Coronavirus (COVID-19): Important Financial Aid Updates and FAQs
The Office of Student Financial Aid remains open and is available to assist you with your questions about your financial aid and scholarships.
You can reach us by sending an email to studentservice@wayne.edu or calling us us at 313-577-2100. You can check the status of your financial aid award and any outstanding requirements in the Financial Aid Portal in Academica.
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting for HEERF I, II, and III grant funds - June 30, 2022
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting for HEERF I, II, and III grant funds - September 30, 2022
The WSU CARES Emergency Relief Applications are closed and funding is no longer available.
If you need emergency funding, please complete the WSU Emergency Grant Application and your application materials will be reviewed for award consideration if funding is available. Our emergency funds are limited and can only be disbursed to your student account through the regular refund process after your account balance is paid.
This page was last updated on 10/6/2022
WSU CARES III funding - application closed
WSU CARES III Block Grant
The WSU CARES III Block Grant was funded from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund III (HEERF III) authorized by the American Rescue Plan (ARP). These funds were intended to assist students with educational costs such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), child care or emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus.
The estimated total number of students at the institution that are eligible to receive Emergency Financial Aid Grants to Students under the CRRSAA and ARP (a)(1) and (a)(4) programs: 24,925
We recognize that students who currently receive high-need federal financial aid in the form of a Federal Pell grant may continue to have increased need. In addition, we have traditionally offered need-based grants to undergraduates with an EFC up to 9000, as we acknowledge that this group of students may also have increased need.
Undergraduate students, enrolled in the Fall 2021 semester, in these categories automatically received a WSU CARES III Block Grant. Students were allowed to, but were not required to, use their grant to pay down their balance or resolve any holds. An electronic consent form was available for this purpose until 5:00 pm Monday, October 4, 2021.
|
| Undergraduate with EFC 0-5846 | Undergraduate with EFC 5847-9000 |
|---|---|---|
| Award amount | $2,500 | $2,000 |
WSU CARES III emergency relief application - closed
The remaining portion of the University's student share of HEERF funds were set aside for students in crisis.
2021-22 WSU CARES III Emergency Relief Application - This application is closed. If you need emergency funding, please complete the WSU Emergency Grant Application and your application materials will be reviewed for award consideration if funding is available. Please note: We no longer have WSU CARES funding available. Our emergency funds are limited and can only be disbursed to your student account through the regular refund process after your account balance is paid.
Eligibility criteria:
- Current enrollment as a regular student at WSU
- Have not already received a WSU CARES III award
Award criteria for students who have NOT already received a block grant and have submitted a 2021-22 WSU CARES III Emergency Relief Application:
|
| Undergraduate with EFC 0-5846 | Undergraduate with EFC 5847-9000 | Undergraduate with EFC over 9000, or any graduate /professional school student, or any student without a valid EFC/FAFSA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Award amount | $2,500 | $2,000 | $1,500 |
Exceptions were made on a case-by-case basis based on available funding and the exceptional circumstances of the student emergency.
HEERF III reporting - student fund
WSU is required to spend a minimum of $28,681,732 on student grants.
| 10/5/2021 | 12/31/2021 | 3/31/2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total number of students who have received a WSU CARES III Emergency Financial Aid Grant with funding from American Rescue Plan HEERF III | 8,368 | 12,677 | 13,200 |
| Total amount of CARES III Emergency Financial Aid Grants with funding from American Rescue Plan HEERF III | $20,500,000 | $27,241,100 | $28,645,601 |
WSU CARES II funding - application closed
WSU CARES II Block Grant
The WSU CARES II Block Grant is made available under the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA). These funds are intended to assist students with educational costs such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), child care or emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus. WSU is required to spend a minimum of $9,653,092.00 on student grants.
We recognize that students who currently receive high-need federal financial aid in the form of a Federal Pell grant may continue to have increased need. In addition, we have traditionally offered need-based grants to undergraduates with an EFC up to 9000, as we acknowledge that this group of students may also have increased need.
Students in these categories will automatically receive a WSU CARES II Block Grant. Students who have a balance due or a hold on their account will still receive a full grant. They can, but are not required to, use their grant to pay down their balance or resolve any holds. An electronic consent form is available for this purpose until April 13, 2021.
WSU CARES II funds will be allocated in the following manner to students who meet the criteria when the award is made at the beginning of April 2021:
| Enrollment status in Winter 2021 | Undergraduate with EFC 0-5712 | Undergraduate with EFC 5713-9000 |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time | $1,000 | $750 |
| Three-quarter time | $750 | $500 |
| Half-time or less | $500 | $500 |
Total number of WSU CARES II Block Grant awards
Total number of students who have been awarded a WSU CARES II Block Grant: 8,068
Total amount of WSU CARES II Block Grants awarded to students: $7,116,500
WSU CARES II emergency relief application
We have set aside the remaining portion of the University's student share of CRRSAA funds for students in crisis.
The CRRSAA and HEERF funding cannot be used for international students or undocumented students. Eligible students will meet the following criteria:
- Have a 2020-21 FAFSA on file that confirms US citizenship or eligible non-citizenship status
- Current enrollment at WSU
- Have not already received a WSU CARES II award
2020-21 WSU CARES II Emergency Relief Application - All funds have been allocated. We will post a new form in September 2021. If you are in need of emergency assistance, please complete the 2020-21 WSU Student Emergency Grant Application.
Award criteria for undergraduate, graduate or professional school students who have not received a block grant and have submitted a 2020-21 WSU CARES II Emergency Relief Application:
| Current enrollment status | EFC 0-5712 | EFC 5713-9000 | EFC 9001 and above |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time | $1,000 | $750 | $500 |
| Three-quarter time | $750 | $500 | $500 |
| Half-time or less | $500 | $500 | $500 |
Exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis based on available funding and the exceptional circumstances of the student emergency.
A CARES II undergraduate block grant will be awarded in early July to students who have not yet received funding. Award amounts will be based on the 2020-21 FAFSA EFC and enrollment status in the Spring-summer semester according to the chart above.
HEERF II reporting
WSU is required to spend a minimum of $9,653,092.00 on student grants.
| Quarterly report - 3/30/2021 | 4/14/2021 | Quarterly report - 6/30/2021 | Quarterly report - 9/30/2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number of students who have received a CARES II Emergency Financial Aid Grant with funding from CRRSAA HEERF II | 0 | 8,105 | 10,030 | 10,920 |
| Total amount of CARES II Emergency Financial Aid Grant with funding from CRRSAA HEERF II distributed to students | 0 | $7,506,358 | $9,075,408 | $9,590,092 |
WSU CARES I funding - application closed
Funding from the student portion of the WSU CARES Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund has been exhausted.
The WSU CARES Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund is intended to assist students with urgent financial needs directly related to the disruption of campus operations due to the coronavirus. Needs may include food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare. This is federal funding that has been made available under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
WSU signed and returned to the US Department of Education, the Certification and Agreement with the assurance that we intend to use no less than 50 percent of the funds received under Section 18004(a)(1) of the CARES Act to provide Emergency Financial Aid Grants to students. WSU has received $9,653,092 from the US Department of Education to be used to provide emergency grants to students.
Students who apply via our WSU CARES Application are reviewed on a first-come-first-served basis to determine eligibility. The application is used to document that the student has expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus (including eligible expenses such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and childcare).
Students who receive an award are advised upon approval of their application that the CARES Act funding is to assist with their expenses related to the coronavirus.
Estimated number of students eligible to participate in Title IV programs: 14,226
| 5/12/2020 | 6/25/2020 | 8/6/2020 | 9/30/2020 | 10/14/2020 | 12/31/2020 | 1/20/2021 Final report | |
| Total number of students who have received a CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grant | 2,512 | 5,974 | 6,302 | 6,763 | 6,988 | 7,549 | 7,658 |
| Total amount of CARES Act Emergency Financial Aid Grants distributed to students | $2,206,500 | $5,735,050 | $6,161,000 | $7,007,400 | $7,336,450 | $8,067,900 | $9,653,092 |
The Office of Student Financial Aid continues to award these funds and the application will be available until funding is exhausted.
HEERF I, II, III institutional portion reporting
Quarterly Budget and Expenditure Reporting for HEERF I, II, and III (a)(1) Institutional Portion, (a)(2), and (a)(3), if applicable - 12/2021 - Final
-
WSU CARES I funding application
The application period for students affected by the pandemic disruption during the winter semester ended July 31, 2020. The WSU CARES Higher Education Emergency Relief Funding application for students enrolled in the 2020-21 academic year is closed. Awards were made until funding was exhausted.
2020-21 WSU CARES Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Application - the application is closed
Information and the application for the - 2020-21 WSU Student Emergency Grant Application.
If you haven't already done so, we recommend that you file the 2020-21 FAFSA and sign up for Direct Deposit.
Under U.S. Department of Education rules for the program, these funds can be awarded to students who are eligible for federal financial aid. This includes undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students enrolled at WSU and pursuing degree programs.
Eligibility requirements:
- To be eligible to receive an award in the 2020-21 academic year, you must be a currently enrolled student at Wayne State University who is enrolled for at least one credit during the fall 2020 semester. Note: Students who have graduated are not eligible for this award.
- To be eligible to receive an award in the 2019-20 academic year, you must have been a currently enrolled student at Wayne State University who was enrolled for at least one credit during the winter 2020 semester when the campus disruption occurred. Note: The 2019-20 award period ended in August 2020.
- Have a FAFSA on file and be eligible for federal financial aid
- Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
- Be enrolled in a program that is not exclusively an online program
- Have expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus, such as food, housing, course materials, technology, health care, and child-care
- Complete all application questions in full
If you have graduated and are no longer enrolled, you are not eligible for CARES Act funding.
If you are eligible to file a FAFSA and need assistance, we encourage you to file the 2020-21 FAFSA online at studentaid.gov.
If you don't qualify based on the eligibility criteria, you may request assistance from the WSU Student Emergency Grant fund. The Student Emergency Grant offers limited emergency financial assistance to currently enrolled students who are unable to meet immediate, essential expenses because of temporary hardship related to an unexpected situation.
Looking for other types of assistance? See the resources on our Resources for low-income students web pages.
WSU CARES I - award decisions
We will make every effort to have a decision within one to two days; however, depending on volume of applications this timeframe may be extended. After award approval, you can expect funding within three days if you are signed up for direct deposit, paper checks will be mailed within the week. Sign-up for direct deposit in Academica.
Awards will be made on a first-come, first-served basis and preference will be given to students with documented need.
Students who did not receive an award in the 2019-20 school year will be given first priority for remaining funds available in the 2020-21 school year.
Every effort will be made to have a decision within one to two business days; however, depending on volume of applications this timeframe may be extended. As our funding is limited, WSU cannot guarantee that all applications submitted will receive an award.
WSU CARES I - use of funds
Charges or balances owed to WSU cannot be deducted from WSU CARES I funding, under any circumstances. Please check your account in Academica for up to date balance information. If you would like to use your WSU CARES Act funding to pay your balance, you may do so via any of the WSU accepted payment methods available on the Office of the Bursar website.
-
What if I have changes in my income due to COVID-19?
We recognize that students and their families may have extenuating financial circumstances that the standard need analysis form (the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, FAFSA) does not consider.
If you have had changes in your family income, email us at studentservice@wayne.edu.
-
What happens to my financial aid if I elect to change an earned grade to an N or P?
Grades that have been converted to a P (Pass) or N (No credit) will not increase or decrease your GPA. These courses are included in the pace calculation of your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status. A grade of "P" counts as credits attempted and earned. A grade of "N" counts towards credits attempted and no credits are earned. All current SAP guidelines are still in place and must be followed. However, we will consider reasons for withdrawal on a case-by-case basis when reviewing SAP appeals. We understand these are difficult times and will be reviewing appeals with this in mind.
There are no credit hours earned for an N grade. If you fail to earn any credits in all courses in a semester for which you received financial aid, WSU is required to determine if you "earned" the federal financial aid you received.
Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid if you have questions about how a switch may affect your financial aid.
-
If I withdraw due to a COVID-19 related circumstance and I don't meet SAP, will this negatively affect my aid eligibility?
No. Leniency will be provided to students who withdraw due to a COVID-19 related circumstance. File a satisfactory academic progress (SAP) appeal and provide information about your COVID-19 circumstance.
- Where can I get more information about COVID-19 and its impact on WSU?
-
Where can I get information on new options for my federal student loan payments?
Federal Student Aid - Coronavirus and Forbearance Info for Students, Borrowers, and Parents