Need-based aid makes college affordable for you, and includes borrowed, given, or earned money that is provided through a variety of sources. It is intended to bring down the cost of attending Wheaton College for students who could not otherwise afford to attend.
Types of Need-Based Aid
Wheaton Grant is an institutional grant and is generally the final component of a student’s gift aid award, helping to meet a determined percentage of need as set annually by the College.
Wheaton Grant funds are awarded to students on a first-come, first-served basis. Students must complete the application requirements prior to the end of the semester, as Wheaton Grant is not awarded for prior terms.
Wheaton Grant eligibility expires after eight semesters of enrollment. Students enrolling in a ninth semester or beyond may petition for fifth-year eligibility if there were extenuating circumstances requiring additional enrollment beyond 8 semesters. Academic Advising determines the hours needed for the student to complete the degree.
Need-based endowed scholarship funds are provided as gift assistance to students with demonstrated financial need. Students must meet the eligibility requirements for Wheaton Grant as well as any donor-designated restrictions. These funds will serve as replacement funds for Wheaton Grant as a source for institutional aid and maintain the same limitations. Students may see differences in the specific endowed scholarships they are awarded year to year.
This is a federally-funded grant, available to high-need students who meet the general Title IV student eligibility requirements and must not have already received a first bachelor’s degree. Students must file a FAFSA each year to determine their Pell Grant eligibility. The 2023-2024 maximum Federal Pell Grant is $7,395.
Student eligibility is determined by Student Financial Services. Awards are made to Title IV-eligible students with the lowest federal Expected Family Contribution (EFC), or Student Aid Index (SAI) beginning in 2024-2025, with priority to students who are Federal Pell Grant recipients. The maximum award is $4,000.
Residents of Illinois and Vermont may be eligible to receive state grants while enrolled at Wheaton College. Students must meet the state’s eligibility requirements and apply by the state deadline. The procedures and forms by which students apply, eligibility requirements, and the criteria for determining the amount of the awards vary for each program. Information can be found on each state’s website: Illinois MAP Grants and Vermont Grants. Delaware has the Scholarship Incentive Program (ScIP), which can be used out of state if the student’s major is not available at a Delaware Public Institution.
The William D. Ford Direct Loan Program is a federal educational loan program with a low fixed interest rate, available only to U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens. Students must complete the FAFSA each year to determine eligibility for the Federal Direct Subsidized and/or Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
Federal Work-Study (FWS) awards are available only to U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens, and students must complete the FAFSA to determine eligibility. A student must have demonstrated need, and funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to new students based on the date of admission and FAFSA filing date. Awards are renewed if the student continues to have financial need and was employed in a FWS job the previous year. Continuing students not previously receiving FWS may contact Student Financial Services to determine their eligibility and be placed on a waitlist should funds become available.
Awards are initially $1,000 but may increase depending on the estimated total earnings and the availability of funding. Wages are paid bi-weekly directly to the student, based on hours worked. The amount indicated in the financial aid award cannot be deducted from the student’s college bill. Federal Work-Study awards must be coordinated with other financial assistance so as not to exceed a student’s total need.
It is the student's responsibility to find a suitable job. Available FWS jobs, including on-campus positions and off-campus community service opportunities, are posted on the Wheaton College Human Resources page. Students have until October 1 to find a suitable job, but if a student has not found employment by October 1 and still wishes to participate in the program, the student must contact Student Financial Services to request an extension. If a student does not have an extension, and we have not received a work-study requisition form from a department or employer on that student’s behalf, we will remove the FWS eligibility and reassign the funds to another student.
How is Need-Based Aid Awarded?
Application is made by a student through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The student must meet the general Title IV student eligibility requirements and must not have already received a first bachelor’s degree. Students must file a FAFSA each year to determine federal and state eligibility and, in some cases, institutional aid eligibility.
The institutional awarding formula calculates a need-based aid award level which is sourced through federal grants, state grants, and need-based endowed scholarship funds with the remaining eligibility provided through Wheaton Grant. The sum of all institutional gift aid is capped at the cost of a student’s tuition. Total financial aid (including outside resources) cannot exceed the student’s Cost of Attendance (COA). Students with extenuating circumstances may submit an appeal for additional assistance.
Courses that fulfill a student’s degree requirements are considered to be within their Course Program of Study (CPOS). Need-based aid awards are initially awarded based on the assumption that an undergraduate student will be enrolled full time (12 - 18 hours) in CPOS-eligible courses. If a student is enrolled in less than 12 credit hours, and/or if the student’s CPOS hours are less than their total credit hours, aid will be prorated according to the policies below. No additional aid is provided for hours over 18. Financial aid awards are recalculated throughout the semester based on changes to enrollment status.
Need-based financial aid awards are also based on the assumption that an undergraduate student will be living on campus. Housing Services will notify Student Financial Services directly with a list of returning students who plan to live off-campus or at home with their parents, and their awards will be adjusted accordingly. New students planning to live at home must notify Student Financial Services directly at sfs@wheaton.edu so their award can be adjusted accordingly.
Eligibility for institutional funds and state grants is based on credit hours, but eligibility for federal funds is based on CPOS hours. If a student is full time based on total credit hours, but CPOS-eligible hours are less than full time, federal grants will be prorated according to CPOS hours.
If CPOS hours are 9 - 11.9, the student will receive ¾ of the semester amount of their federal grants. If CPOS hours are 6 - 8.9, the student will receive ½ of the semester amount of their federal grants. If CPOS hours are less than 6, the student will receive ¼ of the semester amount of their federal grants.
If the student is enrolled in at least 6 CPOS-eligible hours, federal loans and Federal Work-Study will be offered at the full amount with no proration. If CPOS hours are less than 6, the student will not be eligible for any federal loans or work-study.
Institutional funds are not available to make up for reductions in federal or state grant eligibility.
Cost of Attendance (COA) is based on CPOS hours. Please read the full policy for the impact of CPOS on cost of attendance, as well as the Accelerated MA program, B-quad classes, and schedule changes.
A student enrolled in less than 12 credit hours is part time. Financial aid will be prorated to reflect both total credit hours and CPOS hours (where applicable), according to the guidelines below.
Institutional funds will be prorated according to total credit hours. If total credit hours are 9 - 11.9, the student will receive ¾ of the semester amount of their institutional scholarships and grants. If total credit hours are 6 - 8.9, the student will receive ½ of the semester amount of their institutional scholarships and grants. If total credit hours are less than 6, the student will not be eligible for any institutional scholarships or grants.
Federal funds will be prorated according to CPOS hours. If CPOS hours are 9 - 11.9, the student will receive ¾ of the semester amount of federal grants. If CPOS hours are 6 - 8.9, the student will receive ½ of the semester amount of their federal grants. If CPOS hours are less than 6, the student will receive ¼ of the semester of their federal grants.
If a part-time student is enrolled in at least 6 CPOS hours, federal loans and Federal Work-Study will be offered at the full amount with no proration. If CPOS hours are less than 6, the student will not be eligible for any federal loans or work-study.
State grants will be prorated according to state guidelines.
How is Need-Based Aid Renewed?
For undergraduate students beginning enrollment at Wheaton in the 2024-2025 aid year:
Institutional aid for new students will remain the same year to year, subject to proration for part-time enrollment based on credit hours and adjustments made as a result of changes in housing status or other components of the COA. Scholarships specifically awarded as non-renewable such as departmental scholarships, prizes, or financial aid appeal funds will not carry forward from year to year. Federal and state aid will vary year to year based on the FAFSA results and CPOS-eligible hours (federal aid only). The FAFSA is not required to renew institutional need-based aid, but the FAFSA is required to receive federal and state aid.
In order to retain financial aid eligibility from year to year, a student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Please read the full policy for the impact of SAP on financial aid eligibility.
For continuing students who began their enrollment at Wheaton prior to August 2024:
Beginning in 2024-2025, the FAFSA Simplification Act of 2021 changes the FAFSA input and calculation which creates a new measurement to determine a family’s financial aid eligibility. To provide stability for our students and families, Wheaton commits to providing the same total grant and scholarship aid going forward, subject to proration for part-time enrollment based on credit hours and adjustments made as a result of changes in housing status or other components of the COA. Scholarships specifically awarded as non-renewable such as departmental scholarships, prizes, or financial aid appeal funds will not carry forward from year to year. The FAFSA is required to renew institutional need-based aid as well as to receive federal and state aid.
This means we will increase Wheaton Grant for those who lose federal or state grant aid and decrease Wheaton Grant for those who become eligible for federal or state grant aid, keeping total gift aid the same as 2023-2024 and continuing until graduation. This will assure families that they will continue to receive level funding and alleviate concerns about a negative impact on their financial aid award due to the FAFSA formula change.
In order to retain financial aid eligibility from year to year, a student must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP). Please read the full policy for the impact of SAP on financial aid eligibility.