Applying for Financial Aid
At WSSU, approximately 85% of our students receive some type of financial aid. And we understand that the Financial Aid Process can seem overwhelming - even to those of us who work with the process year-to-year. The more you know about the process, the more successful you will be in completing the process.
The first step in deciding how to pay for your education is to understand how much it will cost and how much money you may need after any financial aid awards.
The next step is to review the information below to learn more about the process.
You apply for financial aid by completing and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application online. The 2020 – 2021 application opens October 1st.
We encourage you to submit and complete your FAFSA as soon as possible. The WSSU priority deadline for 2020 – 2021 is March 1st. Although there are no guarantees, a priority application means that you have a better chance of receiving funds that are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
You should use your and/or your parents' 2018 tax information when completing the 2020 – 2021 FAFSA. You should also have your:
- Social Security Card - enter your Social Security Number correctly to avoid delays in processing your FAFSA
- Drivers license
- 2018 W-2 forms and other records for earned income
- 2018 Federal Income Tax Return as well as:
- Your parents' 2018 Federal Income Tax Return if you are a dependent student
- Your spouse's 2018 Federal Income Tax Return if you are married
- FSA ID
- If this is your first time filing a FAFSA application, you and your parent, if applicable can apply for a FSA ID at Federal Student Aid. You can use your new FSA ID immediately to complete, sign and submit a new or updated FAFSA.
- You will need to enter FSA ID to serve as your electronic signature for the FAFSA. If you are an undergraduate dependent student, your parent must also sign the FAFSA with their own PIN number.
Read our tips to completing the FAFSA
The cost of attendance (COA) represents the total educational expenses a student may incur while attending WSSU for an academic year of nine (9) months, and is a critical element in determining a student’s eligibility for financial aid assistance.
The COA includes both direct and indirect costs. Direct costs are determined by the school and based on the amount normally assessed for most residents. The Student bill is made up of these Direct costs. Indirect costs are not set by the school and include costs that may vary from student to student. These costs are typically presented as:
| Direct Costs | Indirect Costs |
|---|---|
| Tuition and Fees* | Books and Supplies |
|
Room and Board |
Transportation** |
| Miscellaneous / Personal |
* Includes the cost of the University's mandatory health insurance. Students may waive the University's plan by providing proof of current health insurance coverage.
**The distance education cost of attendance does not include transportation and will be assessed only for students living off-campus.
To review the Cost of Attendance, click on the appropriate link below:
- For NC Resident
- For Non NC Resident
- For NC Resident - Health Sciences Graduate/Doctoral Program
- For Non NC Resident - Health Sciences Graduate/Doctoral Program
Each year, WSSU establishes a total cost of attendance based on a student’s housing status (on-campus, off-campus, or living with a parent/relative), enrollment status (full-time or part-time) and residency status (in-state or out-of-state) and type (undergraduate or graduate).
After you submit your FAFSA, you’ll receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) in 3-14 days. If you provided an email address when you completed your FAFSA, you will receive an email with instructions on how to access and print your report. Otherwise, you will receive the SAR via postal mail.
Your SAR includes:
- A summary of the information you provided on your FAFSA
- Some basic information about your eligibility for federal student aid as well as listing your answers to the questions on your FAFSA
- If your application is complete, an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will display in the upper right-hand corner of your SAR. If your application is incomplete, your SAR will not include an EFC, but it will provide information on what you need to do to resolve any issues.
- If you are selected for verification, the notice will be included
- A four-digit Data Release Number (DRN), which appears on the first page in the upper right corner of the paper SAR and SAR Acknowledgement. The DRN is located in the box that contains the Application Receipt date, below the EFC. You will need the DRN if you choose to allow your college to change certain information on your FAFSA.
Review your Student Aid Report carefully to make sure the information is correct and complete.
Important Changes to the Verification Process
Because students sometimes make errors when completing the FAFSA, there is a process for verifying applications and making corrections. The U.S. Department of Education Central Processing System (CPS) or WSSU select which applications are to be verified.
Federal funds cannot be disbursed to a student until the verification process has been completed. WSSU will also not release state or institutional funds until the verification process has been completed.
Federal Verification Process
We are pleased to announce we have established a partnership with Inceptia to expedite the federal verification process for Winston-Salem State University. Verification Gateway (VG) from Inceptia is an online portal to guide students and parents through verification.
If your FAFSA application is selected for verification, you will receive an email from FAS-VG@inceptia.org, or postcard from Inceptia, containing Winston-Salem State University’s unique website link to start the verification process.
We encourage you to begin the verification process within 7 days of receiving notification from Verification Gateway to ensure you receive your financial aid in time for payments. Failure to complete the verification process could result in the delay or denial of your financial aid.
Follow these steps to complete your verification.
- Access our school’s unique website link in the email from FAS-VG@inceptia.org
- Create your account and choose preferences for text messages and e-signatures.
- Complete your Task List.
- Confirm your signature and review your information.
- Sign your account.
*If you are a dependent student, your parent also needs to create their own account and complete each of these steps.
Verification Gateway Links and Deadlines for Winston-Salem State University
- 2020-2021 Federal Verification
Deadline for submitting these documents is September 4, 2021
Questions about the verification process?
Contact Inceptia, Monday through Friday 8 am – 7 pm Central at 888.374.8427 or FAS-VG@inceptia.org.
If you are a new student entering for Summer I and Summer II 2020, you will need to complete two steps to apply for financial aid:
- Submit your 2019 – 2020 FAFSA to WSSU. Our school code is 002986
- Submit a Summer 2020 Financial Aid Application
