Financial Aid Eligibility

Citizenship Status

Federal Student Aid (Direct Student Loans, Parent Plus Loans, Pell Grant, etc.) are available to U.S. Citizens, and eligible noncitizens. Eligible noncitizens must meet one of the below qualifications:

1. You are a

  • U.S. national (includes natives of American Samoa or Swains Island) or
  • U.S. permanent resident with a Form I-551, I-151, or I-551C (Permanent Resident Card, Resident Alien Card, or Alien Registration Receipt Card), also known as a “green card.”

2. You have an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) showing*

  • “Refugee,”
  • “Asylum Granted,”
  • “Cuban-Haitian Entrant,”
  • “Conditional Entrant” (valid only if issued before April 1, 1980), or
  • “Parolee” (you must be paroled for at least one year, and you must be able to provide evidence from the USCIS that you are in the United States for other than a temporary purpose with the intention of becoming a U.S. citizen or permanent resident).

3. You hold a T nonimmigrant status (“T-visa“) (for victims of human trafficking) or your parent holds a T-1 nonimmigrant status. Your college or career school’s financial aid office will ask to see your visa and/or certification letter from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.*

4. You are a “battered immigrant-qualified alien” who is a victim of abuse by your citizen or permanent resident spouse, or you are the child of a person designated as such under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).*

5. You are a citizen of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or the Republic of Palau. If this is the case, you may be eligible for only certain types of federal student aid:

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)

Undocumented students, including DACA recipients, are not eligible for federal student aid, but may still be eligible for state or college aid, in addition to private scholarships. Please feel free to contact the Office of Financial Aid at (540) 654-2468 for more information.

Non-Degree Seeking Students

Students enrolled in a non-degree certificate or non-credit programs are not eligible for federal aid.

Housing Status

Financial Aid eligibility can be affected by whether the student is living in on-campus housing. While Federal loans and grants are not affected by housing status, some merit-based institutional scholarship may be affected. If you are considering changing your UMW housing status, please first contact the Office of Financial Aid to determine any potential changes to your financial aid package.

Enrollment Status (Full-time, part time, etc.)

All initial financial aid packages are based on full-time enrollment. Enrollment is then reviewed after the add-drop period each semester. At that time, it is determined if changes will be made to financial aid awards based on enrollment.

For example: A student is awarded a Transfer Award upon their admissions to UMW. One criteria of this award is that the student must be full time each semester.  Upon review after the add-drop period, the student is only enrolled in six credits. The award would then be cancelled.

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is a policy based on a federal regulations that states that students must maintain a steady rate of completion toward a degree and maintain a minimum GPA in order to be eligible for financial aid.

After semester grades are posted, the Financial Aid office identifies students that are not progressing satisfactorily, and notifies them of their change in eligibility.  A student may appeal for their financial aid eligibility if they meet certain criteria.

Special Circumstance Process

If the information you filed on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) does not reflect your current financial situation or does not take into account an unusual circumstance with you and/or your family you may submit a request for review of your financial aid status for special circumstances.   In certain circumstances, the Financial Aid Office may make adjustments to the FAFSA information to more accurately reflect the current situation.

Study Abroad

Students can use their financial aid from UMW for Approved Study Abroad programs. The UMW Financial Aid office works with the student’s host school to create an agreement allowing UMW to award financial aid while the student is enrolled at another institution.

Taking courses at multiple institutions

Students that have been preapproved to take courses simultaneously while taking courses at UMW are required to complete a Financial Aid Consortium Agreement. This allows UMW to work with your host school to ensure that your financial aid is based on total enrollment at both institutions.  Please keep in mind that the Consortium Agreement process does not affect payment deadlines, as each institution has its own set of billing deadlines and policies.

Bookstore Voucher Eligibility

The Bookstore Voucher process allows students to use a portion of their financial aid refund in the UMW Bookstore up to one week prior to the start of classes.  Bookstore Vouchers can be applied for through the myUMW Financial Aid portal.

Merit Scholarship Renewals

Please click to find more specific information on Merit Scholarship renewals.