Your CWI Financial Aid Award

Award Overview

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How to Manage Your Financial Aid in myCWI
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Terms and Conditions of Your Aid
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Disbursement and Refunds

Award Notification

Once College of Western Idaho (CWI) has received your FAFSA, we will be able to determine your eligibility for grants, scholarships, work-study, and student loans. After your eligibility has been determined, you will be awarded financial aid and will receive an email with instructions on how to view your Offer Letter and manage your financial aid.

Offer Letter

Your Offer Letter displays the types and amounts of financial aid awarded to you. CWI will award the maximum amount of grants, scholarships, and work-study you are eligible for first in order to keep student loan amounts as small as possible. Grants, scholarships, and work-study do not have to be repaid, as long as coursework has been successfully completed. Loans must be repaid with interest. To view your Offer Letter, log in to myCWI and select Financial Aid. Click on Financial Aid Menu, then Offer Letter.

IMPORTANT: Initial costs and award amounts are based on full-time enrollment (12 or more credits). If you enroll in less than 12 credits, your costs will change and your award will be adjusted to match your enrollment status. Your awards may also be adjusted if other information used to determine your eligibility changes.

Managing Financial Aid in myCWI

After you have reviewed your Offer Letter, you will need to accept, decline, or reduce your federal student loans. Grants, scholarships, and work-study awards are automatically accepted on your behalf.

Accept, Decline, or Reduce Loans

Log in to myCWI, and select Financial Aid. Click on Financial Aid Menu, then My Awards.
Select the action you would like to take on the loans, then Submit.
- Accept or decline all loans: Click on Accept or Decline All under Award Total.
- Accept or decline loans individually: Click on Accept or Decline under each loan.
- Reduce loan amounts: Enter the amount you would like to borrow in the Total box and select Accept.

Increase Loans

Log in to myCWI, and select Financial Aid. Click on Financial Aid Menu, then Request a New Loan.
Select the action you would like to take, then Next.
- Request the full amount of remaining costs: Select the first bubble.
- Request a specific amount: Select the second bubble and enter the additional loan amount you would like to receive in the amount box.
Once your request has been reviewed, you will receive an email notification of approval or denial.

IMPORTANT: There are limits on the amount of federal student loans you may receive each academic year (annual loan limits) and in your academic career (aggregate loan limits). For more information, visit studentaid.gov.

College Financing Plan

The CWI College Financing Plan provides a thorough breakdown of your costs and your financial aid awards. To view your College Financing Plan, log in to myCWI and select Financial Aid. Then click on Financial Aid Menu and College Financing Plan.

College Financing Plan Highlights

1. Total Cost of Attendance (COA)

This is an estimate of the expenses an average CWI student is likely to encounter during the academic year. Your COA is based on several factors such as housing plans, enrollment status, and state residency.

Tuition and fees: Estimate of the tuition and fees that will be charged to your student account, based on current CWI tuition and fee rates.
Food and housing: Estimate of the amount you may need for housing and meals while you are in school, based on analysis of U.S. Census and U.S. Department of Agriculture data.
Books, course materials, supplies, and equipment: Estimate of the cost of your books and other required supplies, based on average CWI bookstore charges.
Other education costs: Estimate of the amount you may need for other miscellaneous costs while you are in school, such as transportation, personal items (based on the Consumer Price Index), loan origination fees, dependent care, etc.

The following is the estimated COA for a full-time time student for the 2021-22 academic year (fall 2021, spring 2022, and summer 2022). Amounts differ with each enrollment status.

Dependent Student	Tuition & Fees	Books, Course Materials, Supplies, & Equipment	Food & Housing	Transportation	Other	Total
In-State Off-Campus	$3,336	$1,548	$6,688	$1,951	$3,290	$16,813
In-State with Parents	$3,336	$1,548	$3,344	$1,951	$1,665	$11,844
Out-of-State Off-Campus	$7,344	$1,548	$6,688	$1,951	$3,290	$20,821
Out-of-State with Parents	$7,344	$1,548	$3,344	$1,951	$1,665	$15,852

Independent Student	Tuition & Fees	Books, Course Materials, Supplies, & Equipment	Food & Housing	Transportation	Other	Total
In-State Off-Campus	$3,336	$1,548	$6,688	$1,951	$3,290	$16,813
In-State with Parents	$3,336	$1,548	$6,688	$1,951	$3,290	$16,813
Out-of-State Off-Campus	$7,344	$1,548	$6,688	$1,951	$3,290	$20,821
Out-of-State with Parents	$7,344	$1,548	$6,688	$1,951	$3,290	$20,821

2. Expected Family Contribution (EFC)

This amount is calculated based on the information you entered on your FAFSA and takes into account things such as income, assets, number of persons in the household, etc. for the academic year. Your EFC is not an actual amount that you (or your parents) have to pay, but is an approximation of how much you should reasonably be able to contribute towards your educational expenses during the academic year.

3. Scholarships

Scholarships from your school: Scholarships awarded to you by CWI and the CWI Foundation.
Scholarships from your state: Scholarships from the state of Idaho or, if you are an out-of-state resident attending CWI, scholarships from your home state. For more Idaho scholarship information, please visit www.boardofed.idaho.gov.
Other scholarships: All other scholarships and other non-loan and non-work financial assistance. If you expect to receive an additional scholarship or other form of assistance that you do not see listed, you must report the award to CWI.

4. Grants

Federal Pell Grants: Eligibility for the Pell Grant is based on the information you provided on your FAFSA. For more information, visit www.studentaid.gov.
Institutional Grants: Grants awarded to you by CWI and the CWI Foundation.
State Grants: Grants from the state of Idaho. For more Idaho scholarship information, please visit www.boardofed.idaho.gov.

5. Net Price

Net price is equal to your cost of attendance minus your total scholarships and grants. It represents your out-of-pocket costs before considering other forms of financial aid that may be available, such as student loans and work-study.

6. Loan Options

Federal Direct Subsidized Loan: Loan that is interest free while you remain enrolled at least half-time at any college that offers federal financial aid.
Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan: Loan that accrues interest while you are enrolled at least half-time at any college that offers federal financial aid.
Private Loan: If you need to borrow from a private lender, consider your options carefully. We encourage you to fully utilize federal student loans before you borrow from a private lender.
Parent PLUS Federal Loan: Loans that can be used by a parent of a dependent student to cover educational costs that have not been covered by scholarships, grants, federal student loans, or work-study.

7. Work Options

Work-study is a program meant to help students pay for educational costs by working part-time. Most work-study positions are on campus.

Other Payment Options

CWI payment plan: Payment plan that allows you to pay your balance over time and a great way to avoid loan debt. Learn more about CWI payment plans by visiting Tuition and Fees.
Military and/or national service benefits: Students who are currently serving in the military or are now veterans may be eligible for benefits that will pay for their expenses. Additionally, children of veterans may also be eligible for benefits. AmeriCorps is a civilian national service program which rewards participants with grants to pay for college. If you have questions or need help with your military benefits for college, contact the Veteran Services Office.

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