need-based aid available, submit your FAFSA by Wright State's priority deadline.
Need help completing the FAFSA? Register online for a virtual Financial Aid 101 workshop or a virtual one-on-one appointment. You can also call Enrollment Services at 937-775-4000 or email enrollmentservices@wright.edu to schedule an appointment.
Already filed your FAFSA but did not list Wright State as a school of choice? Correct your FAFSA and add Wright State's school code (003078). Your FAFSA will be forwarded to us within about five business days. Financial aid offers will not transfer. Instead, you must apply for aid anew at Wright State.
Complete the Online Scholarship Application
By submitting the Wright State online scholarship application, both undergraduate and graduate students can apply for multiple donor-based scholarships funded through the Wright State University Foundation and Wright State. For more details on possible scholarship opportunities and how to apply, use the scholarship search tool. Please note, that there may be other departmental or divisional scholarships available that are not associated with this application; please check with the chair or program director in your department to determine if other scholarship options are available. The deadline to apply for the upcoming 2025–26 academic year is February 1, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Complete Outstanding Financial Aid Requirements
After we review your FAFSA information, you may have additional requirements to complete before an award is offered. You will be notified of outstanding requirements through your official Wright State email, so be sure to check it often. Use the following instructions to access your list of outstanding financial aid requirements.
- Login to WINGS at https://portal.wright.edu/
- Click on the Financial Aid tile located under Your Launchpad
- You have arrived on the Home Tab of the financial aid dashboard.
- Select the appropriate Award Year from the drop-down list at the top right corner of the screen.
- On the Home Tab, under Student Requirements you can view your Unsatisfied and Satisfied Requirements needed to finalize your financial aid.
- Some Unsatisfied Requirements will appear as a link for you to obtain more information about the request.
- Visit Forms, External Contacts, and Related Links to securely upload your completed documents.
Review and Accept Your Aid Offer
Once all requirements are complete, your financial aid offer will be prepared in accordance with the year's processing schedule. We will notify you of your award notice through your Wright State email. You will be asked to review/accept your financial aid awards listed on your Award Notice in WINGS . Use the following instructions to view and accept your financial aid offer.
- Login to WINGS at https://portal.wright.edu/
- Click on the Financial Aid tile located under Your Launchpad
- Select the appropriate Award Year from the drop-down list at the top right corner of the screen.
- Select the Offer tab.
- Read all of the messages that appear above your financial aid awards. Some of the aid listed will also include hyper links for more information about the type of aid you are offered
- Take Action on each type of financial aid then scroll down to the bottom of the page to click the Submit button after you Take Action on offered aid.
Financial aid offers can be broken down into sections. Only sections that pertain to you will appear. These sections can include:
- Grants and Scholarships to Pay for College is considered gift aid. This is aid that does not need to be repaid. You can Take Action on the gift aid by selecting Accept or Decline. Most grants are already accepted on your behalf.
- Work is considered a need-based federal employment program. Participation is contingent on you applying for and being hired by an on-campus employer who participates in the Federal Work Study Program. You can Take Action on federal work study by selecting Accept, Decline or Modify.
- Loans are a type of aid that has to be repaid. You can Take Action by selecting Accept, Decline or Modify. Choose modify if you wish to borrow a lesser amount that what is offered. If you accept a loan be sure to visit the Home tab to complete additional requirements to finalize your loan. Examples of loan requirements include enrollment plans, entrance loan counseling, and a master promissory note. Remember, you must be enrolled half-time to be eligible for federal direct loans.
Complete Loan Requirements
Student Loans
If you accept a student loan, see our Getting a Loan page for the additional steps to secure your loan.
Parent PLUS Loan
The Parent PLUS Loan is designed for parents of dependent students (dependent per the FAFSA) to help with remaining college costs. Parents must apply annually and there is a credit requirement to qualify. If denied based on credit, the dependent student can receive Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan funds in their name up to the cost of attendance (up to $4,000 for freshman and sophomore status or up to $5,000 for junior and senior status). Students are not eligible to apply for the Parent PLUS Loan.
For more information on how to apply, visit our Getting a Loan page.
View Your Bill
In general, your aid will be credited to your student account by the time you receive your semester billing statement. This credit is called a financial aid "memo" or "authorization." Aid can not be applied (disbursed) to your account until the first day of classes. If your student account is paid in full and financial aid funds remain, the Office of the Bursar will issue the remaining funds in the form of a refund. For more information on memo, authorization, and disbursement dates, visit our important dates page.
You must also meet other eligibility requirements (ex. enrolled) for your aid to memo, authorize, or disburse to your student account. Please visit the scholarships, grants, and loans pages for additional eligibility requirements. Our Receiving Your Aid page is also a great resource for additional information on requirements to receive your financial aid.
Federal Work-Study and external scholarships will not credit toward your billing statement like other aid. If you have an external scholarship check, visit our external scholarships page for more information on sending in your award information.
