• REFUND CHECKS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO PICK UP AT THE ONE STOP COUNTER. YOU MUST LOG INTO YOUR MYCAT USING THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW AND ENTER DIRECT DEPOSIT INFORMATION OR YOUR CHECK WILL BE MAILED

• Regulation on Financial Aid Practices

• The 2008-2009 FAFSA is now available at www.fafsa.ed.gov

• For detailed information on the following types of aid, follow these links State andFederal Aid and Alternative loans.

• CHOOSING A LENDER --Selecting your student loan lender

• Refund Checks will be mailed with in 24 hours of the date that the Student Accounts office receives your check. To expedite the process, log into MYCAT using your Student ID and Password and do the following:

  • 1) Click on Personal Services 2) Click on Account and Payment Information 3) Click on Bill+Payment 4) Click on My profiles tab and Payment Profile 5) select Electronic Checking as the payment method and Go and finally enter your bank account information to have your refund check deposited directly into your bank account. Prior to saving your information, you must check the box indicating that you would like your refund check deposited into that account.

We have all heard about the millions of dollars of unclaimed scholarships, but there are also hundreds of thousands of missed grant dollars for low and moderate income students who do not complete the financial aid process in a timely manner. A set of examples, illustrating this point, follows. These examples clearly show the consequences of filing the FAFSA and/or not finishing the financial aid process early. Help us help you by filing the FAFSA early and turning in any additional paperwork as quickly as possible.

Examples of Grant Aid Awarded to Students

Student A

- Family income of $20,000
- Family size of 4
- EFC of 0
- Is a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes
- Completed the FAFSA on February 10th
- Completed the financial aid process with Western on April 1st

The grants, i.e. free money, this student could expect to receive are as follows:
Federal Pell Grant $4,050
Federal Supplemental Grant $1,200
UNC Need Based Grant $1,880
State Incentive Grant $ 700
WCU Tuition Grant $ 450
Total free money $8,280

Compare the total with the cost to pay tuition and fees, the standard meal plan, and the standard residence hall room for 2006-2007, which equals $9,211. Student A would only need an additional $931 to pay for school for two semesters.

Student B

- Family income of $20,000
- Family size of 4
- EFC of 0
- Is a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes
- Completed the FAFSA on May 1st
- Completed the financial aid process with Western on June 1st

The grants this student could expect to receive are as follows:
Federal Pell Grant $4050

So late filing in this case has cost the student $4,230 of free money!

Here is/are examples of a family with moderate income

Student C

- Family income of $51,000
- Family size of 4
- EFC of 4299
- Is a North Carolina resident for tuition purposes
- Completed the FAFSA on March 15th
- Completed the financial aid process with Western on April 15th

Although this student doesn't qualify for federal grants, the grants this student could expect to receive are as follows:
UNC Need Based Grant $3,400
NC Lottery Scholarship $2,400
WCU Tuition Grant $ 450
Total free money $6,250

Student D

- Family income of $51,000
- Family size of 4
- EFC of 4299
- Is a North Carolina Resident for tuition purposes
- Completed the FAFSA on May 1st
- Completed the financial aid process with Western on June 1st

The grant this student could expect to receive:
NC Lottery Scholarship $2,400

Late filing in this case cost the student $3,850 in free money.