- \n
- Getting started<\/a><\/li>\n
- Review Financial Aid Checklist<\/a><\/li>\n
- Types of Aid<\/a><\/li>\n
- Disbursement process<\/a><\/li>\n
- Repaying your student loans<\/a><\/li>\n
- Summer term<\/a><\/li>\n
- Textbook resources<\/a><\/li>\n
- Veterans benefits<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Disbursement Process<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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Federal regulations allow Financial Aid to disburse up to ten days before a term begins.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 During the Term:\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>WOU Financial Aid regularly disburses aid twice a week.<\/span><\/p>\n
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- <\/ul>\n
- Financial Aid is electronically disbursed to your WOU account as a payment.<\/span><\/li>\n
- After Financial Aid is paid to your WOU account, you may have an owed balance or a refund issued.<\/span><\/li>\n
- See the Accounting & Business Services office\u2019s\u00a0Payment Information<\/a>\u00a0page for information on payment deadlines.<\/span>\n
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- It is the responsibility of the student to ensure sufficient payment is made for the charges on a WOU account.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Estimate Your WOU Account Balance<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
\nWOU account charges are assessed by the Accounting & Business Services Office on a per-term basis.<\/span><\/p>\n
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- Estimate WOU account charges with the Accounting & Business Services office Tuition Calculators<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Review estimated <\/strong>Cost of Attendance<\/strong><\/a> information here.\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n
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Why hasn\u2019t your financial aid disbursed? Check\u00a0your Financial Aid Dashboard<\/a><\/span> > Notifications. Additionally, please refer to the list of Common Issues<\/a> which can prevent Financial Aid from disbursing.<\/p>\n
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The WOU Financial Aid Census Date<\/a> is always the second Friday of each academic term.<\/span><\/p>\n
Eligibility for all federal, state, and institutional aid is based on your enrollment level as of the Census Date.<\/strong>\u00a0Your enrollment level will lock at 5pm on Census Date\u00a0and is the enrollment level which your financial aid is based for that term, regardless of whether you add or drop courses after that date. Degree Partnership students should ensure their enrollment level is set by the second Thursday of each term.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Exception<\/em><\/strong>: For summer term students in late-starting summer modules. Your aid may be reduced if you do not begin attendance in a late-starting session.<\/span><\/p>\n
Financial Aid is revised for students whose registered enrollment at Census Date does not match their financial aid enrollment level.<\/span><\/p>\n
<\/span>Census Date revisions begin the third week of each term.<\/span><\/p>\n
Example<\/strong>: Joe College began this term enrolled in 12 credits. Joe\u2019s financial aid disbursed on the first day of the term, but by Census Date, he dropped a course and his enrollment was locked at 8 credits. After the Census Date, Joe\u2019s financial aid will be revised to reflect 8 credits worth of Joe\u2019s Pell Grant. This may create an owing balance on Joe\u2019s Wolf Web account, after the revisions are made.\u00a0<\/span>Note: Other grants and scholarships may also be impacted by a reduced enrollment level.<\/strong><\/p>\n
Learn more about enrollment level requirements for\u00a0<\/span>Loans and Grants<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n
Learn more about enrollment level requirements for\u00a0<\/span>Scholarships<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n
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Retroactive disbursements are disbursements which occur after an academic term has ended. View types of retroactive disbursements below:<\/span><\/p>\n
Federal Direct Loans<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n
Students who meet these requirements may be eligible for a retroactive disbursement:<\/span><\/p>\n
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- The student successfully completed at least half-time for the previous term(s)AND<\/strong><\/span>\n
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- The student is currently registered at least half-time;\u00a0OR<\/strong><\/li>\n
- <\/strong><\/span>The student was awarded and accepted their awards prior to the end of their last term.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Meeting this criteria does not guarantee a student is eligible for a retroactive disbursement.<\/span><\/p>\n
Students are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office about retroactive disbursement eligibility.<\/span><\/p>\n
Federal Grants<\/strong><\/h4>\n
- <\/strong><\/span>The student was awarded and accepted their awards prior to the end of their last term.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- The student is currently registered at least half-time;\u00a0OR<\/strong><\/li>\n
- The student successfully completed at least half-time for the previous term(s)AND<\/strong><\/span>\n
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- Review estimated <\/strong>Cost of Attendance<\/strong><\/a> information here.\u00a0<\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/ul>\n
- Estimate WOU account charges with the Accounting & Business Services office Tuition Calculators<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- After Financial Aid is paid to your WOU account, you may have an owed balance or a refund issued.<\/span><\/li>\n
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- Review Financial Aid Checklist<\/a><\/li>\n
![](\"https:\/\/cdn.wou.edu\/finaid\/files\/2025\/11\/experience.png\" "\\"Experience\\"")
<\/a> at the top of the page. Then navigate to the Services<\/strong> tab and find the Financial Aid Tile<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n