Federal Student Aid is one of the most common methods used by students to pay for their education. Below you'll find information and instructions on applying for Federal Student Aid. Students and parents can also find additional information about federal aid at the Federal Student Aid website or by contacting the Western Dakota Technical College Financial Aid Team.
The Financial Aid process can take 3-4 weeks to complete depending on additional information needed. Students are encouraged to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the academic year they plan to enroll as soon as possible.
Financial Aid Application Process
- Before filling out your FAFSA, you will need to create your FSA ID. Your FSA ID gives you access to the studentaid.gov and can also act as your legal signature.
- Complete the FAFSA. The FAFSA application will determine your eligibility for Federal Student aid. WDTC Financial Aid Office uses your FAFSA results to determine what federal financial aid you are eligible for: federal grants, federal work study, federal loans, or a combination of these.
- Western Dakota Technical College's school code: 010170
- You will need your tax information; you will use your prior-prior year tax information. For example, you will use your 2022 tax return when applying for aid for the 2024-2025 academic year.
- Be sure to use your name exactly as it appears on your Social Security Card.
If you plan to accept all or a portion of the loans, you may need to complete Loan Entrance Counseling and the Direct Master Promissory Note (MPN). To complete these steps, you would log on to studentaid.gov using your FSA ID and select “Loans and Grants”. Entrance Counseling ensures you understand your rights and responsibilities to repay your federal student loans and the MPN is the contract you sign agreeing to the terms of the loan.
Verification
The Financial Aid Office will review all applications that have been selected by the U.S. Department of Education for verification. There are different verification groups. If chosen for verification, the student will be notified, by email, on how to complete the verification process. All verification groups will require a verification worksheet that coincides with the verification group. Students have 14 days from receipt of notification to submit documentation. Students who submit verification documentation after the time requested will be awarded aid on an availability basis.
If there is conflicting information in the file, the conflict must be resolved even if the application is not selected by the U.S. Department of Education for verification. The conflict may be resolved without being chosen for total verification. Western Dakota Technical College reserves the right to institutionally select student files on a case-by-case basis if there is reason to believe that data in the file or on the application is inaccurate.
Financial Aid Offer
Once your Financial Aid file has been reviewed and determined complete, you will receive a Financial Aid Offer to your personal email and/or your WDTC student email from the Financial Aid Office. This will outline the types of funding you are eligible to receive for your enrollment at Western Dakota Technical College. Types of funding you may be eligible to receive includes: federal grants, federal work study, federal student loans, or a combination of these. Western Dakota Technical College automatically accepts your financial aid funds for you. If there are any financial aid funds you wish to decline, you will need to complete the decline form at wdt.edu/nextsteps.
Summer Financial Aid
Summer Financial Aid is based on the FAFSA information used to determine eligibility for the previous fall and spring semesters.
Professional Judgment (Special or Unusual Circumstances)
The Financial Aid Office has the authority under the law (section 479A of the Higher Education Act) to make adjustments, on the basis of adequate documentation, and on a case-by-case basis, to address circumstances not reflected in a student's original Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The Financial Aid Office at WDTC may adjust your Financial Aid Offer if you qualify for special or unusual circumstances.
Special Circumstances
Refer to financial situations such as:
- Loss of job by student or spouse if independent or student or parent if dependent
- Change in employment resulting in loss of income
- Costs related to disability or dependent care
- Unusually high medical bills due to an illness
- Any other financial changes not reflected on the FAFSA
Unusual Circumstances
Refer to a student’s request to have dependency reviewed because:
- Student is homeless or at the risk of being homeless
- Incarceration of parent(s)
- Statement of third party that student is victim of abuse, neglect, assault, or violence
- Documented interview with student and/or parent
- Any other unusual circumstances not listed above with proper documentation
Each professional judgment request will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will require specific documentation for each case along with the Professional Judgment form. To request a Professional Judgment review please contact the Financial Aid Office at (605) 718-2988 or finaid@wdt.edu. All documentation must be received before a final decision can be determined.
Once the Professional Judgement review has been completed, the student will be notified by email.
