Apply for Financial Aid

At Western Piedmont Community College, only one application is required to apply for financial aid. It is commonly referred to as the “FAFSA.”

WPCC Federal School Code: 002982

To apply for financial aid:

• Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The application opens Oct 1 each year.
• Be sure to enter our school code (002982) so that we receive your FAFSA information.
• All students must reapply for aid every year.
• You can apply for financial aid before you are admitted, but we cannot tell you what you are eligible for until you are admitted.

Priority Deadline for submitting your FAFSA:  June 1st each year

Submitting the FAFSA by the June 1st Priority deadline allows enough time for aid to be processed and awarded before fall tuition/fee charges are due.

WPCC students with completed financial aid files will receive an email notice regarding their Offer Letter beginning June 1st each academic year.

WPCC continues to process and notify students of financial aid award eligibility as FAFSA information is received throughout the entire academic year (even after the Priority Deadline of June 1st).

Please be aware that award amounts are not final until your FAFSA has been reviewed and processed by the Financial Aid Office and you have received an Offer Letter from the college you are attending.

I’ve completed the FAFSA, now what?

1. After completing the FAFSA, you will receive a confirmation email and an estimated Student Aid Index (SAI). Your SAI determines how much aid you are eligible for after your FAFSA is process by your school. Your award is not finalized until you receive and accept an Offer Letter from your school.
2. Many FAFSA applications are randomly selected for a process called verification. Not every FAFSA application is selected. However, if your application is selected for verification, WPCC must collect documentation to check the accuracy of your FAFSA information. The Financial Aid Office will send email notifications to your WPCC student email account directing you to your Pioneer Pass account.
3. WPCC students can also view the status of their financial aid file, and any documents needed, through Pioneer Pass under the Financial Aid Checklist. Your financial aid will not be processed until all required documents have been received and verification has been completed.
4. Once all required documentation has been received and processed, you will receive an Offer Letter notification email through your WPCC student email account. You should review and accept your Offer Letter in your Pioneer Pass account.
5. Changes to Your Family’s Financial Situation
   If you or your family’s financial situation has changed significantly from what is reflected on your federal income tax return used for the FAFSA year (for example, if you’ve lost a job or otherwise experienced a reduction in income), you may be eligible to have your financial aid adjusted. Complete the FAFSA questions as instructed on the application (including the transfer of tax return and income information), submit your FAFSA form, then contact the school you plan to attend to discuss how your current financial situation has changed. Note that the school’s decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.