Federal Pell Grant is funding awarded by the federal government and is need-based. It is awarded to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree. Pell grant awards are reduced for part-time (less than 12 credits per semester) enrollment.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is a federally funded program that is administered by the University. It is available to students who have not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree. Students must be eligible for Pell grant in order to receive FSEOG, but not all students receiving Pell will receive FSEOG. Awards are made to the neediest students who meet the WCU priority deadline of March 1.

PA State Grant Program allows eligible Pennsylvania residents to obtain financial assistance for undergraduate study at any PHEAA-approved institution of higher education. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) serves as the program’s application.

An Academic Competitiveness Grant will provide up to $750 for the first year of undergraduate study and up to $1,300 for the second year of undergraduate study to full-time students who are U.S citizens, eligible for a Federal Pell Grant, and who had successfully completed a rigorous high school program, as determined by the state or local education agency and recognized by the Secretary of Education. Second year students must also have maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0. The Academic Competitiveness Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award.

The National SMART Grant is available during the third and fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time students who are eligible for the Federal Pell Grant and who are majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering or in a foreign language determined critical to national security. The student must also have maintained a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 in coursework required for the major. The National SMART Grant award is in addition to the student's Pell Grant award. A National SMART Grant will provide up to $4,000 for each of the third and fourth years of undergraduate study to full-time students who are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and who are majoring in physical, life, or computer sciences, mathematics, technology, or engineering or in a foreign language determined critical to national security.

State Grants  are generally awarded on the basis of need and limited to students attending schools within their own state of residence. State grant award levels and eligibility criteria are controlled by the awarding state. Some states, such as Delaware, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, and Ohio have reciprocal agreements with Pennsylvania. New Jersey and New York do NOT have reciprocal agreements with Pennsylvania; therefore, New Jersey and New York residents cannot bring their state grants to Pennsylvania. For more information about your state’s reciprocity agreements, contact your state agency. All aid applicants in Pennsylvania and Delaware automatically apply for their state aid when filing the FAFSA. Pennsylvania’s deadline for the FAFSA to be on file is May 1. Pennsylvania State grant eligibility is also based on housing status.