Financial Aid

For general Financial Aid information, check the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships website's Education Abroad Frequently Asked Questions and the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) website. In order to use your financial aid for your education abroad program, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Complete the FAFSA as usual, listing WSU as your school of record. Remember that February 15 is the priority deadline.
2. Ensure that the program in which you plan to participate operates at an accredited institution by checking with an Education Abroad Advisor.
3. When completing the WSU Education Abroad Application, check the box that indicates that you plan to use financial aid and/or receive scholarships.
4. The Education Abroad Office will supply the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships with cost information for your program. The Office of Financial Aid will then review your award according to actual program costs and adjust the award based on your financial eligibility. You will then receive a Revised Financial Aid Award Notification Letter through your zzusis account.
5. All financial aid recipients must complete the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships Form NS: Financial Aid Checklist for Education Abroad. Please ONLY submit this form AFTER they revise your financial aid award for you AND request the form from you, and BEFORE you go abroad. You may need to submit additional documents or forms, please check your zzusis account or contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
6. Complete an Authorization for Direct Deposit and return it with the required forms to University Receivables. This will allow your financial aid fund to be deposited into your personal bank account and available for your use.
7. Update your address on your zzusis account as well as with any banks, creditors, or others that may need to contact you while you are abroad.
8. Resolve any other remaining items on your Financial Aid To-Do List on your zzusis account, Finances and Student Aid

Some important points to remember:

• Washington State University does not pay education abroad costs for you. Your financial aid will be distributed to you by check or direct deposit (if you previously arranged for it). It is then up to you to pay your program costs directly to the program.
• Per federal regulations, financial aid is released on the first day of the regular WSU semester, or ten (10) days prior to the student's program start date – whichever is LATER. Remember that in no case can there be an exception to this rule.You may have to make other plans to pay any charges due before your aid is available.
• Waivers for Housing and Reciprocity (Cougar Commitment tuition fee waiver, Resident Assistant housing waiver, etc.) are not applicable to education abroad programs. Do not count on them to help fund your education abroad costs.
• Take all important phone and fax numbers with you. If you have access to a fax machine abroad it will help you keep up with all your required paperwork for the program.
• If you are borrowing a Federal Stafford Loan for the first time, please follow the loans and loan process link for Stafford Loans at www.finaid.wsu.edu.
• If you plan to graduate at the end of your semester abroad and you have borrowed a Perkins and/or Health Profession Loan, you will receive an email from ECSI instructing you to complete your exit interview. If you have questions contact ECSI's Customer Service at (888) 549-3274 or email them at cservice@ecsi.net. If you have further questions, contact University Receivables by email at univ-receivables@wsu.edu.
• If you plan to graduate at the end of your semester abroad and you have borrowed a Stafford Loan, you need to complete the required exit interview found at www.finaid.wsu.edu.