Who do I contact with questions about Financial Aid?
On the George Willliams College campus, please contact Katie Infusino with general questions or assistance in getting started with Financial Aid. She can be reached at 262-245-8508 or kinfusin@gwc.aurora.edu. You also may stop by Katie's office in the Winston Paul Educational Center.
For questions on processing your financial aid, please contact Lindsay Janssen on the Aurora campus at 630-844-4916 or ljanssen@aurora.edu. You also may contact the Office of Financial Aid on the Aurora campus at 630-844-6190 or finaid@aurora.edu.
How do I become eligible for financial aid?
- Academic scholarships: When you submit your application for admission, you will automatically be considered for an academic scholarship. We carefully consider the academic credentials of each candidate.
- Need-based Aid: Eligibility for federal, state, and institutional need-based grants, loans and student employment is determined after submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Need-based assistance is determined on the basis of "financial need," which is defined as the difference between family resources and educational costs. Final consideration for all financial aid occurs only after your admission to George Williams College has been confirmed, and we have received your processed FAFSA.
Can I estimate my financial aid eligibility before January?
Yes, you can use our Net Price Calculator.
What is the EFC?
The EFC or Expected Family Contribution is the dollar amount
representing how much of a family’s financial resources should be
available to help pay for school. It is derived from a formula created
by the U.S. Department of Education and it utilizes various data
acquired from the FAFSA for its calculations, such as the student’s
and/or parents’ Adjusted Gross Income (AGI), assets (savings and
checking accounts), and benefits. The EFC is subtracted from the
college’s Cost of Attendance (tuition, books, fees and living expenses)
to determine eligibility for Federal need-based aid.
What is GWC’s Federal School Code?
George Williams College operates under Aurora University’s federal school code, which is 001634. You
will need this number when filling out your FAFSA form. By listing the GWC/AU
code, we will receive your application electronically.
Are there any deadlines?
It is suggested that forms be completed as early as possible for top
consideration for financial aid. Please complete and submit the FAFSA as
early as January 1st for maximum consideration of federal, state and institutional aid.
Should I wait until I have been accepted to apply for financial aid?
No. Complete the FAFSA as soon as you can. The financial aid staff will
keep your application on file until they receive notice that you have
been accepted to GWC.
When will I know what financial aid I am eligible to receive?
Allow approximately two weeks for the federal processing of your FAFSA, which you can file online at fafsa.gov.
Once the financial aid staff receives this information, a financial aid
package will be determined unless further information is required. The
amount of time between receipt of application and determination of aid
varies, but it is generally within two weeks. Returning students are
processed when fall semester grades have been posted and Satisfactory
Academic Progress has been verified. Typically, award offers for
returning students will be processed beginning in April.
Verification…What Is It?
The Federal Processing Center randomly selects applications for
verification. You can tell if your application has been selected by
reading the comment section on your Student Aid Report (SAR). Your
financial aid counselor may also select your application for
verification – this is called institutional verification.
If your FAFSA is selected for
verification by the U.S. Department of Education, you may be asked to
complete the IRS Data Retrieval Tool for student and/or parent tax
information on your FAFSA. Click here to view a step-by-step guide to completing this requirement.
If
you are ineligible or choose not to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool,
you are instead required to submit the applicable IRS Tax Return
Transcript(s) and a copy of all W-2s used in filing taxes. You can
request a Tax Return Transcript from the IRS free-of-charge using one of
the methods below:
- Visit IRS.gov and click on "Order a Transcript"
- Call 800-908-9946
- Submit IRS Form 4506TEZ or 4506T to the IRS
- Submit your request in person at an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center. To search for the Taxpayer Assistance Center closest to you, please click here.
How do I report a special circumstance?
Loss of a job or benefits, death in the family, divorce or separation,
or extreme medical bills are examples of special circumstances that can
change your financial aid eligibility. Please download and complete the Special Circumstance form
(PDF) if you would like the Special Circumstance Committee to review
your situation. You can fax the completed form to the Office of Financial Aid on the Aurora campus at 630-844-6191. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid by phone
at 630-844-6190 or by e-mail at finaid@aurora.edu if you need further information.
How will receiving outside scholarships affect my financial aid?
If you receive outside scholarships, a student financial services
counselor will first focus on reducing any remaining unmet need. After
that, it might be necessary to replace any self-help (i.e. loans or
Federal Work-Study) in a student's aid package. It is the student’s
responsibility to report all outside scholarships.
Your financial aid eligibility is based on many variables, including your FAFSA information, academic performance, and housing arrangements. Your aid may be influenced by a change in your EFC, an increase or decrease in federal and state funding, or by missing a required deadline.
Students who wish to continue to receive financial assistance must complete the FAFSA each year. Each November or December, the Department of Education will send an e-mail reminding you to complete the Renewal FAFSA.
