Tuition & Financial Aid

WFU School of Professional Studies students are encouraged to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which determines eligibility for federal loan programs. To qualify, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, have been accepted into a degree program, and plan to attend at least half-time (three or more credit hours) each semester.

The FAFSA is the application that the Department of Education uses to determine if a student is eligible to receive federal student aid to fund their undergraduate and graduate programs.

Students applying to graduate school do not need their parents’ information to complete the FAFSA.

Student can begin the application process at any time after October 1st by completing the FAFSA online at studentaid.gov.

Yes. Eligibility for federal student aid does not carry over from one award year to the next. Students will need to complete the FAFSA for each award year in which they are or plan to be enrolled.

All U.S citizens and permanent residents are eligible for Direct Loan funding. Graduate/Professional students must be enrolled in at least half-time (3.0 credit hours) in order to be eligible for Federal Direct Loan funds.

Students will be offered the maximum loan amount they are eligible to receive. We encourage students to borrow just what they need. Standard financial aid offers are split over the fall and spring terms. If you plan on taking class(es) in the summer, you will want to account for this when accepting your loan offer. We can reallocate funding not utilized during the fall/spring to the summer.

Interest accrues only on the cumulative loan amounts you have received. You may choose to pay accrued interest or allow the interest to be capitalized.

A student’s federal loans will be in deferment status while they are enrolled at least half-time, and repayment begins six months after they have completed their program or dropped their enrollment status to less than half-time.

Not entirely. For estimated loans, students should anticipate being eligible to borrow the maximum Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan amounts as long as they meet the basic eligibility requirements. Student can also review Private Educational Loan options to determine the best program for covering the remaining amount of their tuition/fee and living expenses.

Yes. Financial aid budgets, referred to as Cost of Attendance, include updated cost of living estimates for students. A student’s total financial aid award may not exceed the Cost of Attendance.

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) 
• Complete Loan Entrance Counseling 
• Complete the Promissory Note for the Subsidized/Unsubsidized Direct Loan 

At this time, only students enrolled in a degree seeking program are eligible for financial aid. However, private loans are available for those students pursuing a certificate. Please go to elmselect.com to view the list of lenders.  

The total amount of aid awarded annually is based on the Cost of Attendance (COA) for your program, which consists of the following: 

• Direct costs: Tuition 
• Indirect costs: Books, Room/Board, Transportation, Personal expenses 

Total COA figures for your program can be found here.

The Wake Information Network (WIN) houses your personal information such as Financial Aid offers, grades, and class schedules. The site is password protected. You will receive information on setting up your WIN page after your enrollment deposit is received. The Deacon Electronic Account Center (DEAC) is accessible from WIN or the Students Financial Services home page.

DEAC is an electronic billing system that allows students and authorized payers online access to your WFU account information for items such as tuition, fees, and financial aid credits (loans, scholarships, etc.). When accessing DEAC, use the “View and Pay Accounts” tab to see real-time information.

All billing is handled through Student Financial Services, which is separate from the Office of Financial Aid. Tuition and fee balances are billed every semester and are accessible through a student’s DEAC account. Students with questions about their bill, should contact Student Financial Services at 336.758.5234 or at spsacct@wfu.edu. 

Yes, to learn more about payment plans, please go to finance.wfu.edu/students-parents/sfs/payment-methods/monthly-payment-plan/. 

Veterans Educational Benefits – The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has approved Wake Forest University as an eligible institution at which students may use its Education Benefit Programs. The University has established a policy to meet the requirements of the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-407), section 3679 of Title 38, U.S. Code as amended.

Eligibility for Veteran’s benefits is assessed by the VA. Students eligible for Veteran Benefits should submit either an updated “Certificate of Eligibility” or Statement of Benefits. We advise students to visit the VA website or their local VA office to begin the process for obtaining a “Certificate of Eligibility” (COE) or a Statement of Benefits. The COE or Statement of Benefits can be submitted electronically to the School of Professional Studies Office of Financial Aid at spfinaid@wfu.edu. The SPS Office of Financial Aid will electronically submit enrollment certification to the VA to initiate payments. 

Students must be enrolled in a degree program and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) to continue to use their benefits. 

Students receiving VA educational benefits will be required to pay the difference between the amount owed on their student account and the amount of the VA education benefit disbursement within 10 days of the start of the term.

For more information, visit: https://www.va.gov/education/. 

If a student used their benefits at a previous college, they must submit a “Request for Change of Program or Place of Training” Form (22-1995A) to the VA.