Eligibility and awarding

All applicants for financial aid must submit a FAFSA online. UW-La Crosse has a priority date of February 1, but students can submit their application up until the federal deadline. Aid will not be offered until all necessary documents are received, so monitor your To-Do list in Wings to see if anything pops up. All documents must be received by your last day of attendance in that aid year in order to be eligible for federal aid in that academic year.

Beginning with the 2024-25 aid year, each contributor (student, spouse, parent) must have a valid FSA ID to consent to the use of their IRS data. If you don't have one, it can be created online. 

Students will invite their contributor (spouse or parent, if applicable) by e-mail. To send the e-mail you must enter their full legal name, date of birth, social security number, and e-mail address on the FAFSA application.

Students are responsible for paying their bill regardless of when their financial aid comes in. It is the student’s responsibility to complete all steps of the application process.

Important

The following charges are not eligible to be paid with any federal funds (including all Federal grants and all Federal Direct Loans):

• Textbook and Murphy Library fines
• Parking passes/fines
• Any drug/alcohol sanctions and workshop charges
• ID card replacement charges
• Stop payment or NSF check charges
• Equipment/supply replacement or non-return charges (including damage to Residence Hall property)
• Program fees for First Flight or Rec LLC
• Athletics -- miscellaneous equipment charges, tryout/roster fees, trip expenses, nutrition program

Note: If a student receives a refund of excess student aid, they can use this money to pay their outstanding balance in Wings. The above items are charges that federal aid, when initially disbursed, will skip over.

A Student Aid Index (SAI) is calculated by the Federal Processing System (FPS) using the information reported on the FAFSA. Family income, assets, and household size are considered in the federal methodology. "Need" is determined by taking the cost to attend UW-La Crosse and subtracting the SAI. Scholarships are also subtracted. Once need is established, the Financial Aid Office offers grants first, then Federal Work-Study, and then loans. 

Students do not need to demonstrate need in order to be eligible for federal unsubsidized loans, PLUS loans, and private loans. 

All offers are based on full-time student status. Students carrying less than a full-time credit load will have their aid reduced accordingly. Funding is subject to change at any time per federal or state budgetary mandate. 

Student Financial Aid programs are funded by the U.S. Department of Education, State of Wisconsin, and UW-La Crosse.

Disbursement of funds to student accounts begins approximately four days prior to each term and typically occurs daily thereafter. Some funds, including the Lawton Grant, Funds For Wisconsin Scholars (FFWS), Wisconsin Tuition Promise, and BIA grants, do not disburse until after the 10th day of classes. 

Most textbooks are offered through the textbook rental program and are already included in students' university fees; as a result, no special provisions are made for Pell-eligible students to receive their rental books and supplies. Should the student decide to opt out of textbook rental, please contact the Financial Aid Office.