Federal Financial Aid Programs
Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), Federal Work-Study, Federal Direct Loans, and Federal Direct PLUS Loans
Eligibility for federal financial aid programs requires students to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards at the end of each semester, including summer (if enrolled). Those standards are:
- You must maintain a minimum cumulative UW grade point average (GPA). Only courses taken at UW will be included in that GPA calculation.
- You must complete and pass a minimum of 67% of all courses attempted. This is referred to as your Completion Percentage or Pace. Passing a class requires a grade of A, B, C, D, or S.
- You must complete your degree within 150% of the minimum credit hours required to graduate. This is known as Maximum Timeframe.
Students who do not meet SAP standards are notified via email. You will receive no federal financial aid until you make up your academic deficiencies or successfully appeal your status. Details about SAP, the appeal form, and FAQs are available on our SAP page.
UW Commitments and Awards
Brown & Gold Commitment, Cowboy Commitment, Pokes Transfer Commitment, Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) Award, and WY Transfer Commitment
Eligibility for institutional scholarship listed above requires students to meet certain standards at the end of spring semester annually. Those standards are:
- You must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0. Only courses taken at UW will be included in that GPA calculation.
- You must be continuously enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester with successful completion of 24 credit hours each academic year. Grades that qualify for successful completion status include A, B, C, D, or S.
Since eligibility for the award is reviewed at the end of every spring semester, enrollment during summer session(s) following the spring review is not included.
UW Commitments and Awards are renewable for a maximum of eight (8) consecutive semesters* use or completion of first bachelor's degree, whichever comes first. Exceptions to that number of semesters includes:
- *Transfer students awarded before fall 2023 (Cowboy Transfer, Nebraska Transfer, UW Transfer, or WUE Transfer Awards): A maximum of four (4) semesters.
- *Transfer students awarded starting fall 2023 (Pokes Transfer Commitment, Nebraska Transfer Award, WUE Transfer Award, or WY Transfer Commitment): A maximum of six (6) semesters.
Note: WUE Transfer and Nebraska Transfer Awards will sunset after Spring 2025.
Study Abroad students must be enrolled in a 4001-level study abroad course (an exchange program), with tuition billed by the University of Wyoming, for their Commitment or Award to pay. If you enroll in a non-exchange program, you will waive that semester of eligibility.
If the Commitment or Award is lost, it cannot be reinstated even if the requirements are met at a later date. Students may appeal for reinstatement of their Commitment or Award if you can document extenuating circumstances. Appeals must be submitted by the annual deadline noted in the email notification you received when your aid was canceled. All appeals are reviewed by a committee for an approval or denial decision.
Trustees' Scholars Award
Eligibility for the Trustees' Scholars Awards requires students to meet certain standards at the end of spring semester annually. Those standards are:
- You must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.25. Only courses taken at UW will be included in that GPA calculation.
- You must be continuously enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester with successful completion of 24 credit hours each academic year. Grades that qualify for successful completion status include A, B, C, D, or S.
Since eligibility for the award is reviewed at the end of every spring semester, enrollment during summer session(s) following the spring review is not included.
The Trustees' Scholars Awards is renewable for a maximum of eight (8) consecutive semesters* use or completion of first bachelor's degree, whichever comes first.
Study Abroad students must be enrolled in a 4001-level study abroad course (an exchange program), with tuition billed by the University of Wyoming, for your scholarship to pay. If you enroll in a non-exchange program, you will waive that semester of eligibility.
If the scholarship is lost, it cannot be reinstated even if the requirements are met at a later date. Students may appeal for reinstatement of their scholarship if you can document extenuating circumstances. Appeals must be submitted by the annual deadline noted in the email notification you received when your aid was canceled. All appeals are reviewed by a committee for an approval or denial decision.
Hathaway Scholarship
There are several standards the Wyoming Department of Education has established for students to maintain eligibility for the Hathaway Scholarship. The standards are determined by which level of scholarship you qualify for and your enrollment level when the scholarship pays each month. Expand the sections below to learn more.
If you do not meet eligibility standards, you will lose the Hathaway scholarship. You are able to regain the scholarship if you reestablish eligibility as explained in the sections below.
Students may appeal for reinstatement of your Hathaway scholarship if it is lost for any, or all, of the three Hathaway standards if you can document extenuating circumstances. Appeals must be submitted by the annual deadline noted in the email notification you will receive. All appeals are reviewed by a committee for an approval or denial decision.
Hathaway Scholarship Renewing Standards
After initiating the scholarship, you must maintain a minimum Hathaway GPA as follows:
- Honors and Performance Levels = 2.5*
- Opportunity and Provisional Levels = 2.25
The Hathaway GPA is calculated beginning with the initiation semester and will include any coursework taken at UW or a Wyoming community college thereafter, even if Hathaway Scholarship funds are not received in any given semester.
*Students who drop below a 2.5 Hathaway GPA but maintain a 2.25 or better may receive the Opportunity Level until the Hathaway GPA reaches the minimum level again. At that time, you must self-identify by contacting our office.
Note: The two other standards must also be met to receive this lower level award.
When receiving Hathaway Scholarship funds, you must successfully complete* a minimum number of credit hours each semester or academic year based upon your level of enrollment as follows:
- Part-time Enrollment: Required to successfully complete 6 credit hours per semester (if enrolled in a single semester) or a total of 12 credit hours each academic year (fall and spring semesters).
- Blended Enrollment (part-time/full-time or full-time/part-time): Required to successfully complete a total of 18 credit hours each academic year (fall and spring semesters).
- Full-time Enrollment: Required to successfully complete 12 hours per semester (if enrolled in a single semester) or a total of 24 credit hours each academic year (fall and spring semesters).
*Successfully completing a course means you receive a grade of A, B, C, D, and S.
For students using a consortium agreement to combine hours between institutions, all courses taken and completed at each Wyoming institution will be included in the calculation for your Minimum Credit Hour Standard.
Students must enroll at an eligible institution every fall and spring semester after initiating the scholarship. Failing to enroll in this manner will result in loss of eligibility. Exceptions can be made for students who defer the scholarship for full-time religious service or to serve in the military when documentation has been provided.
Students who do not maintain eligibility standards, as documented above, will lose your Hathaway Scholarship. You may be able to regain the scholarship if your sixth year of eligibility has not expired (see more details on our Hathaway page) AND if you meet the necessary requirements below. Please note that a student can lose Hathaway for not maintaining one, or all, of the three standards.
Minimum GPA Standard: You can regain Hathaway in a future semester once your Hathaway GPA has improved to the minimum level. You can use summer coursework to improve your Hathaway GPA if your enroll in, and successfully complete, at least 6 credit hours during the semester. You will need to self-identify to our office that you completed summer coursework and are meeting this standard.
Minimum Credit Hour Standard: You can regain Hathaway by attending one semester and successfully completing at least 6 credit hours, while also meeting the Minimum GPA Standard. You can use summer coursework to regain eligibility for this standard, and you must self-identify to our office when you are meeting this standard.
Continuous Enrollment Standard: You can regain Hathaway by completing one semester based upon the enrollment status when you last received Hathaway funds, while also maintaining the Minimum GPA Standard. You are not able to use summer coursework to reestablish your Continuous Enrollment status, and you must self-identify to our office when you are meeting this standard.
Wyoming tomorrow's Scholarship
This scholarship is renewable for up to four (4) full-time academic semesters or a total of $7,200 in scholarships for unmet financial need. Students must meet several requirements at the end of each semester:
- You must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards toward a degree or certificate.
- You must maintain a 2.0 cumulative UW GPA.
- You must meet other criteria, established by UW, to ensure you earn a degree or certificate in a timely manner.
- You must maintain continuous enrollment* for not less than two (2) academic semesters in each successive academic year.
*Continuous enrollment will be defined as enrolling both fall and spring academic semesters. Summer awarding is an available semester upon request and if funding is available. A continuous enrollment waiver for military service, religious service, and other good cause may be granted with provided documentation.
Children of alumni benefit
This benefit is awarded for as long as the student is enrolled at UW, and it applies to undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and professional work. Qualified students also receive this benefit for enrollment during summer sessions. There are no restrictions on the number of enrolled credit hours or maintained GPA.
