Q: What is the Parent PLUS Loan?
A: The Plus Loan is a loan that a parent can take on behalf of a dependent student. The loan is credit based and can be applied for at www.studentloans.gov. the application for the 2017-2018 PLUS loan will open on June 1, 2017.
Q: Do you have to qualify for work study? What work-study programs do you offer?
A: There are over 600 different work study opportunities on campus. This includes both institutional work study and federally funded work study based on the FAFSA.
Q: Upon admission, my daughter was awarded $2,000 in financial aid per year. Was this based on the FAFSA information? Could she be eligible for additional awards?
A: If she completed a FAFSA then this is likely based on the FAFSA, however if you would like to contact our office we would be happy to take a look at her individual account to give you a more specific answer.
Q: We received the Financial Aid Letter and the amount we were granted only covered a small portion of the tuition, so we are looking for any additional financial aid to cover the remaining cost of tuition. What do you recommend as loans/scholarships?
A: I would first recommend if your student has paid their admissions deposit to complete the Online Scholarship Application. It will be available until May 1st. This scholarship puts students in the running for any of our institutional endowed scholarships. Other options include the Parent PLUS Loan, private educational loans, or our UMW Payment Plan.
Q: I plan on being in the education program, but since I would start education classes my second semester of freshman year, will I be charged as undergrad for the first four years of classes and as grad for my fifth year?
A: Yes, that is correct.
Q: Can you suggest financial institutions that offer student loans? Also when are dollars due to UMW for fall enrollment?
A: Our financial aid webpage on the UMW website has a list of various private loan lenders that students have used in the past (https://www.umw.edu/financialaid/types/loans/private/). Generally, the due date for bills is mid-July. The Office of Student Accounts should be able to confirm this for you.
Q: The FAFSA was based on 2015 data which tremendously overshot my parent's 2016 and expected 2017 income. Can we resubmit with more current data and possibly increase the aid?
A: You can complete a Special Circumstance request, which will allow us to review and update your FAFSA based on more recent figures. Form found here: https://www.umw.edu/financialaid/eligibility/special-circumstance-request/.
Q: Can I apply for work study before I begin the fall semester?
A: Once you obtain your NetID you are able to search and apply for work study positions: https://orgsync.com/129314/forms/166199
Q: I called a month or so ago asking when Net IDs will be available, and I was told they would be created over the summer, but the Next Steps page says they’ll be available in late February. I was wondering which one is correct?
A: The Net IDs will be available in mid-February.
Q: Hello, how do I decline the unsubsidized loan and do I need my student I.D to decline it?
A: The unsubsidized loan can be declined on the myUMW portal once you obtain your NetID or you can send an e-mail to our office specifying that you would like to decline this for the 2017-2018 year.
Q: My daughter received the Talon Award. When accepting it online what category do you select? Is it open now to accept? We have been having trouble.
A: Hello, if you are having issues with the online acceptance form, I would recommend contacting the Office of Admissions at (540)654-2000. They can walk you through it or determine if there is an issue within the system
Q: Do I have to send mid-year grades to UMW?
A: No, we would not need mid-year grades. We would need only your final grades.
Q: When should I have the special circumstances form turned in for you to review my FAFSA? If I turn mine in tomorrow - who do I send it to?
A: We are reviewing them now and will be responding in the near future. You should send any Special Circumstance forms and information to or by fax to (540)654-1858.
Q: Is there a monthly tuition payment plan? Are there any fees for one?
A: Yes, there are payment plan options. The Office of Student Accounts handles the payment plans. You can reach them at 540-654-1250.
Q: If I accept the unsubsidized loan, but obtain enough scholarships or grants to cover my tuition am I able to cancel it?
A: You have the option to decline your unsubsidized loan after accepting it. To ensure it would not be credited towards your bill, you would need to email our office asking us to cancel the loan within the first three weeks of classes.
Q: I will be commuting next year, so will I still have to fill out a housing and dining services agreement or will there be something different available to me?
A: You will want to contact the Office of Residence Life. We do have commuting plans available. You may reach them at the following telephone number: 540-654-1058.
Q: The award letter that arrived indicated Eagle Awards, Fed Dir Loan (sub and unsub) which were far below the grand total needed to attend UMW. The question is: Each year (Soph - Senior) will the Fed Dir Sub and UnSub loan values increase, thus decreasing the amount of money needed from outside sources each subsequent year?
A: Loan Values will increase each year. There are also scholarship opportunities available.
Q: What are the meal plan options?
A: Meal plan options are found here https://umw.sodexomyway.com/dining-plans/index.html (these are for the 2016-2017 year but should give you a good estimate). First year freshman living on campus are required to take the Eagle Plan their first year.
Q: My daughter was accepted and we have been told to fill out a special circumstance Unusual Medical Expenses Form. Can you send the link to the form? Also, what do we write in the ID field? She has no idea because she is not yet a student. What documents do we need to provide with the form? When is the form due?
A: Here is the link for the Special Circumstance form: http://www.umw.edu/financialaid/eligibility/special-circumstance-request/. The form lists the supporting documentation needed. You can leave the ID field blank since she doesn't know this yet. The form is due October 1, 2017 to be considered for the Fall 2017 semester.
Q: Does the "Student Cost of Attendance" price shown at the top of my financial letter include books and supplies?
A: This Student Cost of Attendance does take into consideration a component for books and supplies.
Q: I received an email on 1/24/17 stating that my financial aid letter has been mailed, but I have not yet received one in the mail. What should I do?
A: We'd encourage you to send an email to our office with your information and we'll be happy to mail you a new copy.
Q: Would you recommend a Sally Mae Loan?
A: We cannot recommend specific private loans, however I can tell you that it is one of our most commonly used by current students. If you are considering a private loan, I always recommend speaking to the bank that you bank with first to see if they have any options, since you have a preexisting relationship
Q: Are there any band scholarships available?
A: I know that there are many music scholarships. You can do a search through our online scholarship tool at https://umw.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com.
Q: The ALG also featured a bullet encouraging students to apply for foundation scholarships. In your experience, what is the success rate of these submissions and what is it predicated on? Financial need or case-by-case basis of applicability? Do you need to pay your deposit to apply?
A: Great question! There are about 400 scholarship programs through our UMW Foundation and the list grows each year. They are based on a variety of criteria, for both need-based and merit. I would suggest taking a look at our scholarship search tool at https://umw.scholarships.ngwebsolutions.com. You don't need to log in to search scholarship opportunities. You will need to pay your deposit to access the application.
Q: May we have a breakdown of the in-state COA listed of $27,470? Are the costs for 2017/2018 year available yet?
A: If you would like a breakdown of the estimated tuition please feel free to email our office at . Costs are not finalized yet but we have an estimated breakdown.
Q: Can we call the office now or do we need to wait on our Net ID in mid-February?
A: No, if you are on the students FAFSA, we can verify your identity and speak with you. After students arrive for orientation, they will have the opportunity to sign you up as a delegated user, which will allow us to speak to you about their financial aid during their time at UMW.
Q: What is the Special Circumstances Unusual Medical Expenses Form?
A: It is a form that allows us to account for a family that has claimed unusual medical expenses on their taxes (schedule A).
Q: Are we allowed to schedule appointments with the Financial Aid office?
A: Yes, you are absolutely welcome to e-mail our office and request an appointment: .
Q: We are filling out Special Circumstances Loss of Other Income, which verification worksheet do we turn in? V1, V4, or V5?
A: Hello, the verification worksheet is built into the 2017-2018 Special Circumstance Form, so you will not need to complete one
Q: In terms of the circumstances form, is there a way to submit in the Spring 2017, to see if we are eligible for the Fall 2017 semester?
A: Yes, you are welcome to submit the documentation now and we can begin the review process.
Q: Will we get another financial letter, specifically stating what costs are due to UMW for tuition, room, board, etc? The estimated COA includes estimated amounts that aren't necessarily paid directly to UMW, correct? When will that information be released? And how can I access that information?
A: We will update the information on our website, and the actual costs will also be listed through the Office of Student Accounts (billing) when the Board of Visitors decides on the final numbers. The Estimated COA includes billable and non-billable costs. The actual costs will be found through the Office of Student Accounts here: http://adminfinance.umw.edu/studentaccounts/tuition-and-fees/fredericksburg-campus/.
Q: Do I have to enroll to receive my NetID?
A: You have to pay your admissions deposit to receive the Net ID.
Q: Do you recommend the subsidized or non-subsidized loan?
A: The subsidized loan does not accrue interest while you are enrolled at least half-time, whereas the unsubsidized does accrue interest while you are enrolled. Depending on the financial situation some students will decrease the amount of loans they are borrowing.
Q: For the Special Circumstance form, should we complete the form is called, "Special Circumstances Request- Change in Income"?
A: It depends on your family's situation. For example if your 2016 income was decreased from the 2015 year, you would want to complete that form
Q: Could significant parent student loan payments count as a special circumstance for consideration?
A: No, unfortunately under Federal regulation we cannot consider that a special circumstance, along with any other form of consumer debt
Q: I read that some universities continue to update financial award packages into March. Is that the case at UMW?
A: Our scholarship application is from February through May so there are certain times that the financial aid package could be updated if a student receives any foundation/departmental scholarships at that time.
Q: I have received the Initial Award Letter. What is our next step?
A: If you have any financial aid requirements, they will be listed at the bottom of your Award Letter. That would be your next step. Some FAFSA's are selected for the Federal Verification process, which requires the family to submit additional documentation. This would be listed at the bottom of your award letter. If you have any questions, feel free to call us tomorrow (540)654-2468!
Q: How difficult is it to get an institutionally-funded work-study job? What pay do those jobs start out with? My EFC will not allow me to qualify for federally-funded work-study.
A: UMW has approximately 650 positions available. Students can work anywhere from the bookstore, library, student services center, financial aid office (woo hoo!). IT is a great program. Pay can vary between different jobs and departments on-campus.
Q: What are the office hours for your office and the payment plan office?
A: Our office hours are Monday-Friday 8am-5pm. The Office of Student Accounts follows the same hours.
Q: Does the initial award letter come through the regular mail? How do we check on whether one has been issued?
A: Yes, initial award letter goes to the home address listed on your FAFSA. If you want to give us a call tomorrow at (540)654-2468, we can check the status.
Q: If I have already submitted my FAFSA and I have already submitted my special circumstance reduce income form, how soon will I hear back on what my parents expected contribution is?
A: We are currently in the process of reviewing these. If you would like to contact our office via email or calling during office hours we will be happy to look into your account specifically to see where you are in the process.
Q: How does the COA per year go from $11,570 ($5780 x 2) on the adminfinance.umw.edu site to $27,470? What do you get for the extra $15,900?