Understanding Your Award
First time incoming freshmen, transfer students, and graduate students will receive one paper award letter mailed to their home address. All other award notifications will be emailed to you and direct you to Pipeline.
Continuing/returning students receive electronic award notifications on Pipeline. You will not receive a paper award letter through the mail.
WSU Pipeline
Pipeline is the secure portal for information and resources at Wayne State University. Pipeline requires a student AccessID. Upon application for admission to WSU, notification of the AccessID and a temporary password are mailed to applicants from the Office of Computing & Information Technology (C&IT). Assistance accessing Pipeline is available from C&IT.
Tuition Payment – Refer to Pipeline for tuition payment deadlines. If the balance you owe exceeds your expected financial aid disbursement, you must pay the difference with a check or credit card by the tuition payment deadline to avoid late charges.
Disbursement of Financial Aid Funds – Financial aid funds are applied to your student account balance at the beginning of each semester or within two weeks after you have:
- Responded to all requests for additional information from the Financial Aid Office
- Completed, signed, and submitted any promissory note(s) you have received.
- Enrolled at least half-time (see Enrollment Requirements).
- If you are a first time borrower, completed loan entrance counseling as outlined on Pipeline.
Please complete a Title IV authorization form to ensure all other charges (course material fees, fitness center fees, and orientation fee) are paid by your financial aid funds. Failure to complete this form can result in you receiving a bill after your financial aid has disbursed to your account.
Adjustments to your financial aid award
The Office of Student Financial Aid reserves the right to modify your financial aid award(s) at any time during the academic year. Your award may be adjusted based on the situations listed below.
- Changes in enrollment.
- Receipt of additional awards such as scholarships, vouchers, or benefits.
- Changes in residency (in-state, out-of-state)
- Changes in housing status (on-campus, off-campus, living with parents)
- Changes in household or financial information upon which your awards were based.
- Information that you are in default on a previous federal student loan.
- Information that you have received more than the federal maximum on your student loans.
- Information that you are in an overpayment status with the Federal Government.
If your award is revised, you will receive an email notification informing you that changes have been made to your financial aid package. It is important to check your WSU email account on a regular basis to ensure you remain informed about your financial aid.
Withdrawing from Wayne State University
You are encouraged to meet with your professors and your academic advisor, utilize the tutorial services available, and speak with the financial aid staff before withdrawing from WSU. Partially dropping or withdrawing from a class or classes can negatively affect your eligibility to keep a portion or all of the funds awarded or paid to you.
If you officially or unofficially withdraw from WSU prior to completing 60% of the semester, the aid you received will be returned in the following order:
- Federal Stafford Unsubsidized Loan
- Federal Stafford Subsidized Loan
- Federal Perkins Loan
- Federal PLUS Loan
- Federal PELL Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
- Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
- National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (SMART)
- Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant (TEACH)
The complete Withdrawal and Return of Title IV Policy can be found on our Forms page.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy
In order to receive financial aid, you must make satisfactory academic progress (SAP).
Federal regulations require the Financial Aid Office to apply reasonable standards for measuring whether a student is making progress toward a degree. This is to ensure that students receiving funds are successfully progressing through their program of study.
If you do not meet the minimum requirements, you could lose your eligibility for financial aid. Please refer to our Forms page for the complete Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy.
Special Circumstances
If your family has unusual circumstances such as loss of employment, divorce, separation, or death of a parent or spouse, that significantly reduces income; you may request a review of your eligibility. The appeal form is available on our forms page.