Washtenaw Community College

Get Money for College

There’s good news about financial aid: Money is available to help you pay for school.

Some of the money you have to pay back, and some of it you don’t. Some of it you earn by working on campus or off in a work-study job.

Financial aid comes in many forms:

• Grants
• Scholarships
• Loans for you or your parents
• Work-study

About 40 percent of WCC students receive financial aid. In a typical year, WCC students get about $50 million in financial aid. Roughly half of that is loans, which you have to pay back, and half is aid that you don’t pay back: grants, scholarships, and work-study.

All students should apply for financial aid. Why? Because it isn’t always based just on income. Almost everyone at least qualifies for loans. Nonetheless, the amount of money you can receive is primarily based on your financial need.

How Financial Aid is Paid Out

How do you get your money? Here’s how the process works:

1. Your instructors must verify that you attend at least one of the first two sessions for each class.
2. As long as your financial aid is authorized and ready to pay on your account, a credit of $50 per credit hour is sent to the WCC Bookstore, where you can use it to buy books and supplies. Check your bookstore spending limits on MyWCC during the published bookstore dates for the semester. If you have a spending limit, take your class schedule and WCC student ID card to the bookstore to buy your books. Contact the Financial Aid office if you don't want funds transferred to the bookstore.
3. The money is credited to your account at the WCC Cashier’s Office, which deducts costs such as tuition, fees, books, and supplies.
4. If there’s still money remaining, you’ll receive a refund through direct deposit or a paper check.

There are two exceptions:

• If you receive work-study, you’ll be paid every two weeks.
• If you’re a new college student and receive a Direct Loan, federal regulations require that WCC wait until 30 days after classes begin to credit loan funds to your account.

Get More Information

This site offers lots of information about financial aid at WCC. Here are some of the key pages:

• How to Apply for Financial Aid
• Filling Out the FAFSA
• How to Avoid Financial Aid Problems
• Dates and Deadlines

The federal government, which provides much of the money that WCC students receive, offers details about its various financial aid programs at Student Aid on the Web. Some of the most useful federal publications include:

• “Do You Need Money For College? Federal Student Aid at a Glance,” a two-page overview of federal financial aid programs.
• “Funding Education Beyond High School: The Guide to Federal Student Aid,” a comprehensive look at the three types of aid the federal government provides: grants, loans, and work-study.
• “Myths About Financial Aid,” an examination of common misconceptions about financial aid.

Get Your Questions Answered

If you have questions about financial aid, WCC’s Financial Aid office is here to help you. You can receive assistance by:

• Visiting the office on the second floor of the Student Center building
• Calling 734-973-3523
• Sending an email to finaid@wccnet.edu
• Sending a fax to 734-677-5281

The regular hours for the Financial Aid office are Monday through Thursday from 8:00am to 6:00pm and Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm. See Enrollment Services Hours for a list of days when hours are extended or shortened, as well as days when the office is closed for holidays.

Other Useful Information

Two other documents may be helpful to you:

• Consumer Information for Prospective and Current Students at WCC
• The Code of Conduct for WCC’s Financial Aid office

Additional Resources on how to pay for college

Be sure to visit WCC's Cash Course site for more information and resources on paying for college and making informed financial decisions throughout your college years and beyond.

Check Your Aid

To check the status of your financial aid, log into MyWCC, click on Financial Aid, and then click on Check Your Financial Aid Status.