Financial Assistance Types

Types of Aid

Grants

Federal Pell Grant

• Pell Grant program is federally funded with the purpose of helping financially needy students meet the cost of postsecondary education.
• This program is centrally administered by the federal government and is typically the foundation of a students aid package. Students must demonstrate financial need to qualify.
• A Federal Pell Grant, does not have to be repaid.
• The Financial Assistance Office uses the Pell award as the foundation of the students financial aid package. Therefore, students requesting financial assistance during their enrollment are required to establish Federal Pell Grant eligibility before additional determination of funds eligibility is made and/or awarded.
• In order to determine eligibility for any federal financial aid program, students must file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have the results sent to WNC, by providing the WNC School Code on the FAFSA (013896).
• Federal Pell Grant award amounts are based on the Federal Pell Grant Payment and Disbursement Schedules provided by the U.S. Department of Education. You can learn more about the PELL Grant at https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/node/6.
• Students are notified of the amount of their Pell Grant through a financial aid offer letter. Students are directed to view their offer letters on myWNC.
• The Pell Grant amount will be adjusted just prior to the disbursement of aid based on a students enrollment level and enrollment intensity. Enrollment levels are defined in the following manner:
  • 12+ credits = Full Time Enrollment 
  • 9-11 credits = 3/4 Time Enrollment 
  • 6-8  credits+ 1/2 Time Enrollment
  • Under 6 credits = Less than 1/2 Time Enrollment 
• Students could owe money back for all or part of your Federal Pell Grant if they do not complete classes. The amount a student may owe will be calculated based on the drop date, the number of credits that you did not earn and the last day that you attended classes. Review the Return of Title IV Policy page (https://wnc.edu/financial/important-policies.php) for more information.

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

• This federal program provides limited grant funding on a first-come, first-serve basis to students who meet the April 1 priority filing deadline. If funds remain after April 1, those funds will be awarded on first-come, first serve basis. 
• FSEOG, similar to a Pell Grant, does not have to be repaid.
• Recipients must be:
  • Eligible for a Pell Grant
  • Be enrolled in at least six units
  • Demonstrate financial need
• Award amounts are based on remaining financial need and begin at $600 per semester.

Silver State Opportunity Grant (SSOG)

• The Silver State Opportunity Grant Program (SSOG) is a state-supported financial aid program created by the 2015 Legislature pursuant to Senate Bill 227 (Chapter 387,Statutes of Nevada 2015).
• Under SSOG, need based grants will be awarded to eligible low income student who are college-ready to pay for a portion of the cost of education at a community college or state college within the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE).
• This unique program is built on a shared responsibility model and guided by a philosophy for awarding grant aid based on the total cost of attendance (tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, and other living expenses) being shared by partners (the state, federal government, family, and the student).
• To be eligible for an SSOG award, a student must:
  • Be enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree or certificate;
  • Enroll in at least 15 credit hours that apply to the students chosen program of study;
  • Be college ready based on placement or completion of entry-level, college-level mathematics and English*;
  • Be classified as a resident for tuition purposes;
  • Meet institutional Title IV financial aid satisfactory academic progress requirements; and
  • Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have an Student Aid Index (SAI) of 8500 or less.

*To be considered college-ready for the purpose of SSOG Program eligibility, a student must be 1) currently or previously enrolled in a 100 or above level mathematics and English course, 2) placed into a college-level course under institutional placement policies for placement into at least Math 120 and English 101, or 3) previously successfully completed remedial coursework (evident by a C or better in Math 96 and/or English 98).

Nevada Resident Award and Nevada Student Grant

• These two state programs provide limited funding to Nevada residents on a first-come, first-serve basis to students who meet the April 1 priority filing deadline. If funds remain after April 1, those funds will be awarded on first-come, first serve basis.
• To be eligible for these programs, students must:
  • Be a Nevada resident
  • Have a complete financial aid file
  • Demonstrate financial need
  • Enroll at least six units
• Award amounts are based on remaining financial need and begin at $600 per semester.

Grant in Aid

• This state program provides limited funding to Nevada residents on a first-come, first-serve basis to students who meet the April 1 priority filing deadline. If funds remain after April 1, those funds will be awarded on first-come, first serve basis.
• To be eligible for a GIA award, a student must:
  • Have a complete financial aid file
  • Demonstrate financial need
  • Enrolled at least six units
  • Have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of less than 200.
• Award amounts are based on remaining financial need and begin at $600 per semester.

Western Nevada Award

• This institutional funded grant program provides limited funding to students on a first-come, first-serve basis to students who meet the April 1 priority filing deadline. If funds remain after April 1, those funds will be awarded on first-come, first serve basis.
• To be eligible for this programs, students must:
  • Have a complete financial aid file
  • Demonstrate financial need
  • Enroll at least six units
• Award amounts are based on remaining financial need and begin at $600 per semester.

Wildcat Award

• This institutional funded grant program provides limited funding to students on a first-come, first-serve basis to students who meet the April 1 priority filing deadline. If funds remain after April 1, those funds will be awarded on first-come, first serve basis.
• To be eligible for this programs, students must:
  • Have a complete financial aid file
  • Demonstrate financial need
  • Enroll at least six units
  • This award targets students with and SAI of 3500 to 10000.  However the EFC range could be expanded based on available funding and student need. 
• Award amounts are based on remaining financial need and begin at $1000 per semester.

Scholarships

William N. Pennington CTE Scholarship 

WNC Foundation and Financial Assistance Office are thrilled to announce the opening of the 2024-2025 William N. Penntington CTE Scholarship Application! The William N. Pennington Foundation Career and Technical Scholarship has been created to support students that are pursuing careers in fields that are in high demand with local employers. This scholarship aims to improve the well-being of our community by offering students, with financial need, the opportunity to redefine their careers and ultimately their lives by learning the skills necessary to obtain meaningful employment in northern Nevada.

William N. Pennington CTE Application

WNC Foundation Scholarships

Each year, WNC Foundation awards scholarships to students on the basis of academic criteria or any combination of academics, field of study, financial need, activities, community service, and other criteria.

General Eligibility Criteria

In general, in order to be selected for a campus-based WNC Foundation Scholarship, a student must:

• • Meet the specific selection criteria for a particular scholarship program
  • Be enrolled in a minimum of six units, unless otherwise requested by the donor
  • Have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0, unless otherwise requested by the donor
  • Some scholarships require students to have a financial need. To be more likely to receive a financial need based scholarship, please make sure to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For information on how to do this visit https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

Award Details

• • Students awarded a scholarship will receive a unique communication from WNC AwardSpring Software with instructions specific to their scholarship award.
  • Student will also receive a Financial Assistance Offer letter that includes their scholarship awards and any other forms of aid the student maybe eligible for.
  • Scholarships of $500 and more will be disbursed in two equal payments (Fall/Spring) unless otherwise requested by the donor.
  • Students must meet the minimum GPA criteria for a scholarship in order to receive the Spring disbursement.
  • Students awarded a scholarship will have their award disbursed to their student account only when a thank you card has been received for the donor and in accordance with semester disbursement dates. 

Career Path Scholarships

• This scholarship is for students enrolled in specific courses of study: Automotive Mechanics, Machine Tool Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, Healthcare, Construction, Computer Information Technology, Truck-Driving (CDL) and Welding.
• You do not need to be a current student to apply for this scholarship. If you do not have a WNC Student ID Number you can still complete the application.
• Applicants should ue the code WILDCAT  to apply for the CAREER PATH  SCHOLARSHIP
• The funds for this scholarship is grant funding that has been received from the Nevada Department of Employment Training and Rehabilitation (DETR), U.S. Department of Education, WINN Nevada Governors Office of Economic Development and SNAP/ENT.

 Scholarship Application: https://wnc.awardspring.com/

Governor Guinn Millennium Scholarship

In 1999, Gov. Kenny Guinn Millennium Scholarship initiative was enacted into law by the Nevada Legislature. Each Millennium Scholarship is worth up to $10,000 over the lifetime of the award. There is no application for students to complete, however students should become familiar with the policies and procedures related to the Millennium Scholarship program: https://www.nevadatreasurer.gov/GGMS/GGMS_Home/.

Steps to Secure your Millennium Scholarship

1. Acknowledging your Millennium Scholarship Award on the State Treasure's Website: https://www.nevadatreasurer.gov/GGMS/GGMS_Home/
2. Enroll om Courses

• • Students must enroll in a minimum of  9 degree applicable credits and can receive funding for up to 15 degree applicable credits. Students will receive a maximum of $40 per credit hour for lower-division credits (100-200 level) and $60 per credit hour for upper division credits (300-400 level).  Enrollment in courses under the 100 level are counted towards the minimum enrollment requirement of 9 credits, however these course are not eligible for funding.
• Maintaining your Millennium Scholarship Eligibility
  • To remain eligible for the Millennium Scholarship each semester, students are required to complete at least 9 credits and maintain a SEMESTER GPA 2.75 .

Questions regarding your Millennium Scholarship

Temple Campana
WNC Scholarship and Student Employment Coordinator
775-445-3260
temple.campana@wnc.edu

Nevada Promise

The Nevada Promise Scholarship is a last-dollar scholarship that was established by the Nevada State Legislature in 2017. The scholarship incorporates service learning and mentorship with academics, with the goal of increasing enrollment in higher education and improving overall student achievement, by eliminating financial barriers and allowing students to place greater emphasis on their education. This scholarship provides coverage of tuition and other mandatory fees not met by federal or state aid for up to three years. There are no income or high school GPA requirements, and it is open to all Nevada high school students graduating between August 1 and June 15 who begin classes at WNC in the fall immediately following graduation.

Visit the WNC Nevada Promise Scholarship page: https://wnc.edu/advising/promise.php to learn how to qualify!

Outside Scholarships

Western Nevada College does not post links for external scholarships at this time. We do encourage students to explore scholarship opportunities by using free scholarship sites such as:

www.fastweb.com

www.scholarships.com

There are many other similar search sites just make sure you never pay money to apply and avoid searches that want to link to your social media or ask for private personal information such as your social security number, as these are often scams.

Big companies and large corporations often offer scholarships so its a good idea to search those sites too! Other places to check out include your or your parents places of employment as well as local financial institutions.

We do support known local organizations who offer scholarships and often have hard copy applications in the Financial Assistance Office. Applications are in our lobby or posted on our lobby bulletin board.

Student Employment/Work-Study

Student Employee programs help students earn funds to help with part of their college expenses while attending school. These are on-campus jobs that are located on the Carson City, Fallon and Douglas campuses. The hours worked are arranged around the students class schedule, not to exceed 20 hours per week. Students must be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for these programs.

To be considered for the majority of student employment funds, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

• Student Employment positions can be found on the Student Employee Job Board: https://wnc.edu/human-resources/jobs.php
• Supervisors and Students Employees should consult the Student Employment Handbook for more details.

Types of Work-Study

• • Federal Work-Study Program is a federally funded program designed to help provide employment for qualified students who demonstrate a financial need as determined by the FAFSA.
  • Nevada Student Employment Program is a state-funded program based on financial need as determined by the FAFSA. Students must be a Nevada resident and enrolled at least half-time.
  • Western Student Employment Program is a Nevada access employment program for students who have demonstrated financial need as determined by the FAFSA and is designed to help provide employment for qualified students who demonstrate a financial need.
  • Regents Service Program is a state funded program based on criteria established by the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents. To be eligible, Nevada residents must be enrolled at least half-time and must meet at least one of the following criteria:
    • Head of household.
    • Single parent who has never attended college or has had a break in enrollment of two years or more.
    • First person in their immediate family to pursue a certificate or degree beyond high school.
    • Not receiving support from parents or family.
    • Have unusual financial circumstances.

Student Loans

• Student loans are money that must be repaid and are legal obligations.
• Students are required to repay ALL student loans regardless of whether they didnt like the education received, ability to get a job in a preferred field of study, or financial difficulty.
• The Financial Assistance Office at WNC supports the Nevada Attorney Generals Office with regards to college student loan conduct. Please read the WNC College Student Loan Code of Conduct for more information.

Before taking out a student loan, it is wise to think about the amount of money being borrowed and the amount of money to be repaid over the years, with interest. Be conservative. Only borrow what is absolutely needed.

Steps to Apply for a Federal Direct Loan

Please Note: The 2023-2024 Loan Request Form will open May 1.

1. Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
2. Complete your WNC financial aid file.
3. Complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) at www.studentloans.gov. Sign in with your FSA ID and choose Complete MPN from the menu on the left side of the page.
4. Complete the Entrance counseling at: www.studentloans.gov. Sign in with your FSA ID and choose Complete Entrance Counseling from the menu on the left side of the page. ENCOURAGED TO COMPLETE EVERY YEAR.
5. Log on to the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) at https://nslds.ed.gov/nslds/nslds_SA/ using your FSA ID and print a summary report of your financial aid history. You must attach your financial aid history summary to your Loan Request Form. If this is the first time you have requested financial aid, you must attach a printout of the NSLDS web page proving you have accessed your NSLDS account.
6. Complete and submit the Student Loan Request Form.
7. Must complete the Exit counseling at: https://studentloans.gov in the last semester you are in attendance at WNC or drop below 6 credits.
8. If you decide to cancel your loan(s), you need to submit to the Financial Assistance office a completed Loan Revision Request form and/or return the loan funds to your lender. To avoid penalty, you must cancel your loans as soon as possible or no later than 14 days after disbursement of funds.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON DIRECT FEDERAL LOANS GO TO:https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/