Applying for Financial Aid | Westmoreland County Community College, Youngwood, Pennsylvania

 

Applying for Financial Aid

*Please Note:

For the 2024-25 school year, the FAFSA will contain many changes due to the Department of Education's FAFSA Simplification Act, which expands eligibility for federal financial aid. It streamlines the financial aid application process for students and families and provides a better user experience in completing the form. It also reduces completion barriers for certain student populations. Due to the reconfiguration of the FAFSA, the availability of the 2024-2025 FAFSA will be delayed until December 2023.

Federal Student Aid (FSA) has published its updated Federal Student Aid Estimator tool to help students and their families calculate the amount of financial aid they may be eligible to receive for the 2024-25 award year. This tool, per FSA, estimates the Student Aid Index (SAI) for the 2024-25 award year, not the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) for the 2023-24 award year. FSA encouraged students to use this tool before filling out their FAFSA to help inform them of their options for funding their postsecondary education.  This tool provides estimates only and is NOT a substitute for the 2024-25 FAFSA, which will be released in December 2023.

 

Applying for Financial Aid

Our financial aid team is focused on helping each student achieve their dream. We want our students to feel confident about applying for aid. The process can feel intimidating at first, but by completing the financial aid forms, you can find out what type of financial aid assistance might be available.

Below, we outline the steps to apply for aid and highlight important dates. Examine the steps and mark the dates on your calendar. We want this to be as easy as possible so feel free to get started today!

How to Apply: Your Financial Aid Checklist

Here’s what to do, when to do it and what to expect along the way:

  • Apply to Westmoreland County Community College 
  • Apply for your FSA ID (your parent, if you are considered dependent)
  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Don’t forget to use the Westmoreland County Community College’s code - 010176 
  • Review your Student Aid Report (SAR) to make sure all of the information is correct. If you provided your email address on the FAFSA, you will receive an email with a link to your Student Aid Report.  Update any data, if necessary, on the FAFSA website
  • Check the MyWestmoreland portal to determine if additional documents are required. 
    • Go to Self-Service Menu, WebAdvisor for Students and then to Financial Aid.
    • My Documents will track receipt of the FAFSA application. It also shows if students need to submit additional documents to the Financial Aid office in order to finalize their financial aid.
  • Submit tax return transcripts, corrections and any other requested documentation to the Financial Aid Office in a timely manner to ensure that you are awarded prior to the start of the term.
  • After you submit all required information/documentation to the Financial Aid office, a financial aid counselor reviews your application material. Make sure you monitor your Westmoreland student email for any direct contact from the financial aid counselor or notification of a financial aid award letter.
  • Review your financial aid award letter in its entirety and see your award package on the MyWestmoreland portal. You can also accept or reject your loans. Learn more about receiving aid
  • Your financial aid is disbursed to pay all or part of your school charges. The Financial Aid office will authorize your disbursement after verification of enrolled credits. 

How long does all of this take? It’s up to you! Apply early and submit all information immediately to complete your application. Don't forget to check the MyWestmoreland student portal regularly to see the current status of your financial aid.