Financial Aid Instructions and Checklist

Students must apply every year for financial aid. To maintain eligibility, you must remain enrolled on at least a half-time basis. Definitions of half-time status can be found in the Student Handbook.

Returning students whose FAFSA results are received by the Financial Aid Office on or before April 1 will receive priority in the awarding process and in determining eligibility for the Federal Work-Study.

Incoming students must be accepted to Widener Law Commonwealth before their completed financial aid files will be reviewed. Incoming students do not have a deadline, as they are considered for institutional aid on a rolling basis. However, it is strongly recommended that the required forms are completed as soon as possible. Applications submitted later in the award year may not be considered for institutional aid because of limited funds.

CHECKLIST

Please refer to this checklist in order to complete your financial aid forms accurately.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form: It is recommended that students submit the FAFSA online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. The results of the processed FAFSA (FAFSA Submission Summary) will be sent to the student and school electronically, provided our school code is indicated. The Widener Law Commonwealth campus code is E00656. If Widener Law Commonwealth is not listed on your FAFSA Submission Summary, please go online using your FSA ID to add the correct campus.

Widener Law Commonwealth Financial Aid Data form (form can be found on sites.widener.edu): Incoming students should indicate on the form the amount of funding they would like to receive from the Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan Program. Incoming students should return the form as soon as possible. 

Federal Direct Loan Applications: The FAFSA is not a loan application, but is used to determine eligibility for Federal Student Aid (FSA) programs. Therefore, all incoming students and returning students borrowing for the first time in 2025-2026 must complete a Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Master Promissory Note (MPN) online at studentaid.gov. Returning students that borrowed a Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan in 2024-2025 must complete the 2025-2026 FAFSA authorizing Widener Law Commonwealth to add to their serial note. Please visit the Federal Direct Loan section of our website for additional questions.

Federal Direct GradPLUS Loan Applications: Please see the Graduate PLUS page for application instructions.

Summer Intent Form (form can be found on sites.widener.edu): Students intending to take summer classes or study abroad and receive financial aid must complete a summer intent form to inform the Financial Aid Office of their plans.

Students Selected for Verification will be notified in writing of what documentation must be submitted: Selection may occur in two forms. Students may be selected by the US Department of Education or at the discretion of the Widener Law Commonwealth Financial Aid Office. Some students may be required to complete the verification worksheet or tax transcript described below.

Verification Worksheet (form can be found on sites.widener.edu): A verification worksheet will be sent to you upon review of your file by the Financial Aid Office. Please complete both sides of the form and return it to the Financial Aid Office.

Federal Tax Transcript: If requested, a Federal Tax Return Transcript must be obtained from the IRS (obtain online at www.irs.gov or call 1-800-829-1040). You may also be asked to provide copies of schedules, Wage & Income Statement, 1099s, and tax forms. If a tax return cannot be submitted because of late filing or not filing at all, you must provide written notification stating the reasons for the delay or why no return will be filed.