Fall 2023 > Financial Policies and Information > Financial Assistance

Financial Assistance

West Coast University offers students several options for payment of tuition. All students are encouraged to apply for financial assistance if unable to meet educational costs on their own. WCU participates in several types of Title IV programs, many of which are based on financial need. Title IV programs that the University participates in include: Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Federal Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants, Federal Work Study, and the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan programs (subsidized, unsubsidized and PLUS).

Students are encouraged to visit the Financial Aid office on campus at any point during their student lifecycle.  Prospective students may seek loan counseling from a trained and qualified Financial Aid Officer prior to applying to the institution for information such as:  

• Explanations of available Financial Aid
• Description on the differences between Private and Federal loans (terms, conditions, repayment, and forgiveness options)
• Disclosure of the institutions Cohort Default Rate (CDR), and the percentage of its students who borrow loans, and how the CDR compares to the national average
• Explanation that students have the ability to refuse all, or borrow less than the maximum student loan amount allowed.

Government guaranteed loans are an important part of financing educational expenses. West Coast University provides students with information and counseling to assist in managing their loans effectively. 

Students seeking financial assistance must first complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov, available on October 1st of each calendar year. The campus Financial Aid Officer uses this information to determine students' eligibility for federal aid programs and assists them in deciding what resources may be best suited to their circumstances. Students must meet all eligibility requirements to qualify for Federal Student Aid. Renewal of financial aid is not automatic. Recipients are required to reapply each year by the announced deadline.   The Financial Aid Office will provide the student with an estimated financial aid offer based on the information provided on the FAFSA. Additional documentation to support the student’s request for financial assistance may be requested if the FAFSA is selected for verification, information discrepancies are identified, or new information is received.  Offers are finalized after receipt and review of all requested documentation.  Financial Aid Offer Notifications and College Financing Plans are posted to the WCU secure student portal each academic year at https://westcoastuniversity.srm-app.net/.

Financial Aid Census Date

The financial aid census date is the date used by West Coast University to determine a student’s enrollment status for determination of federal, state, and institutional grants and loans each payment period.

• For Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy programs, the financial aid census date is Wednesday of second week each trimester.
• For all other programs, each semester or trimester consists of two terms (modules), and therefore has two financial aid census dates.  The first census date will be Wednesday of the second week of the first term, combining scheduled coursework for both terms of the semester/trimester.  Aid offers and disbursements will be determined based on the student’s enrollment status as of this date.  The second financial aid census date will be Wednesday of the second week of the second term, again combining scheduled coursework for both terms of the semester/trimester.  If the student’s enrollment status on the second census date differs from the enrollment status on the first census date, eligibility for federal, state, and institutional aid will be recalculated using the enrollment status on the second status date.  This may require the return of previously disbursed funds.  Students are encouraged to consult with their campus Financial Aid Advisor to review the potential impact of schedule changes within a semester or trimester.

Federal and state grants and loans will be disbursed to student accounts to cover direct educational costs. Disbursements in excess of direct costs will be refunded to the student (or parent, in the case of a parent PLUS loan), or in some cases refunded back to the respective loan sources.   Students may elect to have excess funds retained on their account until the end of the academic year or loan period, at their discretion.  This election may be charged at any time.  When refunding excess funds back to the lender, West Coast University will refund in the order most favorable to the student or parent borrower.

State grant funds intended for books and supply costs (“Cal Grant B Access Grants”, “Cal Grant C Books & Supplies Awards”, and “Florida Bright Futures Stipends”) will be posted to the student ledger and then immediately stipend to students regardless of other tuition and fee charges owed to the University at time of disbursement.

External sources of aid such as private loans or scholarships will be disbursed to student accounts to cover direct educational costs. Disbursements in excess of direct costs will remain on the account until the student withdraws, graduates, or otherwise requests a credit balance stipend through the Financial Aid Office. Any private loan credit balance remaining on a student's account after they withdraw or graduate will be refunded back to the private loan lender.

Note: Most private loans are borrowed in the student’s name as primary borrower, although an endorser may be required for approval.  Some private lenders also offer parent loans with the parent or other relative as the primary borrower.  In the case of private parent loans, credit balance stipends will be refunded to the primary borrower, unless the primary borrower has provided written authorization for alternative treatment of the excess funds.

Students who obtain a loan to pay for their educational program will have the responsibility to repay the full amount of the loan, plus interest, less the amount of any refund. If a student withdraws, a refund calculation will be completed and a refund of non-federal aid funds may be provided.

Submission on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is also required for consideration of eligibility for state grant program funds.  FAFSA submission deadlines for state grant consideration are shown below for the states where West Coast University campuses are located, along with a list of other materials required to apply:

If the FAFSA is selected for verification, by either the federal processor or the school, the WCU Financial Aid Department may request additional documentation to support the student’s request for financial assistance, including, for example, official IRS Tax Return Transcripts, signed verification worksheets, proof of identity, etc. The student must submit all requested information to finalize the estimated financial aid offers.  Students are expected to submit all verification materials within 14 days of the request.  Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis, but failure to submit verification materials within 45 days of the request may result in the loss of institutional grants or scholarships, campus-based aid and federal loans for that payment period.  Pell grant eligibility will be forfeited if requested verification documents are not received by September 30th of the trailing year of the aid year, or within 120 days of the last day of enrollment, whichever comes first.