Apply for Aid

Apply for Aid

Instructions below apply to domestic first-year and transfer students. If you are an international student, visit international student resources.

Are you a returning student looking for guidelines and required forms to re-apply for financial aid for the next academic year? Visit "How Do I Apply?"

How to Apply

The process to apply for university-funded need-based grants is below.  The complete application must be submitted by the deadline to be considered for a university-funded need-based grant or the W&L Promise. 

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Applicants seeking to apply for W&L need-based grant are required to submit all materials listed in Steps 1 and 2 by the February 15 deadline. These materials will be used to determine eligibility for university need-based grant. Although the 2024-25 FAFSA, Step 3, is eventually required to complete the aid package, it will not be available for any school to import until mid-March. FAFSA submission is waived until April 15 for all admitted students.

Note added Feb. 7, 2024.

Step 1: Complete the 2024-25 CSS Profile

• Our school code is 5887
• A PROFILE application is required for both parent households if your parents are divorced, separated, or unmarried.

Step 2: Submit Your 2022 Federal Tax Returns to W&L

• Your and your parents' 2022 federal tax returns including all schedules, W-2s, 1099s, etc
• 2022 Federal tax returns for businesses and corporations including all schedules, K-1s, etc (if applicable)
• If your parents are divorced, separated, or unmarried, your non-custodial parent's tax return is also required.
• If you or your parent is not required to file a 2022 federal tax return, please submit the W&L Non-Tax Filer Statement.
• Submit documents via the W&L electronic upload. (W&L does not participate in IDOC and cannot access documents submitted through the IDOC system.)

Step 3: Complete the 2024-25 FAFSA online using your 2022 federal tax returns

• Our school code is 003768
• Note: Due to a federal delay, the 2024-25 FAFSA was not available to complete until late December.  Although the FAFSA can now be submitted, W&L will not be able to import FAFSA data until mid-February. If you do complete the FAFSA before mid-February, it will continue to show as “Awaiting” on your Financial Aid Checklist in the Applicant Portal. Once we begin to receive FAFSA data in mid-February, we will update the checklist status.

Step 4: Monitor Aid Status

Once you have applied for admission, you can monitor the status of your Financial Aid application online by logging into the Applicant Portal. Once logged in, click on the Financial Aid Tab. All financial aid documents currently required of the student will be listed along with a status of Awaiting or Received.

Step 5: Receive your Award Package

Aid awards will be available in your Applicant Portal when released. A paper copy will also be mailed to you. Once you receive your financial aid award, you can make an informed decision about choosing W&L as your home for the next four years!