Applying for Aid
Admission and financial aid decisions at Wheaton are made independently of one another. Once a student is admitted to the college, aid is awarded based on a combined assessment of financial eligibility and the overall strength of the candidate. We urge all prospective students concerned about meeting college costs to apply for financial assistance when applying for admission to Wheaton. We also encourage students and their families to investigate all forms of financial aid that may be available outside the college (for example, community-based scholarships).
Students applying for financial assistance must complete both the CSS PROFILE and the FAFSA. The Wheaton CSS code number is 3963 and the Wheaton FAFSA code number is 002227. For more information, please call the Office of Student Financial Services at 508-286-8232. Please note that need-based financial aid is available only to U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents.
Required documents for financial aid
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for federal funding and is required of all financial aid applicants. The FAFSA is available from high school guidance offices and college financial aid offices. The FAFSA is also available on the Internet at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. Students and their parents should complete and return the form to the processor as soon as possible after January 1. Although the form asks for specific information from student and parent tax returns, applicants should not wait to complete tax returns for the current year before submitting the FAFSA. Complete the aid forms in early January using the best possible estimates of family income; corrections can be submitted later. Wheaton's federal code number for the FAFSA is 002227.
PROFILE application
Wheaton uses the information from PROFILE to determine eligibility for institutional funding. The PROFILE is only available on the Internet at http://www.collegeboard.org, and processing takes only 48 hours. CSS will send each student an individualized application based on the registration information provided. Wheaton's institutional code number for PROFILE is 3963. Applicants with questions about the PROFILE service should call the Office of Student Financial Services at 508-286-8232.
Student and parent tax returns
Wheaton also requires students and their parent(s) to submit copies of their federal income tax returns. Individuals who are using estimates on FAFSA and PROFILE because they have not yet completed the appropriate year's tax return must submit the most recent year's tax return by the published deadline. Applicants should include all pages, schedules and W-2 forms. Once a current year tax form has been filed, a complete copy must be forwarded to the college. Students and parents who have not and will not be filing a federal tax return must send a letter stating this and listing all sources of income for the year.
Noncustodial Parent's Statement
If a student's natural parents are separated, divorced or never married, the parent with whom the student does not live (the noncustodial parent) must complete a Noncustodial Parent's Statement. When the student completes the CSS PROFILE online, they will be given instructions to forward to their noncustodial parent for the online Noncustodial Parent's Statement. If the noncustodial parent cannot access the online form, please contact SFS.
Business/Farm Supplement
Student or parent(s) who own a business or farm must submit a Business/Farm Supplement to Wheaton. This form will be sent to the student with the PROFILE application. Applicants who do not receive this form may request one directly from the Office of Student Financial Services. This form should be returned directly to Wheaton when completed. If the business files a corporate or partnership tax return, we request a copy of the business tax return along with the Business/Farm supplement.