Interested in possibly reducing the amount you need to borrow in a federal student loan?

Many local and national organizations offer college scholarships to students. Scholarship information can be as close as your local library.  We encourage students to investigate as many alternative funding sources as possible.  Depending on a student’s financial aid award, outside scholarships can reduce a student’s debt burden and/or work commitment.

Wheaton’s policy on outside scholarships

Per federal regulations and college policy, all outside scholarships are considered when determining financial aid eligibility. Students who are applying for financial aid are required to list the amounts of all outside scholarships awarded from a source other than the college on their Supplemental Application for Financial Aid.

Students who are awarded an outside scholarship after they have completed their FAFSA and Supplemental Application and are receiving need-based financial aid from the college, are required to notify our office upon notification of the scholarship award.

An outside scholarship will first replace any unmet need-based. If a scholarship award exceeds the amount of unmet eligibility, the student’s “self-help” portion of their financial aid award (need-based work-study and/or need-based student loan) will be reduced.

Suggested Scholarship link:

Fastweb.com

Employer based tuition benefits

50% of the tuition benefits from a parent’s employer will reduce need-based aid eligibility before any other financial aid funds are awarded. The remaining amount of the benefit will be treated as an outside scholarship (see above).