Click here to learn more about the Financial Aid Census Policy.
Key Points about Census
- Full-time student: No action is required and there is no financial aid award impact to you!
- Census Date: This is the day that WSU takes a “snapshot” of your enrollment for the semester. It determines what financial aid (loans and grants) you’ll receive.
- Your Aid: Your Financial Aid Award will be recalculated (if not full-time) after the Census Date based on your Census date enrollment.
- Federal Loans: To be eligible for federal loans, you need to be enrolled at least half-time
(Undergrad-6 credits; Grad/Professional-5 credits). Loans automatically disburse for students enrolled half-time.
- Grants: Pell Grants, Washington State Need Grants, and College-Bound Scholarships
are reduced and pro-rated for students in less than 12 credits, based on their enrollment level.- IMPORTANT: If you received grants money at full-time after August 14th, and then dropped classes before September 2nd, your grants will be recalculated and this could create a bill on your student account.
- Grant monies: Students enrolled part-time will receive pro-rated grant funds starting
Tuesday, September 6th. Until then, you will not see these funds in your WSU Student Account.
- Cougar Commitment: This is only available for students enrolled full-time. After Census, if you have this aid award and aren’t enrolled full-time, it will be cancelled.
- Census Petition Form: Submission deadline is Friday, September 30th and is for students who add credits (classes) after the Financial Aid Census Date and would like
Student Financial Services to adjust their aid award based on this credit change. This form will be available on the Student Financial Services Website after the Census date.
If you have any questions, please contact Student Financial Services at 509-335-9711 or by email at financialaid@wsu.edu.