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All Financial Aid awarded to students in the MFA Program for Writers requires evidence of need as demonstrated by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  We do not give scholarships based on previous academic achievement or publication credits, since we believe that such awards foster a damaging competition in the student community. Given the high standards set for admission into the MFA Program, we are equally eager for all admitted students to enter.

Because the graduate students are on campus only during two residency periods each year, it is impossible to offer the kind of teaching or research assistantships provided by some other schools, except for the Joan Beebe Teaching Fellowship available to alumni. The low-residency format, however, allows students to attend a writing program without moving or changing jobs, and to work--full-time, in many cases--while doing their graduate studies. Thus, in comparing the costs of graduate writing programs, one should recognize the absence of hidden costs such as moving or being required to live in a more costly area, and the advantage of maintaining income during the period.

The Director of Financial Aid at Warren Wilson will review the financial aid application and determine an amount of assistance as soon as all the forms are received and an applicant is ADMITTED into the MFA Program. Educational loans may be available to assist with the cost of living expense and travel; however, these expenses are the student’s responsibility. Students wishing to take outside courses in conjunction with independent studies may be able to obtain additional loan funds through their banks to help cover these costs.

Finally, it should be noted that financial aid funds are reserved for students enrolled in semester work and are made available through the MFA Program operating budget, the Mitchell Toney Scholarship Fund, and the Friends of Writers, Inc. The MFA Program maintains its commitment to enrolled students by appropriate increases in financial aid whenever fee increases are necessary and through emergency student loans.

The process of applying for financial aid begins with the FAFSA.  Students are encouraged to apply for a PIN (electronic signature) at www.pin.ed.gov prior to completing the FAFSA on line at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The Federal School Code for Warren Wilson College is 002979, Asheville, NC. The FAFSA processor will send you the results by mail or email, and the results will be received electronically by Warren Wilson College. The FAFSA should be submitted to the federal processor no later than March 1 (for the July semester) or September 1 (for the January semester), preferably from a completed Federal Tax Return. FAFSA results processed by the WWC Financial Aid Office after April 15 or October 15 will not be considered for a need-based grant.

The results of the FAFSA (Student Aid Reports) will be sent directly to you and an electronic copy will be received by the College's Financial Aid Office--make sure to provide the Warren Wilson federal school code (002979) in Step 6 of the FAFSA.



Application for financial aid does not affect admissions decisions.  However, financial statements and loan applications do take time to be processed, and if your enrollment depends on financial assistance, it is to your advantage to file well in advance of our admissions deadlines.

The FAFSA you file is used to determine eligibility for the following sources of aid:

1. Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program. Student loans are the primary source of financial aid available to graduate students, and the best source of loans is the Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program. These loans are available through the Department of Education. Graduate students, if eligible, may borrow up to $8,500 in federal subsidized loans and $12,000 in federal unsubsidized loans per academic year. Repayment begins six months after you cease to be enrolled or take a leave of absence. Students generally have up to ten years to repay their accumulated loans; however, there are minimum monthly repayments.

Once your FAFSA has been processed and your eligibility determined, the Financial Aid Office at Warren Wilson will send you an award letter and request completion of a Master Promissory Note (www.dlenote.ed.gov)  and Entrance Counseling (www.dl.ed.gov) online. Your loan will be applied to your tuition bill when you have completed all the steps to accept it.

2. MFA Grant.* An MFA Grant is awarded on the basis of the student's ability to pay, as assessed by the FAFSA, and the cost of the program (tuition, on-campus room and board, living expenses, plus a small allowance for books and travel).

3. Renate Wood Scholarship*. This scholarship is awarded to an entering student in poetry who demonstrates both extraordinary merit and extraordinary need. The Wood Scholarship is used to supplement an MFA Grant,  and is renewable for an additional three semesters.

4. Holden Minority Scholarship .*  This endowed scholarship provides full tuition and residency fees for a minority student’s entire 4-semester degree program.  The student is responsible for travel, living, and additional expenses.  Holden Scholarship applicants should submit the usual application for  financial aid, including a FAFSA, to the WWC Financial Aid Office,  by March 1st for the July semester or September 1st for the January semester.  In addition, a statement specifying the candidate’s eligibility should be sent directly to the MFA Office along with the application for admission.

5.  Levis Funds.*  Applicants who demonstrate unusual need may be offered supplements to the MFA Grants.  No additional application is required.

6.  Lisel Mueller Scholarship.  This endowed fund provides an annual, non-renewable scholarship to enrolled students with small children.  No application is required.
 

*Institutional financial aid awarded a student upon enrollment--including but not limited to MFA Grants, the Renate Wood Scholarship, the Holden Minority Scholarship, and the Levis Funds--will be provided for four semesters of study, assuming the student earns academic credit each semester, progresses toward completion of the degree, and continues to demonstrate financial need as demonstrated by an annual FAFSA.   For all students making satisfactory academic progress, Title IV aid is available for the first five semesters of enrollment.