Applying for Aid
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. 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 to U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents; a limited amount of need-based financial aid is awarded annually to non-U.S. citizens.
Required documents for financial aid
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility for federal and state 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 www.fafsa.ed.gov. Students and their parents should complete and submit the form to the processor as soon as possible after January 1 every year. 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.
CSS/PROFILE application. Wheaton uses the information from PROFILE to determine eligibility for institutional and campus-based federal funding. The PROFILE is available only on the Internet at www.collegeboard.org, and processing takes only 48 hours. A small fee is charged for processing; some students may qualify for a fee waiver. 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 to the College Board’s IDOC service. Applicants should include all pages, schedules and W-2 forms. IDOC will copy and send electronic images of all tax-related documents direct to Wheaton. 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. Details on the process may be found on the college Website at wheatoncollege.edu/Admin/SFS.
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. Applicants return this form directly to Wheaton when completed; returning students will submit the form with their IDOC packet. If the business files a corporate or partnership tax return, Wheaton requires a copy of the business tax return along with the Business/Farm supplement.