FAFSA Whitney Benefits does not require you to fill out the FAFSA to apply, but it is a requirement for many other scholarship applications and other financial aid for college. The application has been recently updated which has led to delays and some issues filling it out. • What to know about the new FAFSA • FAFSA delays cause stress for students and schools • Got FAFSA errors? Here are some tips on how to avoid the most common ones. What happens after my loan application is submitted? Once your application and all required documents are submitted, Whitney staff will review them and will mail you a letter verifying that your loan has been approved. Once you receive this letter, please call Whitney Benefits and schedule a Loan Closing. If you submit your application and required documents and Whitney Staff finds an error we will contact you at the number and/or email you provide on the application form Students and their co-borrowers must attend the Loan Closing. At the Loan Closing, Whitney staff will review the loan documents before the student and their co-borrowers sign. All documents will be notarized. The loan closing takes approximately 20 minutes. Whitney will issue the first disbursement to the student at the loan closing. All disbursements issued by Whitney shall be payable only to the student. To receive all future disbursements, the student must first provide Whitney with an official transcript or grade report verifying that the student has earned at least 12 credit hours and maintained a 2.25 grade point average in the preceding term. When are the funding deadlines for students with current loans? The deadline for Fall funding is October 1st and for Spring funding is March 1st. How do students with current loans request funding? To request funding for each term, students are required to submit paperwork prior to the October 1st or March 1st deadline. Required paperwork includes current official transcripts as well as proof of enrollment. Once paperwork is submitted, students may contact the office to request funding and specify the amount requested. If a student does not wish to request funds for a current term, transcripts and proof and enrollment are still required in order to prevent the student from entering repayment. How much can students borrow in total and per semester for undergraduate or vocational studies? What information do you use to see how much each student will qualify for? Up to $24,000 for undergraduate or vocational school studies. Traditional students may borrow, each semester during their undergraduate education, the following amount: 1. One half (1/2) of the annual limit established by the Whitney Trustees. For schools on quarter systems, the annual limit shall be one-third (1/3) instead of 1/2. The annual limit is $6,000. 2. Vocational students may borrow up to $24,000 over the length of their program. These students will not be held to the annual limit. 3. To qualify, students and the student's parents must have an adjusted gross income from the previous year of under $200,000. How much can students borrow for graduate or professional studies? Graduate students can borrow a credit limit up to $40,000. When will I be expected to start repayment on my loan? Repayments begin on the earliest of the following dates: • Six months after the anticipated or actual graduation date. • Immediately if the student leaves school. How much interest will I pay on my loan? Whitney Benefits Student Loans are interest free. (However, interest may be charged if the loan is in default.) How much money does an interest-free student loan save me? Please refer to the calculations at this link. How often will I receive the Present value discount option? Present Value Discounts are available at the start of repayment and every anniversary date thereafter. Can Whitney Benefits send and receive electronic payments? Whitney Benefits does now have the ability to electronically disburse funds and receive electronic payments. Please download the Electronic Credit Authorization form to receive electronic disbursements or the Electronic Debit Authorization to make electronic payments. Please fill out and return the form to Whitney to take advantage of these conveniences. Why does Whitney Benefits provide student loans? Whitney Benefits, Inc. was created under the Last Will and Testament of Mr. Edward A. Whitney, a Sheridan County resident, who passed away in 1917. Mr. Whitney directed the corporation to create a student loan program that would help provide men and women with modest financial assistance from the corporation's income to pursue academic and vocational studies. Since inception of the program in 1928, the corporation has loaned 6,232 students approximately $51,088,741. During the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2023 Whitney approved interest-free loans totaling 2,168.600 to 105 students; 79 students received loans for the first time, and 26 students had received loans previously. As of June 30, 2022, Whitney has $10,852,250 in student loan monies loaned and / or committed to Sheridan and Johnson County students. Is there other financial aid available? Northern Wyoming Community College District has many financial aid opportunities available. If you are not attending NWCCD, check with your college or university's financial aid office. Return to Student Loans

FAFSA Whitney Benefits does not require you to fill out the FAFSA to apply, but it is a requirement for many other scholarship applications and other financial aid for college. The application has been recently updated which has led to delays and some issues filling it out. • What to know about the new FAFSA • FAFSA delays cause stress for students and schools • Got FAFSA errors? Here are some tips on how to avoid the most common ones. What happens after my loan application is submitted? Once your application and all required documents are submitted, Whitney staff will review them and will mail you a letter verifying that your loan has been approved. Once you receive this letter, please call Whitney Benefits and schedule a Loan Closing. If you submit your application and required documents and Whitney Staff finds an error we will contact you at the number and/or email you provide on the application form Students and their co-borrowers must attend the Loan Closing. At the Loan Closing, Whitney staff will review the loan documents before the student and their co- borrowers sign. All documents will be notarized. The loan closing takes approximately 20 minutes. Whitney will issue the first disbursement to the student at the loan closing. All disbursements issued by Whitney shall be payable only to the student. To receive all future disbursements, the student must first provide Whitney with an official transcript or grade report verifying that the student has earned at least 12 credit hours and maintained a 2.25 grade point average in the preceding term. When are the funding deadlines for students with current loans? The deadline for Fall funding is October 1st and for Spring funding is March 1st. How do students with current loans request funding? To request funding for each term, students are required to submit paperwork prior to the October 1st or March 1st deadline. Required paperwork includes current official transcripts as well as proof of enrollment. Once paperwork is submitted, students may contact the office to request funding and specify the amount requested. If a student does not wish to request funds for a current term, transcripts and proof and enrollment are still required in order to prevent the student from entering repayment. How much can students borrow in total and per semester for undergraduate or vocational studies? What information do you use to see how much each student will qualify for? Up to $24,000 for undergraduate or vocational school studies. Traditional students may borrow, each semester during their undergraduate education, the following amount: 1. One half (1/2) of the annual limit established by the Whitney Trustees. For schools on quarter systems, the annual limit shall be one-third (1/3) instead of 1/2. The annual limit is $6,000. 2. Vocational students may borrow up to $24,000 over the length of their program. These students will not be held to the annual limit. 3. To qualify, students and the student's parents must have an adjusted gross income from the previous year of under $200,000. How much can students borrow for graduate or professional studies? Graduate students can borrow a credit limit up to $40,000. When will I be expected to start repayment on my loan? Repayments begin on the earliest of the following dates: • Six months after the anticipated or actual graduation date. • Immediately if the student leaves school. How much interest will I pay on my loan? Whitney Benefits Student Loans are interest free. (However, interest may be charged if the loan is in default.) How much money does an interest-free student loan save me? Please refer to the calculations at this link. How often will I receive the Present value discount option? Present Value Discounts are available at the start of repayment and every anniversary date thereafter. Can Whitney Benefits send and receive electronic payments? Whitney Benefits does now have the ability to electronically disburse funds and receive electronic payments. Please download the Electronic Credit Authorization form to receive electronic disbursements or the Electronic Debit Authorization to make electronic payments. Please fill out and return the form to Whitney to take advantage of these conveniences. Why does Whitney Benefits provide student loans? Whitney Benefits, Inc. was created under the Last Will and Testament of Mr. Edward A. Whitney, a Sheridan County resident, who passed away in 1917. Mr. Whitney directed the corporation to create a student loan program that would help provide men and women with modest financial assistance from the corporation's income to pursue academic and vocational studies. Since inception of the program in 1928, the corporation has loaned 6,232 students approximately $51,088,741. During the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2023 Whitney approved interest-free loans totaling 2,168.600 to 105 students; 79 students received loans for the first time, and 26 students had received loans previously. As of June 30, 2022, Whitney has $10,852,250 in student loan monies loaned and / or committed to Sheridan and Johnson County students. Is there other financial aid available? Northern Wyoming Community College District has many financial aid opportunities available. If you are not attending NWCCD, check with your college or university's financial aid office. Return to Student Loans