Financial Aid

Your financial aid application determines the amount of your award eligibility. Here's how it works in financial aid language:

Financial Need is the difference between the estimated cost of your education/living expenses for one academic year (your Cost of Attendance) and the amount that you and/or your family are expected to contribute toward your educational expenses (your Expected Family Contribution). 

Financial Need = Cost of Attendance - Expected Family Contribution

If you are awarded subsidized loans, the government pays the interest while you're in school, then you pick up the interest payment when you start your principal loan repayment. 

If you're awarded Unsubsidized Loans, the interest accrues while you're in school and you can choose to pay it while you're attending college or defer it until you start paying the principal loan repayment. Because the interest is accruing while you're in school, the total long-term cost of unsubsidized loans is greater than subsidized.

More Loan Information

Bills are sent out on a monthly basis until fees are paid each term. As long as your total anticipated financial aid is greater than what you owe for tuition, fees and books, you do not need to pay the bill by the due date. The funds will be applied to those charges when your financial aid is transferred into your MyFVTC Account.

Textbooks purchased at the FVTC Bookstore can be charged to your MyFVTC Account using your student ID and study list if your anticipated financial aid is greater than your tuition and fees.

If you don't complete all of your classes either because you dropped or failed the class, you could be responsible to repay a portion of the financial aid you received. Maintaining your financial aid eligibility is an ongoing process throughout the year.

Class Withdrawal (PDF)

The Census Date is the point at which your enrollment is locked for financial aid purposes. It occurs on the 10th business day of each semester. Any changes to your class schedule should be made prior to this date.

There could be several reasons:

• It's not past the Census Date (the date the money is disbursed to your account).
• Your financial aid eligibility may have changed based on your actual number of credits.
• You haven't completed all of your verification paperwork.
• One or more loan requirements haven't been completed. Check the To Do List in your MyFVTC Account.

All of your financial aid funds have been applied to your account and are no longer considered "anticipated."

Your Pell Grant award is based on full-time status. If the number of eligible credits you take that term is less than full-time, your Pell Grant amount will be pro-rated accordingly. 

Yes. Your financial aid award may be increased, reduced or cancelled under certain conditions, which could include:

• Change in family financial circumstances
• Change in marital status
• Additional resources such as private scholarships, agency funding or Veterans benefits
• Incorrect information on your FAFSA
• Satisfactory academic progress is not maintained
• Change in enrollment status

If any of these conditions apply to your situation, you can submit a Professional Judgment Request and we will review your financial aid award.

If you enroll at FVTC and another college for the same term, you may receive financial aid from the college where your program is located; however, your financial aid could be based on the combined credits from both colleges. If you plan to attend two colleges at the same time, you should complete the Consortium Agreement for each term. You will be responsible for paying your tuition and book charges to the other college, and can be reimbursed from your financial aid funds after they are disbursed. 

Any associate degree program is eligible, along with most technical diploma program. Check the individual program page for more information.

View Programs

If you attended the fall term and are continuing for the spring term:

• If your anticipated financial aid is enough to cover tuition for the spring term, your tuition will be paid when your financial aid disburses to your MyFVTC Account.
• If your anticipated financial aid is NOT enough to cover the spring term tuition, it’s your responsibility to make a payment for the difference by the registration due date.

Tuition & Fees - Financial Aid = Payment Due

If you’re beginning your program in the spring term, financial aid will be listed under the first-term column on your award letter. Spring is the second term of the school year, but you are considered a first-term student.

The verification process ensures accuracy and completeness of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. If your financial aid application is selected for verification, you will be notified of next steps by mail and in the To Do List of your MyFVTC Account. Be sure to respond in a timely manner to prevent delays in processing your aid, which could limit the type and amount of aid you are awarded.

Once all the required items have been received, it can take up to four weeks for review of your documentation. Please allow extra time from May through September. 

Get Verification Forms  |  Get Tax Info

Use this budget to estimate the cost to attend college based on your living situation and the number of credits you take each semester.

View Budget (PDF)

Your actual financial aid award is based on the number of financial aid eligible credits you are enrolled in each term. That calculation occurs on the 10th business day of each term, called the census date. Changes made after this date may impact your financial aid award and a repayment to the college may be required for all or a portion of the funds you received. Because of this, you should try to add and/or drop all classes prior to the census date.

Your financial aid award is based on full-time enrollment prior to the census date. After the census date, your award will be based on the term's fundable credits (courses beginning in 10, 31, 32, 77 & 78). You must be enrolled at least 1/2-time by the census date to receive all types of financial aid funds. If you are enrolled less than half-time, your Pell Grant eligibility may be affected.

There are some technical diploma programs that are not eligible for full financial aid. For more information, you may review those programs here.

Enrollment Level
Full-time: 12 or more credits
¾ Time: 9-11 credits
½ Time: 6-8 credits
Less than ½ Time: 1-5 credits

If you are also enrolled at another college, you should submit a Consortium Agreement (PDF) to financial aid so that your financial aid disburses accurately. Shared program students do not need a consortium agreement.

If you are enrolled in an accelerated program, you should register for all of the term's courses by the census date. 

If you are taking Program Prep classes, you are strongly encouraged to take at least one program-related credit in addition to the Program Prep class(es). A maximum of 30 remedial credits are allowed by financial aid.

Audit credits and advanced standing are ineligible and will not be included in your credit status.

You must maintain satisfactory academic progress to receive federal student aid. The Financial Aid - Satisfactory Academic Progress policy outlines the specifics. The policy also covers the 150% Credit Rule, which explains that financial aid cannot exceed 150% of the credits required for a degree program.

Read the Policy

Refunds are processed according to the Wisconsin Technical College System Refund Policy, and are applicable only from the date you officially drop the class through your MyFVTC Account or Enrollment Services. Your instructor cannot drop a class for you. You are financially responsible for the cost of the course unless you drop it prior to the deadline.

Student Finance - Fees/Payments/Refunds

Want your refund faster? To receive your refund electronically, sign up through eFAS.

eFAS

There are a number of important dates to be aware of if you have applied for financial aid. 

View Important Dates (PDF)

Sometimes there are special circumstances that are not reflected in your FAFSA application - situations that may affect your family's ability to pay for college. Special circumstances might include things like a job loss or reduction in income, or unusually high out-of-pocket medical expenses. If this is your situation, you can submit a request to have your situation reviewed by our college's director of financial aid, who has the authority to use professional judgment to amend your financial aid application. There is a formal process that begins with the Extenuating Circumstance Request form and will require additional documentation.

Extenuating Circumstance Request

Summer term funding will be awarded automatically in mid-April if you've met the eligibility criteria:

• Accepted in a financial aid eligible program

• Have a completed FAFSA with financial aid eligibility for the summer term

• Enrolled in at least one credit for PELL Grant eligibility and at least six credits for loan eligibility

 If you are eligible for summer term funding, you will be notified by mail and via the Financial Aid section of your MyFVTC Account. You should accept or decline your loan award in your MyFVTC Account. 
 

MyFVTC Account

Don't make these common mistakes when completing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

Common Mistakes