Need-based aid makes college affordable for you, and includes borrowed, given, or earned money that is provided through a variety of sources. It is intended to bring down the cost of attending Wheaton College for students who could not otherwise afford to attend.
Application is made by a student through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The student must meet the general Title IV student eligibility requirements and must not have already received a first bachelor’s degree. Students must file a FAFSA each year to determine federal and state eligibility and, in some cases, institutional aid eligibility.
Types of Need-Based Aid
The Wheaton College Illinois Promise Scholarship is intended to bridge the gap left after all other gift aid* has been awarded to cover the cost of tuition for eligible high-need Illinois students. The scholarship is available for up to 4 years (8 semesters) for first-year students beginning with Fall 2025 enrollment. To be eligible, students must qualify for both a Federal Pell Grant and the State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant, be enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours each semester in Course Program of Study (CPOS) eligible courses, and live in on-campus housing. Students who are awarded the Pell Grant and MAP Grant based on one-time special circumstance appeals will not qualify.
To renew, students must meet the annual MAP FAFSA filing deadline each year, maintain their eligibility for both a Federal Pell Grant and the State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant, and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards or be approved on a SAP appeal basis.
*Gift aid includes the Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG Grant, State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant, and all institutional scholarships and grants. Outside scholarships, student or parent loans, and Federal Work Study may be used for other costs of attendance, such as housing, food, travel, and books.
Wheaton Grant is an institutional grant and is generally the final component of a student’s gift aid award, helping to meet a determined percentage of need as set annually by the College.
Wheaton Grant funds are awarded to students on a first-come, first-served basis. Students must complete the application requirements prior to the end of the semester, as Wheaton Grant is not awarded for prior terms.
It is available for eight (8) semesters or the total semesters needed to finish your program of study.
Need-based endowed scholarship funds are provided as gift assistance to students with demonstrated financial need. Students must meet the eligibility requirements for Wheaton Grant as well as any donor-designated restrictions. These funds will serve as replacement funds for Wheaton Grant as a source for institutional aid and maintain the same limitations. Students may see differences in the specific endowed scholarships they are awarded year to year.
This is a federally-funded grant, available to high-need students who meet the general Title IV student eligibility requirements and must not have already received a first bachelor’s degree. Students must file a FAFSA each year to determine their Pell Grant eligibility. The 2025-2026 maximum Federal Pell Grant is $7,395.
Student eligibility is determined by Student Financial Services. Awards are made to Title IV-eligible students with the lowest Student Aid Index (SAI) , with priority to students who are Federal Pell Grant recipients. The maximum award is $4,000.
Residents of Illinois and Vermont may be eligible to receive state grants while enrolled at Wheaton College. Students must meet the state’s eligibility requirements and apply by the state deadline. The procedures and forms by which students apply, eligibility requirements, and the criteria for determining the amount of the awards vary for each program. Information can be found on each state’s website: Illinois MAP Grants and Vermont Grants.
The William D. Ford Direct Loan Program is a federal educational loan program with a low fixed interest rate, available only to U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens. Students must complete the FAFSA each year to determine eligibility for the Federal Direct Subsidized and/or Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
Federal Work-Study (FWS) awards are available only to U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens, and students must complete the FAFSA to determine eligibility. A student must have demonstrated need, and funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to new students based on the date of admission and FAFSA filing date. Awards are renewed if the student continues to have financial need and was employed in a FWS job the previous year. Continuing students not previously receiving FWS may contact Student Financial Services to determine their eligibility and be placed on a waitlist should funds become available.
Awards are initially $1,000 but may increase depending on the estimated total earnings and the availability of funding. Wages are paid bi-weekly directly to the student, based on hours worked. The amount indicated in the financial aid award cannot be deducted from the student’s college bill. Federal Work-Study awards must be coordinated with other financial assistance so as not to exceed a student’s total need.
It is the student's responsibility to find a suitable job. Available FWS jobs, including on-campus positions and off-campus community service opportunities, are posted on the Wheaton College Human Resources page. Students have until October 1 to find a suitable job, but if a student has not found employment by October 1 and still wishes to participate in the program, the student must contact Student Financial Services to request an extension. If a student does not have an extension, and we have not received a work-study requisition form from a department or employer on that student’s behalf, we will remove the FWS eligibility and reassign the funds to another student.
How is Need-Based Aid Awarded?
Sources and Limits of Need-Based Aid
The institutional awarding formula determines a student’s need-based aid using federal grants, state grants, and endowed scholarship funds. Any remaining eligibility is covered by the Wheaton Grant. The total of all institutional gift aid is capped at the cost of tuition, and total financial aid—including outside resources—cannot exceed the student’s Cost of Attendance (COA). Students with special financial circumstances may appeal for additional assistance.
Housing Status and Financial Aid Adjustments
Financial aid awards are initially calculated with the assumption that students live on campus. Awards will be adjusted for students who live off-campus or at home.
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New students must contact Student Financial Services directly at sfs@wheaton.edu to ensure proper adjustment.
- Housing Services will notify Student Financial Services with returning student plans.
Course Load and Eligibility (CPOS)
Need-based aid is awarded assuming full-time enrollment (12–18 credit hours) in courses that meet degree requirements—known as the Course Program of Study (CPOS). If a student enrolls in fewer than 12 credit hours, or if not all credit hours are CPOS-eligible, aid will be prorated based on the policies below. No additional aid is awarded for enrollment over 18 credit hours. Awards are recalculated throughout the semester if enrollment changes.
Eligibility for institutional funds and state grants is based on credit hours, but eligibility for federal funds is based on CPOS hours. If a student is full time based on total credit hours, but CPOS-eligible hours are less than full time, federal grants will be prorated according to CPOS hours.
If CPOS hours are 9 - 11.9, the student will receive ¾ of the semester amount of their federal grants. If CPOS hours are 6 - 8.9, the student will receive ½ of the semester amount of their federal grants. If CPOS hours are less than 6, the student will receive ¼ of the semester amount of their federal grants.
If the student is enrolled in at least 6 CPOS-eligible hours, federal loans and Federal Work-Study will be offered at the full amount with no proration. If CPOS hours are less than 6, the student will not be eligible for any federal loans or work-study.
Institutional funds are not available to make up for reductions in federal or state grant eligibility.
Cost of Attendance (COA) is based on CPOS hours. Please read the full CPOS policy for the impact of CPOS on cost of attendance, as well as the Accelerated MA program, B-quad classes, and schedule changes.
For questions about how CPOS hours may affect financial aid eligibility, please contact Student Financial Services at sfs@wheaton.edu.
For questions about which courses are eligible for your Course Program of Study, please see Degree Works or contact Academic Advising at academic.advising@wheaton.edu.
A student enrolled in less than 12 credit hours is part time. Financial aid will be prorated to reflect both total credit hours and CPOS hours (where applicable), according to the guidelines below.
Institutional funds will be prorated according to total credit hours. If total credit hours are 9 - 11.9, the student will receive ¾ of the semester amount of their institutional scholarships and grants. If total credit hours are 6 - 8.9, the student will receive ½ of the semester amount of their institutional scholarships and grants. If total credit hours are less than 6, the student will not be eligible for any institutional scholarships or grants.
Federal funds will be prorated according to CPOS hours. If CPOS hours are 9 - 11.9, the student will receive ¾ of the semester amount of federal grants. If CPOS hours are 6 - 8.9, the student will receive ½ of the semester amount of their federal grants. If CPOS hours are less than 6, the student will receive ¼ of the semester of their federal grants.
If a part-time student is enrolled in at least 6 CPOS hours, federal loans and Federal Work-Study will be offered at the full amount with no proration. If CPOS hours are less than 6, the student will not be eligible for any federal loans or work-study.
State grants will be prorated according to state guidelines.
How is Need-Based Aid Renewed?
Ongoing SAP Requirement for all Students
Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress is required to continue receiving aid for all undergraduate students. Please refer to the full SAP policy for more information.
Institutional aid will remain the same each year, with adjustments for:
- Part-time enrollment (based on credit hours)
- Changes in housing status or other Cost of Attendance (COA) components
Scholarships specifically awarded as non-renewable such as departmental scholarships, prizes, or financial aid appeal funds will not carry forward from year to year. Federal and state aid will vary year to year based on the FAFSA results and CPOS-eligible hours (federal aid only). The FAFSA is not required to renew institutional need-based aid, but the FAFSA is required to receive federal and state aid.
Due to changes introduced by the FAFSA Simplification Act of 2021, Wheaton College will maintain consistent total grant and scholarship aid from 2023–2024 forward, with adjustments for:
- Part-time enrollment (based on credit hours)
- Changes in housing status or other Cost of Attendance (COA) components
Scholarships specifically awarded as non-renewable such as departmental scholarships, prizes, or financial aid appeal funds will not carry forward from year to year. The FAFSA is required to renew institutional need-based aid as well as to receive federal and state aid.
This means we will increase Wheaton Grant for those who lose federal or state grant aid and decrease Wheaton Grant for those who become eligible for federal or state grant aid, keeping total gift aid the same as 2023-2024 and continuing until graduation. This will assure families that they will continue to receive level funding and alleviate concerns about a negative impact on their financial aid award due to the FAFSA formula change.