Current Undergraduates FAQ

Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Richmond in Reach Financial Aid Supplemental Application. The application deadline for the 2008–09 school year is May 15, 2008, for returning students.

Some of our academic departments have endowed scholarships available for students. Once you have declared a major, check with your department regarding scholarship availability. The Office of Alumni Relations also has several scholarships for Westhampton College students.

Other resources include loans, a deferred payment plan and student employment  to help with your educational expenses.

Assuming you have submitted the aid applications by the deadline date, you should hear about your financial aid by early June.

All financial aid except Federal Work Study is credited directly to the student’s account, at the beginning of the term, once the student has submitted all required forms and met all requirements for the aid. Aid for the academic year is split evenly between fall and spring terms. If the amount of financial aid exceeds your billable charges at Richmond, then you are eligible for a refund. The Student Accounts Office will automatically generate a refund for a credit balance caused by Federal financial aid within fourteen days of the actual disbursement date. Any other credit balances will remain on your account unless you request a refund from the Student Accounts Office.

Federal Work Study funds are paid in a bi-weekly pay check.  The actual amount earned is based on the number of hours worked and the wage rate for the job. 

Yes. Federal Direct Loans are available for summer term. The amount borrowed for summer will reduce the amount of the Federal Direct Loan available to you for the fall and spring terms. If you plan to enroll for summer term, you should complete your financial aid applications and submit your loan application(s) no later than March 1.

Scholarships and other financial assistance received by a student from non-need-based sources or from outside the University will replace the loan and/or work-study portion of the need-based financial aid package first, thus helping to reduce debt. However, once this portion of the package is fully replaced, we will need to reduce your need-based grants and scholarships in order to keep your financial aid from exceeding your demonstrated eligibility. Financial aid regulations prevent a student who is receiving any need-based aid from receiving aid (from all sources) in excess of their demonstrated eligibility for need-based aid.