What You Need to Know
Ready to make your college education more affordable? Discover how federal, state, and institutional financial aid and scholarships can help you reduce the cost of your education. Have questions? We're here to help. Call RaiderConnect at 937-775-4000 or email us at RaiderConnect@wright.edu.
Apply for Admission
Your first step in the financial aid process is to submit your admissions application. Once you are admitted, use your WINGS portal to log into WINGS Express to access your student and financial aid records online at any time.
Scholarships for New High School Graduates
First-year scholarships are academic performance and need-based opportunities for new college students just graduating from high school. They are renewable and awarded based on your admission and FAFSA applications. No separate scholarship application is required. Submit your admission application and FAFSA by our priority deadline to qualify for the most scholarship funds available.
Transfer Student Scholarships
Transfer Scholarships are merit-based and awarded to students seeking their first bachelor's degree. Some scholarships do not require a separate application; simply complete the admission process and, if applicable, submit your final transcript reflecting your earned associate degree.
File Your FAFSA
File your FAFSA each year to be considered for federal, state, and institutional need-based financial aid. The application typically opens on October 1 prior to the start of the next academic year. The 2023-24 FAFSA is currently available, however, the launch of the 2024-25 FAFSA has been delayed until sometime in December 2023. Please stay tuned for when the Department of Education announces when the 2024-25 FAFSA will be available. To become eligible for the most federal, state, and institutional need-based aid available, submit your FAFSA by Wright State's priority deadline.
Need help completing the FAFSA? Register online for a virtual Financial Aid 101 workshop or a virtual one-on-one appointment. You can also call RaiderConnect at 937-775-4000 or email RaiderConnect@wright.edu to schedule an appointment.
Already filed your FAFSA but did not list Wright State as a school of choice? Correct your FAFSA and add Wright State's school code (003078). Your FAFSA will be forwarded to us within about five business days. Financial aid offers will not transfer. Instead, you must apply for aid anew at Wright State University.
Complete the Online Scholarship Application
Admitted Wright State students can apply for multiple scholarship opportunities through the Wright State online scholarship application on WINGS Express. Use the scholarship search to explore what you may qualify for. Visit the first-year, continuing, transfer, and graduate student scholarship pages for tips and details on how to complete the online scholarship application. The deadline to apply for additional scholarship opportunities via the online application for the 2023–24 academic year is February 1, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Missed the deadline? Mark your calendar to apply for the 2024-25 academic year. The application will be available again in Fall 2023.
Additional departmental/division scholarships may be available. Check with your department chair or program director about additional scholarship opportunities and how to apply.
Complete Outstanding Financial Aid Requirements
New, Transfer, and Returning Students
After we review your FAFSA information, you may have additional requirements to complete before an award is offered. Access your list of outstanding financial aid requirements through WINGS Express. Since you are new to Wright State, you can access WINGS Express by first logging into your Admissions Portal. Once you have registered for classes, you are considered a continuing student. Continuing students need to log directly into WINGS Express.
New students can follow these steps to view outstanding financial aid requirements:
- Revisit your Admissions Portal at wright.edu/apply.
- In the Next Steps section, select Access your Student Portal.
- Select the Student and Financial Aid link.
- Select the Financial Aid and Scholarships link.
- Select the Eligibility Requirements link.
- Select the appropriate Aid Year from the drop-down list and click Submit.
- Select the Student Requirements tab. If a requirement appears as a link, select the link for more information.
- Visit wright.edu/raiderconnect/forms-and-resources to securely upload your completed documents.
Continuing Students
After we review your FAFSA information, you may have additional requirements to complete before an award is offered. You will be notified of outstanding requirements through your official Wright State email, so be sure to check it often. To access your list of outstanding financial aid requirements, visit WINGS Express. For step-by-step instructions on how to view your financial aid and scholarship requirements in WINGS Express, visit the WINGS Express Support Page. Visit wright.edu/raiderconnect/forms-and-resources to securely upload your completed documents.
Review and Accept Your Aid Offer
New, Transfer, and Returning Students
Once all requirements are complete, your financial aid offer will be prepared in accordance with the year's processing schedule.
Since you are new to Wright State, you can access WINGS Express by first logging into your Admissions Portal. Once you have registered for classes, you are considered a continuing student. Continuing students need to log directly into WINGS Express.
New students can follow these steps to view/accept your financial aid offer:
- Revisit your Admissions Portal at wright.edu/apply.
- In the Next Steps section, select Access your Student Portal.
- Select the Student and Financial Aid link.
- Select the Financial Aid and Scholarships link.
- Select the Award Notice link.
- If you are accessing your Award Notice for the first time, you will be prompted to indicate whether or not you would allow (authorize) federal student aid to pay for various charges, such as miscellaneous fees you may be assessed or past-due charges on your account. Answer Yes or No to the authorizations, select the Submit Changes button, and then select the Continue to Award Notice link.
- Select the Award Overview tab to review your award notice.
- Select the Accept Award Offer tab to accept/decline aid.
- If you accept a student loan, you will be prompted to complete loan requirements. Visit the Accept Award Offer tab and look under the Unsatisfied Disbursement Requirements heading for more information.
Continuing Students
Once all requirements are complete, your financial aid offer will be prepared in accordance with the year's processing schedule. We will notify you of your award notice through your Wright State email. You will be asked to review/accept your financial aid awards listed on your Award Notice in WINGS Express. For step-by-step instructions on how to view/accept your financial aid offer in WINGS Express, visit the WINGS Express Support page.
Complete Loan Requirements
Student Loans
If you accept a student loan, see our Getting a Loan page for the additional steps to secure your loan.
Parent PLUS Loan
The Parent PLUS Loan is designed for parents of dependent students (dependent per the FAFSA) to help with remaining college costs. Parents must apply annually and there is a credit requirement to qualify. If denied based on credit, the dependent student can receive Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan funds in their name up to the cost of attendance (up to $4,000 for freshman and sophomore status or up to $5,000 for junior and senior status). Students are not eligible to apply for the Parent PLUS Loan.
For more information on how to apply, visit our Getting a Loan page.
View your bill
In general, your aid will be credited to your student account by the time you receive your semester billing statement. This credit is called a financial aid "memo" or "authorization." Aid can not be applied (disbursed) to your account until the first day of classes. If your student account is paid in full and financial aid funds remain, the Office of the Bursar will issue the remaining funds in the form of a refund. For more information on memo, authorization, and disbursement dates, visit our important dates page.
You must also meet other eligibility requirements (ex. enrolled) for your aid to memo, authorize, or disburse to your student account. Please visit the scholarships, grants, and loans pages for additional eligibility requirements. Our Receiving Your Aid page is also a great resource for additional information on requirements to receive your financial aid.
Federal Work-Study and external scholarships will not credit towards your billing statement like other aid. If you have an external scholarship check, visit our external scholarship page for more information on sending in your award information.
