FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
for
NEW UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
Financial Assistance for New Undergraduate Students Table of Contents | 2
TABLE of CONTENTS
COST OF ATTENDANCE AND
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
FINANCIAL
AID
Award Letter
Confirming Awards
Communications
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Renewable Awards
FEDERAL STUDENT
LOANS
Entrance Counseling
CREDIT BASED
LOAN OPTIONS
Parent Plus Loans
PRIVATE ALTERNATIVE
STUDENT LOANS
PAYMENT
PLAN
STUDENT ACCOUNT
STATEMENT
STUDENT
EMPLOYMENT
HOUSING
& DINING
OFFICE
CONTACTS
3
4
5
6
7
8
Financial Assistance for New Undergraduate Students Financial Aid | 3
WHO are WE?
The Office of Student Financial Assistance at the George Washington University administers financial aid
to undergraduate and graduate students. At GW, we are committed to delivering quality service and support to
students in achieving their educational goals.
Cost of Attendance
and Financial Assistance
The following diagram represents an estimate of the total annual cost to attend George Washington University. It also
displays the remaining balance due, after applying your financial aid for the 2021-2022 academic year. These figures
are solely estimates. Costs vary by location and program. Factors that could affect these estimates include personal
expenses, changes to your financial aid award, etc.
The total annual cost of attendance for the 2021-2022 academic year is $79,760. This includes both Direct and
Indirect Costs. Direct Costs refer to the items you pay the University directly. These include fees such as tuition, and
on-campus room and board. Indirect Costs consist of expenses not billed by the University including: books, supplies,
personal expenses, and transportation. Both Direct and Indirect Costs should be considered when evaluating the total
cost of attendance for the academic year.
Direct Costs
Tuition $59,780
Fees $440
Room & Board $15,440
Total $75,660
GW and Federal Grants and Scholarships
-
Outside Resources or Tuition Benefits
-
Estimated Amount Due
=
Federal Student Loan(s)
-
Estimated Amount Due (after loans)
=
Indirect Costs
Books and Supplies $1,400
Transportation Expenses $1,075
Personal/Miscellaneous Expenses $1,625
Total $4,100
Total Estimated Costs less FA
=
Federal Work Study*
Total after FWS
=
* Federal Work Study funds are earned and paid through a
paycheck based on the pay rate for their position and hours
worked.
Financial Assistance for New Undergraduate Students Cost of Attendance and Financial Assistance | 4
Financial Aid
Award Letter
The financial aid award letter includes a listing of the
funds you are eligible for. The types of awards included
are merit awards (if selected), need-based grants, student
loans and federal work study. The amount of financial
assistance offered is calculated, based on the data
provided in your FAFSA and CSS Profile. Eligibility for
financial assistance is re-evaluated annually.
Confirming Awards
Confirm the estimated offer by submitting the requested
financial aid verification documents by May 1, 2021.
This will confirm your award amount for the 2021-
2022 academic year. The “How to Apply” section of
our website details the types of materials that may be
required to complete your application.
financialaid.gwu.edu/how-apply.
If you are unsure of which documents may be
outstanding, you can check your eligibility requirements
on GWeb. Once all of the required documentation has
been verified, your award amount will be confirmed
or adjusted as appropriate. Your award amount will be
confirmed via email notification.
Communications
We encourage you to monitor your email account as
most communication from our office will be sent to you
(the student) via email. If you choose not to use your
GW issued email account, automatic forwarding to your
preferred email address email address should be set up
to prevent missed communication. If you have a parent
or guardian who should be aware of notifications you
receive, consider forwarding emails to them as well.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Students who receive federal student financial assistance
(aid through the Department of Education and Health
Resources & Services Administration) must, in accordance
with federal regulations, be in good standing and
maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward
their degree. SAP standards require that students
maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average (per semester,
and cumulative after the second academic year). Students
are also required to pass at least 75% of credit hours
attempted each semester, and complete their academic
program within 150% of the published length of their
program.
More details on this policy are available online
financialaid.gwu.edu/satisfactory-academic-progress.
Renewable Awards
Admissions awards and scholarships from the
Undergraduate Admissions Office are renewable for up
to ten consecutive semesters of full-time undergraduate
enrollment (12 credits per semester) and are subject to
Satisfactory Academic Progress standards.
The Admissions Awards and Scholarships include:
• Cisneros Scholars Award
• Clark Engineering Scholarship
• Corcoran Scholars Award
• FIRST Robotics Scholarship
• GW Leadership Award
• IB Scholarship
• Presidential Academic Scholarship
• Scottish Rite Foundation Scholarship
• Stephen Joel Trachtenberg Scholarship
Financial Assistance for New Undergraduate Students Federal Student Loans & Credit Based Loan Options | 5
Federal Student Loans
Students may be offered some or all of the following Federal Loans in their financial aid award package based on
demonstrated financial need.
Loan
Federal Direct
Subsidized Loan
Federal Direct
Unsubsidized Loan
Borrower
Student Student
Annual Loan Amounts
Based on grade level Based on grade level and dependency status
Interest Rate
2.75% * 2.75% *
Origination Fees
1.057%* 1.057%*
Basis
Need based Available to students regardless of need
Repayment Details
No interest or principle payments
while student is in school. Payments
begin 6 months after graduation or a
drop below half-time enrollment.
Interest accrues no principle payments while
student is in school. Payments begin 6 months after
graduation or a drop below half-time enrollment.
* Interest rates and Origination Fees for loans processed during the 2021-2022 academic year
to be set on July 1, 2021.
Entrance Counseling and Promissory Notes
New students and first time borrowers must complete entrance counseling and sign the promissory note before funds
can be disbursed. Federal Direct Loan borrowers can complete these steps online at studentaid.gov.
Credit Based Loan Options
Parent PLUS Loans
To apply for a Parent PLUS Loan, the student must file a FAFSA and the parent borrower must complete a credit
application at studentaid.gov. Each PLUS loan is linked to one parent borrower. In cases where both parents wish to
take out a loan, two loans can be processed.
Borrower
Parent of dependent student
Annual Loan
Amounts
Up to cost of attendance (minus any other financial assistance or outside resources)
Interest Rate
5.30%*
Origination Fees 4.228%*
Basis
Credit
Repayment
Details
Payments begin 60 days after the funds are fully disbursed (typically after the spring
disbursement). Deferred payment options are available
* Interest rates and Origination Fees for loans processed during the 2021-2022 academic year
to be set on July 1, 2021.
Financial Assistance for New Undergraduate Students Private Alt Student Loans & Payment Plan & Student Acct Statement | 6
Private Alternative Student Loans
Students are advised to research different lenders and products to find the loan option that best suits their needs.
An internet search for “Private alternative student loans” provides a valuable starting point for both learning about
the terms of the loans and reviewing the products available from various lending institutions.Students interested in
applying for an alternative loan must follow the instructions from the lender carefully. These instructions will guide the
applicant step by step through theprocess.
Borrower
Student or parent of dependent student
Annual Loan
Amounts
Up to cost of attendance (minus any other financial
assistance or outside resources)
Interest Rate
Vary by lender
Origination Fees
Vary by lender
Basis
Credit
Repayment
Details
Vary by lender
Payment Plan
GW students and authorized users can enroll in the university monthly payment plan via the Student Accounts eBill
solution.
The monthly payment plan allows the student or authorized user to pay their Fall and/or Spring semester charges
over 4 equal monthly payments per semester. Fall payments are paid from July through October. Spring payments
are paid from December through March.
Enrollment is required for each semester in which you participate in the plan. Only one plan may be set up for the
student per semester. The monthly payment plan option is interest-free as long as monthly payments are made on
time and in full.
Please visit the Student Accounts website at studentaccounts.gwu.edu/monthly-payment-plan for more
information.
Student Account Statement
The Student Accounts Office will send an account statement eBill notification prior to each semester. Payment is due
on the first day of classes. The following provides some detail on the billed charges.
The full-time tuition rate covers costs for 18 credit hours per semester. Students in School of Engineering and Applied
Science (SEAS) programs can take up to 19 credits at the fixed tuition rate.
Fees include a Student Association Fee of $90 and a one-time Matriculation Fee of $350, which is paid by the initial
deposit.
Room & Board estimated allowance is the average cost for first year students. Students who opt for a higher room
selection will be responsible for covering this additional expense from their own resources. A PLUS/alternative loan
may also cover this expense. Information about Residence Hall rates are available at living.gwu.edu. Undergraduate
students living in GW residence halls will be assigned a Dining Plan, based upon the availability of a kitchen in the
student’s housing assignment. Information about GW Dining is available at dining.gwu.edu/.
Financial Assistance for New Undergraduate Students Student Employment & Housing & Dining | 7
Student Employment
The GW Center for Career Services helps students connect to work-study, part-time, temporary and summer
employment opportunities on campus and in the Washington, D.C. area. Additional information can be found
at www.careerservices.gwu.edu.
Housing
GW’s housing experience contributes to overall academic success, provides greater opportunities for campus
involvement, and offers safe and convenient services to residents.
Incoming first-year students have a variety of residential living choices located on our two vibrant campuses: Foggy
Bottom and Mount Vernon.
Housing costs at GW are based on the selected residence hall and occupancy level. The 2021-2022 housing rates will
be available at living.gwu.edu/residence-halls.
Dining
At the George Washington University, our meal plans give our students access to eat at a variety of dining partners
(easily accessible on campus or close by in the surrounding neighborhoods). Our dining partner network includes
more than 105+ food and grocery locations.
Undergraduate students living in GW residence halls will be assigned a Dining Plan based upon the availability of a
kitchen in a student’s housing assignment. All undergraduate students living in GW residence halls are required to
participate in the Dining Plan.
The 2021-2022 dining cash plan rates will be available at living.gwu.edu/residence-halls.
GW Dining Plan values represent average amount of Dining Cash needed by students for the academic year. Dining
funds roll over from semester-to-semester and year-to-year.
Additional information about GW Dining and the Dining Plans can be found at dining.gwu.edu/.
Section | 8Financial Assistance for New Undergraduate Students
FIN-2021-1
Office Contacts
OFFICE OF STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
financialaid.gwu.edu
202.994.6620 | 202.994.0906
Submit documents via GWeb: banweb.gwu.edu
STUDENT ACCOUNTS OFFICE
studentaccounts.gwu.edu
202.994.7350 | 571.553.1099
CAMPUS LIVING AND RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION
living.gwu.edu
202.994.2552 | 202.994.1422
GWORLD CARD OFFICE
gworld.gwu.edu
202.994.1795 | 202.994.0686
GW CAMPUS DINING
dining.gwu.edu
