Step-by-Step: How to Apply for
Financial Aid

Apply for Admission — Be sure to complete a CWI admission application as soon as possible. Applications are available online or at any of our One Stop student services centers. A CWI One Stop Student Services Specialist will contact you shortly after your application for admission is received.

Complete your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) — Federal student aid programs such as grants, work-study, or student loans, can make CWI an even better value!  Please complete the FAFSA online as soon as possible - the Federal Financial Aid application process can take several weeks.  Be sure to obtain a Federal PIN that can be used to sign your FAFSA electronically as well as access your FAFSA later if you need to make corrections.

Receive Your Student Aid Report (SAR) — Your FAFSA application will be processed by the U.S. Department of Education approximately seven to fourteen days after you submit it. You will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) shortly after your FAFSA has been processed. Please review your SAR carefully and correct any item that is inaccurate.

Enroll in Classes — Once you’ve started the financial aid process by completing your FAFSA and searching for other financial aid opportunities such as scholarships, you’re ready to make your educational goals a reality. Be sure to stay in contact with your CWI One Stop Student Services Specialist, who will help guide you through the class selection and enrollment process.

 

Submit Requested Documents — CWI One Stop Student Services will contact you (usually by email) shortly after your FAFSA has been processed (about the same time you receive your SAR). You will most likely be asked to submit additional information in order to complete the financial aid application process. The information requested is usually required by the U.S. Department of Education to clarify, resolve, or assist CWI staff in preparing a financial aid award package just for you. Be sure to respond to any request for information as soon as possible!

Receive Your Award Notification — Shortly after you submit all of the information requested to complete the financial aid application process, CWI One Stop Student Services will finalize the review of your application materials required by the U.S. Department of Education and gather all the aid resources you qualify for together. You will receive an Award Notification with detailed information about the financial aid awards you are eligible for.

Accept, Reduce, Decline Your Awards — Be sure to review and follow the instructions on your Award Notification carefully. Your financial aid “package” may include a combination of grants, scholarships, student employment, and student loans. CWI offers the lowest tuition and fee cost in Southwest Idaho and we encourage you to reduce or decline any financial aid (especially student loans) that you don’t need to pay for direct educational expenses such as tuition, fees, books, etc./p>

 

Complete Your Student Loan Master Promissory Note — Some types of financial aid, student loans specifically, require additional documentation before they can be distributed to you. If you will be a student loan borrower at CWI, you are required to complete a student loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) with the lender of your choice.

Complete Your Loan Entrance Counseling — If you are a first-time student loan borrower, we want to make sure you have all the information you need to make good decisions about student loans now and in the future. You are required to complete a student loan entrance counseling session before your student loan funds can be distributed to you.

Receive Your Funds — Once your Award notification has been signed and returned, and your student loan counseling and MPN are complete (if applicable) your financial aid awards are ready to be disbursed to you. CWI follows a predetermined disbursement schedule that is coordinated with the academic calendar. Your financial aid awards will be distributed to your CWI student account each semester according to the disbursement schedule.  Your financial aid awards will pay for your CWI charges (tuition & fees, etc.) first and any excess will be refunded to you.

Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress — The U.S. Department of Education requires all students applying for or receiving federal student aid to maintain satisfactory academic progress.  In short, you have to get good grades and take classes that help you make progress toward a degree or certificate.  Please review the CWI standards for satisfactory academic progress carefully and contact CWI One Stop Student Services if you have questions!