Applying For Aid


Follow the simple steps below to apply for scholarships, grants and loans at EWU.

Financial Aid Basics and Ways to Pay


Steps to Receiving Financial Aid at EWU

  • Undergraduate Students: Apply through Undergraduate Admissions. To be considered for priority funding, apply for admission by Feb. 1 for the following academic year and complete your FAFSA as noted below.
  • Returning Students: If you have not attended EWU for more than three quarters, complete a Former Student Returning Form by Feb. 1 for the following academic year and complete your FAFSA as noted below.
  • Graduate Students: Apply through Graduate Admissions. To be considered for priority funding, apply for admission by February 1 for the following academic year and complete your FAFSA as noted below.

 

Scholarships come from various sources including the college you are attending, your program of study, your high school, local, regional and national organizations, employers and more.

All students can apply for EWU Scholarships for the 2019-2020 academic year by completing the EWU Scholarship Application by February 1, 2019. Get more information and apply here.

Many new freshmen will be awarded automatic scholarships upon admission to EWU. Get more information and see what you might be eligible for here.

Many other scholarship opportunities become available in the fall and winter with deadlines in February – May. Get more information on all scholarship opportunities and deadlines here.

Students who complete their financial aid application by February 1, 2019 will receive priority consideration for EWU financial aid for the 2019-2020 academic year.  FAFSA’s received after February 1st are still considered, but awards are made on a funds-available basis and late applicants may not receive all the aid for which they might otherwise qualify. Be sure to file the correct FAFSA for the correct academic year. At EWU, the academic year runs from fall quarter through the following summer quarter.

Use the 2019-2020 FAFSA if applying for aid to be used from fall 2019 through summer 2020. The last day to file a 2019-2020 FAFSA is June 30, 2020.

Use the 2018-2019 FAFSA if applying for aid to be used from fall 2018 through summer 2019. The last day to file a 2018-2019 FAFSA is June 30, 2019.

Using your FSA ID and password, you can check your financial aid application status, view your Student Aid Report (SAR) information, correct your application data, and electronically sign your applications at FAFSA on the Web. Parents can also use their FSA ID and password to sign their student’s financial aid applications electronically. Your Student Aid Report (SAR) is available for viewing approximately three days after you complete and submit your application. Please review your SAR and make any necessary corrections. Keep a copy for your records; we will receive an electronic copy if you listed EWU as one of the receiving schools.

Approximately thirty percent of all applications are selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education. If you are selected, the EWU Financial Aid and Scholarship Office is required to verify the information submitted on your application. We will request a verification form and an IRS Tax Transcript (if you did not use the IRS data retrieval process, or changed the IRS data after you retrieved it). Respond immediately and include your name and NetID on each document you submit.

After your file is complete, you will receive an email from our office directing you to view your financial aid award on the myEWU Portal. Please follow the steps outlined in the email to accept or reject each type of aid offered. If we do not hear from you, the offer may be subject to cancellation. You will be notified of all subsequent award revisions via your EWU student e-mail account or by paper if you have not yet confirmed your intent to enroll.

If you are awarded a Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Direct Loan, or Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS), additional steps are necessary to obtain these loans.

The university will first apply your financial aid to your outstanding university charges. Any remaining funds will be disbursed to you on or after the first day of each quarter. You have the option of receiving your balance by: 1) direct deposit to a bank account or 2) by check sent to your mailing address on file with EWU. A check will automatically be mailed if you do not select direct deposit. You may update your address at any time in the myEWU portal. Additional information on financial aid disbursement is available in the Award Instructions section.

You must meet all of the basic eligibility requirements and complete these steps to be considered for financial aid and scholarships at Eastern Washington University

Visit our Types of Aid page to explore the types of financial aid available to you as an Eastern student.

Cost of Attendance

Eastern Washington University establishes standard cost of attendance budgets that reflect the educational costs for EWU students during a nine month academic year. These budgets are intended to provide an adequate, but modest lifestyle. The budgets include the following components:

  • Tuition
  • Fees
  • Books
  • Room and Board
  • Transportation
  • Personal Expenses

The total budget varies based on enrollment status (full time, three-quarter time, half-time), number of terms of enrollment, living arrangements, degree standing (undergraduate or graduate), and state residency. If you are in a special program such as Dental Hygiene, Physical Therapy, off-campus Social Work, etc., your amounts will be different.

 

2019-2020 Estimated Cost of Attendance

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2018-2019 Estimated Cost of Attendance

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Living-Related Expenses for Spouse and Dependents

Living-related expenses for a spouse and dependents are not included in the cost of attendance budget. Living expenses for a spouse and/or dependents are considered as part of the FAFSA process, and those expenses are reflected in your expected family contribution (EFC).

Child Care Expenses

Child care costs for dependent children may be considered in some cases. Please contact the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office for more details.

Cost of Attendance Adjustments

Budgets may be adjusted for unusual expenses (e.g. high expense programs such as Physical Therapy and Dental Hygiene, dependent child care, etc.). Costs for study abroad may also be considered if the program has been approved for credit at EWU. Documentation must be provided for all budget adjustments.

Tuition and Fee Rates

For current tuition rates, fees, and refund schedules, visit Student Financial Services.

Net Price Calculator

The EWU Net Price Calculator provides estimated net price information (estimated cost of attendance minus estimated grant and scholarship aid) to prospective students based on what similar students paid in a previous year.  These calculations reflect awards for the current academic year and will be updated shortly for 2018-19.

 

Freshmen Net Price Calculator

Transfer Net Price Calculator

Need Calculation

There is no income cutoff or other simple method of determining whether you qualify for federal need-based financial aid. However, you can estimate your eligibility by using the Net Price Calculators above. Eligibility for state need-based aid at Eastern Washington University is based on formulas determined by the State of Washington.

Financial need is the difference between the cost of attendance (as defined by the school) and the estimated family contribution (EFC) calculated from your FAFSA data according to the federal aid formulas established by Congress:

Cost of Attendance – Expected Family Contribution (EFC) = Financial Need

Your financial need determines the maximum amount of need-based financial aid (grants, Work Study, Perkins Loan, subsidized Direct Loan) you can receive. Non-need based loans (unsubsidized Direct Loan, PLUS loan) may be used to replace the Expected Family Contribution (EFC). After your need has been calculated, your awards are determined and may include a combination of scholarships, grants, tuition waivers, work study, and/or loans.

Special Circumstances

Every family situation is unique. Even though the federal processor uses standard formulas, we may consider special circumstances (death in the family, medical, unemployment, casualty losses, child care, etc.) when we evaluate your eligibility. Please contact us if you encounter special circumstances.

FAFSA Application Tips

  • File the correct FAFSA for the correct school year.
  • Read the FAFSA instructions carefully as you complete the FAFSA on the Web.
  • Make sure your Social Security Number is accurate.
  • Use the exact name on your social security card. Notify the Social Security Administration if you change your name due to marriage or other reasons.
  • Include your name and EWU ID on every document you send us.
  • Use Eastern’s school code (003775) to indicate that you want your FAFSA results sent to Eastern.
  • Request an FSA ID and keep it with your records. If you are a dependent student, your parents may request an FSA ID also.
  • Make sure you have the appropriate electronic signatures (yourself and your parents, if applicable).
  • Use the IRS Data Retrieval tool within the FAFSA application if eligible to do so. Otherwise, use copies of your tax return(s).
  • Keep copies of your federal income tax forms and other documents for your records.
  • Remember to keep a copy of the confirmation number after filing your FAFSA on the Web. Your application is not complete until you click on “submit”.
  • Update EWU and correct your processed FAFSA whenever you have an address change. EWU address changes may be made through myEWU portal at any time.
  • Check your EWU student e-mail account frequently. We will send e-mail to your EWU student e-mail account throughout the year.
  • Reapply by the priority date each year. If you have a FAFSA on file from the previous year, use the FAFSA Renewal Application to pre-populate certain data elements.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible for federal and state financial aid, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • You must be formally admitted to Eastern.
  • You must be a United States citizen or be in the U.S. on a permanent visa status.
  • You must be seeking a degree or certification in an eligible program.
  • You must not be in default on any federal education loan, and you must not owe a refund due to overpayment of a previous federal grant or loan at any college or university.
  • You must be registered with the Selective Service if required by law.
  • You must have a valid Social Security Number.
  • You must be maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Financial Aid Eligibility for Certificate Programs

Beginning July 1, 2011, students taking a certificate program as a stand-alone are no longer eligible for federal aid. However, state, institutional, and private aid is still available. This restriction does not apply to students who are taking certificate programs as a part of larger degree programs or to teacher certification students.