Winterim

Winterim is a three-week session held between the Fall and Spring terms designed to help students keep on track for graduation.  Financial aid for Winterim is awarded separately from the academic year, and there are many differences between the Winterim aid process and the academic year process.  Federal grant and loan eligibility is very limited for Winterim; if you are attending full-time in Spring term and have been awarded your annual maximum federal grant and loan eligibility for fall and spring, you will not be eligible for additional aid for the Winterim term.   

General Eligibility Requirements

In order to be eligible for and awarded federal financial aid for Winterim, you must meet all of the following general requirements

• Have completed and fully processed the current year's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  For Winterim 2024 the 2023-2024 FAFSA must be completed.
• Are registered for courses for the Winterim term (students who graduated in the fall or Winterim term are not eligible for any financial aid during Winterim).
• Submitted the 2024 Winterim Application to the UW-W Financial Aid Office.
• Are meeting the  Satisfactory Academic Progress standards.
• Are enrolled at least half time for the Spring term (6 or more credits for Undergraduate students and 4.5 credits or more for Graduate students).  Student who are not enrolled at least half-time for Spring are not eligible for any Winterim Financial Aid.

Aid Available

Federal Pell Grants

Students may be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant if they meet the general eligibility requirements above, are an Undergraduate student who is eligible for a Federal Pell Grant during the Fall and Spring terms, and if they are enrolled in fewer than 12 credits for the Spring term.  Students enrolled in 12 or more credits for Spring will not be eligible for additional Federal Pell Grants.

Federal Direct Loans

Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans have an annual loan limit based on year in school.  If a student borrowed the total loan limit during the fall and spring, there is no additional Direct Loans for Winterim.  If the student is changing grade level after Fall term, and the new grade level increases the loan limit, the student should contact the Financial Aid Office after fall grades have been processed.

Federal Parent PLUS Loan

Parents may borrow PLUS Loan during Winterim by submitting a Parent Loan application.  If the parent is denied the loan, the student may be eligible for additional Unsubsidized Loan based on the annual loan limits.

Private Loans

Students can apply for an alternative loan from a private lending institution to help pay for Winterim.  Visit the private loan page for more information on these types of loans.

Disbursement

Winterim aid disburses at the same time as Spring aid.  Students are responsible for making sure the Winterim bill is paid on time.  If there is not enough aid to cover both Spring and Winterim, students may incur a late fee. Your Spring term refund may be delayed due to Winterim charges.  Please contact the Student Accounts Office for information regarding billing due dates.