Financial Aid Services
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Lipka Hall, Corner of 14th and Potter Streets
- 610-499-4161
- finaidmc@widener.edu
Submitting Your FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the first step to getting you the financial assistance to make the cost of college - an investment in your future - affordable.
What is the FAFSA and Why is it Important?
The FAFSA is a free federal application that determines your eligibility to receive receive state and federal aid, as well as need-based aid from Widener, that can make a world of difference in paying for college and putting you on the inside track to a rewarding and successful career.
The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid offers billions of dollars in aid to qualified undergraduate students who plan to enroll in a two- or four-year college. Even if you think your family makes too much money to qualify for financial aid, you should still complete the FAFSA. There is no income cut-off and even families with a higher income may qualify for some type of aid.
You and at least one parent or caregiver will need a separate FSA ID to access the Federal Student Aid's online system and serve as your legal signatures. Make sure to create your unique FSA IDs before you get started. Our school code is 003313.
The New FAFSA Is Ready for You
The FAFSA simplification act has brought many changes to the form, including a more streamlined application process and a better user experience.
When is the FAFSA Due?
It is not a requirement to have applied to Widener before submitting your FAFSA - so knock the FAFSA off your list first and then submit your online application to Widener. You'll want to include Widener University in the section of the FAFSA that asks which schools you are interested in applying to. Our school code is 003313.
The FAFSA is an important part of the information necessary for Widener's financial aid services team to prepare your financial aid offer. Your Student Aid Report will be sent directly to both you and to us after it has been processed.
How Do I Complete the FAFSA?
The following items are needed to complete the FAFSA:
- FSA ID and Studentaid.gov account
- On the 2024–25 FAFSA form, every contributor—anyone (you, your spouse, a biological or adoptive
parent, or your parent's spouse) who's required to provide information on the FAFSA form—needs a StudentAid.gov account before accessing and completing their section of the online form. Contributors can access their StudentAid.gov account by using their FSA ID (account username and password).
- On the 2024–25 FAFSA form, every contributor—anyone (you, your spouse, a biological or adoptive
- Your parents’ SSNs if you are a dependent student
- Parents' and student's W2 and/or 1099 forms from two years prior
- Parents' and Student Federal tax return from two years prior
- Records of child support received for the last calendar year
- Current balances of cash, savings, checking accounts, mutual funds, CDs, and Bitcoin
- Net worth of investments, businesses, and for-profit farm
If at any time you have questions or are unsure what to do, know that we are here to help. Please contact our Office of Financial Aid Services for assistance.
Who is Eligible for Financial Aid
In order to receive a financial aid offer, students must meet the following criteria:
- Have earned a high school diploma or have a GED
- Be older than 17 years of age, Pennsylvania's compulsory high school attendance age
- Not concurrently enrolled in an elementary or secondary institution
How is Financial Need Calculated?
A simple formula shows how it works:
Cost of Attendance
– Student Aid Index (SAI)
______________________________
= Financial Need
Common Financial Aid Terms
- Cost of Attendance: Estimates direct and indirect costs for attending the university (e.g., tuition, room and board, technology fees, books)
- Student Aid Index (SAI): An eligibility index number used to determine how much federal student aid you might receive
- Financial Need: Cost of attendance less SAI as determined by your FAFSA; it is this gure on which your nancial aid offer is calculated
- Financial Aid Offer: Lists the breakdown of cost, types and amounts of aid awarded, and expected out of pocket expense
What Should I Expect After I Submit the FAFSA?
You can review your process status online and will receive a FAFSA Submission Summary within a few days after submission. This will summarize all submitted information and allow you to review for any required changes.
The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid will let us know once your FAFSA has been processed so we can begin our review.
If your aid offer includes a federal loan and you are a first-time borrower, there are a few more steps to take in order to receive the loan. Learn more regarding loan financing.
We've got a qualified team here who specializes in getting you the financial assistance you need. Don't hesitate to contact us with any and all questions.