Frequently Asked Questions

Create an FSA ID at https://fsaid.ed.gov/npas/index.htm

• The FSA ID is a U.S. Department of Education username and password that give you access to Federal Student Aid’s online systems. It also serves as your legal signature for signing documents such as the FAFSA, Entrance Counseling, and Master Promissory Note.
• If you are a dependent student per the FAFSA, your parent must have a FSA ID as well.

Complete the FAFSA at https://studentaid.gov/

• This form determines your federal and state aid eligibility and helps the OKWU Office of Financial Aid prepare your aid offer.
• OKWU’s school code is 003151.
• We highly recommend using the Data Retrieval Tool that is part of the FAFSA to import your tax data for ease and accuracy.
• You will need to complete the 2022-2023 FAFSA using 2020 tax data. You will need to complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA using 2021 tax data.

If you are taking Federal Direct Loans, you will also need to complete:

Complete Entrance Counseling at https://studentaid.gov/

• This is an interactive educational reading to inform you about the loan program to ensure you understand the responsibilities and obligations you are assuming.

Complete the Master Promissory Note at https://studentaid.gov/

• This is a legal document in which you promise to repay your loan(s), accrued interest, and fees to the U.S. Department of Education. It also explains the terms and conditions of your loan(s).
• You need to complete the “MPN for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans”.

Federal Pell Grant
This is a grant for undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need based on FAFSA information and have not earned a bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree.

Oklahoma Grants
Oklahoma’s Promise is a scholarship for Oklahoma residents attending Oklahoma colleges or universities. Be sure to let us know if you are eligible.

Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant is a need-based program for Oklahoma residents attending Oklahoma colleges or universities. Application is made through the FAFSA and packaged to eligible applicants.

Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant is a need-based grant program that awards grants to Oklahoma residents enrolled as full-time undergraduates at certain qualified Oklahoma not-for-profit, private/independent institutions of higher education. Application is made through the FAFSA and packaged to eligible applicants.

Federal Direct Loans
The Direct Subsidized Loan is a need-based loan for undergraduate students who have financial need based on FAFSA information. The interest on the Direct Subsidized Loan is paid by the U.S. Department of Education while the student is in school at least half-time.

The Direct Unsubsidized Loan is a loan not based on financial need for undergraduate and graduate students. This loan accrues interest while the student is still in school, but the borrower has the option to pay the interest while in school. If he/she chooses not to pay the interest, the interest is added to the principal of the loan.

The Parent PLUS Loan is a loan available to parents of dependent students to help pay for the cost of their child’s education. A credit check is performed as part of the application process. This loan accrues interest while the student is still in school, but the borrower has the option to pay the interest while in school. If he/she chooses not to pay the interest, the interest is added to the principal of the loan. Repayment begins immediately after you’ve received the last disbursement of the loan, while your child is still in school. However, you may be able to defer making payments while your child is enrolled at least half-time, and for an additional six months after your child graduates or drops below half-time enrollment status.

The Graduate PLUS Loan is a loan available to graduate or professional students enrolled at least half-time. A credit check is performed as part of the application process. This loan accrues interest while the borrower is still in school, but the borrower has the option to pay the interest while in school. If he/she chooses not to pay the interest, the interest is added to the principal of the loan. Repayment begins six months after the student graduates, leaves school, or drops below half-time enrollment.

Private Student Loans
These help bridge the gap between the cost of an education and other aid available. There are multiple lending companies that provide Private Student Loans. They have different interest rates and products offered, so be sure to inquire at your local financial institutions as well as search online for a lending company. We do not provide a preferred lender list, but we recommend you go with a company with a recognizable name.

Other
There are many agencies that support students in the educational pursuits. It is worth the time to research and see if you are eligible for those funds. Check to see if you are eligible for military/veteran benefits, vocational rehabilitation services benefits, Native American Scholarship through your tribe, employer reimbursement, etc.

Avoid scholarships that require you to pay to apply.

The Pell Grant is based on how many hours you are enrolled in and system calculations that take your Expected Family Contribution from the FAFSA to determine your eligibility amount. This is a grant for undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need based on FAFSA information and have not earned a bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree. The amount changes yearly based on U.S. Department of Education guidance.

The U.S. Department of Education sets annual and lifetime loan limits.

The interest rate is fixed; for current information, visit the Student Aid Website

If you are an undergraduate student, the maximum amount you can borrow each year varies from $5,500 to $12,500 depending on your year in school and dependency level. The aggregate (combined) loan limit for dependent students is $31,000. The aggregate (combined) loan limit for independent students is $57,500.

If you are a graduate or professional student, the maximum amount you can borrow each year is $20,500. The aggregate (combined) loan limit is $138,500.

If you indicated that you were interested in doing Work-Study on your FAFSA, we will review your eligibility when packaging your aid offer. Work-Study is based on financial need as determined on the FAFSA. We have approximately 120 jobs on campus and in the community. Students work 8-10 hours a week to fulfill the hours needed throughout the semester.

Aid offer notifications are emailed out as your student file and internal processing is completed.

Your Aid Offer is year specific and includes any federal, state, and/or institutional aid that you qualify for at the time of packaging.

To see your aid offer, follow these steps:

1. Login to my.okwu.edu with your student account
2. Click on “Student” in the main navigation bar
3. Select “Financial Aid Dashboard” in the left hand side panel
4. Click College Financing Plan
5. Select the year you are wanting to see
6. The document will open in a new window for you to review

Aid will begin processing to disburse approximately 30 days after the start of your first class in each term, IF all paperwork is complete.

About one in every three students who completes the FAFSA is chosen for a process called Verification.

If your FAFSA is chosen, you will be notified by the Office of Financial Aid of what additional information we need, which may include a Verification Worksheet and Tax Return Transcript.

Since the FAFSA is academic year specific, you need to complete a new FAFSA for the next academic year (if you have classes after the end of August).

StudentAid.gov houses all federal grant and loan information.

If you’ve borrowed a private student loan, please contact your lender directly for account information.

For information on deferment, please visit: https://studentaid.gov/manage-loans/lower-payments/get-temporary-relief/deferment.

In-school deferment is generally automatic. If you are enrolled at least half-time at OKWU and your loans are still in repayment, please contact the Office of Financial Aid via email at FinancialAid@okwu.edu or phone at 918.335.6282, and we will work with you to get enrollment status information to your lender.

This information cannot be given over the phone but can be viewed online through your WebAccess account. You are also welcome to stop by our offices in the Haltom Campus Center. Appointments are not required, but you may want to call or email ahead of time to make sure a staff member is available to assist you.

For information regarding myOKWU login and/or WebAccess, contact Accounts@okwu.edu

All classes within a particular term are billed at the beginning of that term.

Financial Aid doesn’t begin processing to disburse to your account until you’ve been in class for more than 30 days. Student Accounts posts statements to keep you apprised of your account, even if you are taking aid.

If you have been in class for 30 days and do not see financial aid on your account, please email FinancialAid@okwu.edu, so we can assist you.

You are responsible for paying the balance not covered by aid.

Be PRO-ACTIVE and contact Student Accounts at (918) 335-6268 or StudentAccounts@okwu.edu to set up a payment plan.

You must have a $0 balance at the end of each term.

You may apply for a Private Student Educational Loan online; these are credit based and a credit check will be run.

Please note – It is easier for OKWU to work with a student who is pro-active regarding his/her student account.

Most students use financial aid (grants, loans, scholarships) and/or a payment plan to cover their costs.

For Traditional students, 1/5 of the semester balance (after anticipated financial aid has been applied) is due on the first day of classes.

GPS students will need to work directly with Student Accounts regarding payment options if the balance is not covered fully by financial aid.

Options in addition to financial aid include:

• Payment Plan: Please contact Student Accounts. You can email StudentAccounts@okwu.edu or call 918.335.6268.
• Employer Reimbursement: Please contact Student Accounts to work with them and your employer.
• Chapter 30 & 35 Veteran Benefits: Submit a Certificate of Eligibility and make a $1,000 deposit or complete Financial Aid paperwork
• Chapter 31 & 33 Veteran Benefits: Submit a Certificate of Eligibility. Deposit may be required if you do not receive 100% in military benefits or complete Financial Aid paperwork
• Federal Tuition Assistance (active military): Submit a Leave & Earnings Statement and an Authorization Number from your Education Officer prior to class
• National Nursing Education Initiative (NNEI): Submit a Letter of Confirmation and make a $1,000 deposit or complete Financial Aid paperwork

While OKWU will provide the documentation needed for your employer reimbursement, we cannot extend credit to you on your student account.

Often employers will reimburse you after you have completed the course, but payment to OKWU is still required on your student account to keep your account current.

Your account will need to have a monthly payment plan or be paid in full.

Your balance must be $0 at the end of each term.

Financial Aid is an option if you prefer.

Employer reimbursement accounts require a $1,000 deposit if you aren’t taking financial aid.

Refunds, if applicable, will process 1-2 weeks after your financial aid has disbursed.

Refund checks will be mailed the Friday after the date listed next to “REFSTUD”. You can view this in WebAccess.

IMPORTANT: This information cannot be given over the phone. You must check WebAccess.

Yes! While we don’t have a physical bookstore, OKWU has partnered with eCampus to provide an online bookstore for your textbook needs.

You will now find your textbooks at https://okwu.ecampus.com/. All book sales are now exclusively online.

For published academic calendars, visit our Registrar’s page.

• For 2022-2023 financial aid, visit finaidapply.okwu.edu.
• For 2023-2024 financial aid, visit https://financialaid.okwu.edu.
• For student account information, visit webaccess.okwu.edu.

We understand that life happens, and sometimes you need to take a break.

If you are a Traditional student, you can initiate dropping classes for the Fall and Spring semesters through the end of the second Friday of classes. This is done in WebAccess. After that Friday, you will need to complete the Add/Drop for Traditional Students form.

If you are a Graduate & Professional Studies student, please contact your advisor. If you don’t know who your advisor is, you can email OnlineAdvising@okwu.edu, and someone will be in contact with you.

This may impact your financial aid and/or student account.

• Be sure to check your OKWU student email regularly. This is our main way of communication.
• Use our upload site to quickly and securely submit your documents. This can be found at: okwu.edu/upload
• Do your FAFSA early. It opens on October 1.