Financial Aid Application Process for Student Applicants Entering in 2025-2026
The Financial Aid Office is excited to work with you as you apply for financial aid as a student applicant entering in the 2025-2026 academic year. You’ll find helpful information about the steps to complete this process and suggested application filing dates below. Please reach out to the Financial Aid Office any time you have questions.
The process outlined below is for applicants eligible to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Financial aid information for international students is available here.
The 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be available by December 1, 2024. Complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA and submit to Wooster using our federal school code: 003037.
- Find helpful information about completing your FAFSA on our Filling Out the FAFSA page.
- For a list of suggested filing dates, see the chart below.
The Department of Education and/or The College of Wooster may request additional information to verify the data on your FAFSA. This will be determined once your FAFSA has been received by our office.
- Once your FAFSA has been received by our office, you can view your checklist on the Admissions application portal for any requested documentation.
- Reminder emails will be sent to the student email and parent email (if applicable) listed on the FAFSA.
- Signed copies of federal income tax returns and W-2 statements will be requested from families as needed and prior to review of any special circumstances.
- If the 2025-2026 Wooster Aid Application is being requested, you may submit the CSS Profile in lieu of our form.
- Many documents, and ways to submit them, can be found on our Forms page.
- If you are selected by the federal processor or Wooster for the special Verification review process, you will be required to submit additional documentation.
The College of Wooster is required by federal regulations to validate the accuracy of the financial information of students identified by the U.S. Department of Education for verification. Wooster may also select students for verification. The Department of Education requires all student FAFSA filers and contributors to the FAFSA form to provide consent and approval to the access, disclosure, and use of federal tax information (FTI) through the Direct Data Exchange (DDX) process. Additional documentation may be requested by the Financial Aid Office, even if FTI is transmitted successfully by the DDX process, for any student selected for verification by the U.S. Department of Education or The College of Wooster.
Financial aid eligibility will not be finalized until all requested verification documentation is received. Financial aid awards are subject to change based on the accuracy of information submitted on the FAFSA.
Early Decision I applicants interested in a need-based financial aid estimate should submit the CSS Profile, using Wooster’s CSS code of 1134, by November 1, 2024. Please review the application filing and notification dates above.
Please note that Early Decision applicants (round I and round II) will still need to follow Steps 1 and 2 above to receive an official financial aid offer.
Application Filing and Notification Dates
| Application Round | Admission Application Deadline Date | Admission Notification Date | Admission Deposit Date | Financial Aid Application Date | Financial Aid Notification Date* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I | November 1 | November 15 | December 1 | **November 1 | After November 15 |
| Early Action | November 15 | January 15 | May 1 | January 1 | After January 15 |
| Early Decision II | January 15 | February 1 | February 15 | January 15 | After February 1 |
| Regular Decision | February 15 | April 1 | May 1 | February 15 | After March 15 |
*For applicants who have applied/are eligible for competitive and/or performance based scholarships, aid offers may not be released until after scholarship decisions have been made.
**Early Decision applicants interested in a need-based financial aid estimate should submit the CSS Profile, using Wooster’s CSS code of 1134.
Calendar of Important Dates and Reminders
Important Dates:
- Nov. 1: Early Decision deadline to submit the CSS Profile for an offer of need-based aid.
- Nov. 15: Early Decision financial aid award offers sent after this date.
- Dec. 1, 2024: 2025-2026 FAFSA becomes available online.
General Information & Reminders:
- View and monitor the checklist of additional documentation being requested by the Financial Aid Office on the application portal.
- Submit requested documentation to the Financial Aid Office.
Important Dates:
- Jan. 1: Suggested filing date of the 2025-2026 FAFSA.
General Information & Reminders:
- Review of need-based aid award begins.
- View and monitor the checklist of additional documentation being requested by the Financial Aid Office on the application portal.
- Submit requested documentation to the Financial Aid Office.
Important Dates:
- May 1: Enrollment deposit deadline.
- May 15: The Financial Aid Office will begin emailing requests to deposited students to accept or decline federal student loans via ScotWeb. Instructions will be included in this request.
General Information & Reminders:
- View and monitor the checklist of additional documentation being requested by the Financial Aid Office on the application portal.
- Submit requested documentation to the Financial Aid Office.
- To cover the remaining costs of the academic year, compare all available funding and payment options.