Paying For College

We Can't Wait to See You!

Higher education is the best investment you can make. Why? Because a Wilkes degree pays dividends to your life and career. That's why we are continually ranked in the top 10% for our return on investment.1 It means our graduates go on to achieve careers and salaries that make their education well worth the cost.

With careful planning, you can explore a variety of financial options to find the resources you need to turn your educational dreams into a reality. As part of our commitment to help make your Wilkes education as accessible as possible, we outline some options here to help you cover your costs and reach your goals.

New incoming students for the fall 2023 semester should have already received a financial aid offer. In your offer packet included general options to finance the portion of your education expenses not covered by other financial aid. The additional resources on this page may be useful in helping you pay those remaining educational expenses.

1Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce

Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Student Loan

We list Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans as an aid source on your financial aid award letter, and they are calculated on your 2021-22 Financial Aid Notification. To determine your eligibility, you must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each academic year.

With a subsidized loan, the U.S. Department of Education determines eligibility based on financial need. Interest does not accumulate while you’re in school at least half time and for the first six months after you leave school.

With an unsubsidized loan, you do not have to demonstrate financial need. You are responsible for paying interest or letting interest accrue even while you’re in school.

Interest Rate

5.49% through June 30, 2024

The federal government determines the rate each year on July 1.

Origination Fee

1.057% through Sept. 30, 2023

This is the amount charged to process a new loan application.

Accept Your Federal Student Loan(s)

If you qualify for a Federal Direct Loan(s) and wish to accept, you must complete your Direct Loan entrance counseling external website and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) external website online between July 1 and Aug. 1 to ensure adequate processing time before your fall tuition balance is due.

Wilkes University’s Office of Student Financial Services will receive electronic notification that you have completed the requirements.

Parents should not complete the requirements on your behalf. This federal requirement is designed to help you understand your rights and repayment responsibilities.

NOTE: Although the maximum borrowing potential for the academic year for a first-year student is $5,500, the 1.057% origination fee referenced elsewhere will result in a net loan amount of $5,442.

Decline Your Federal Student Loan(s)

You are not required to accept your federal student loan(s) should you not need the funding. To decline all or part of your federal direct student loans, please send an email from your Wilkes student email to financialaid@wilkes.edu with the subject "Decline Student Direct Loans."

In your email, please include the following three details:

  1. The loan type(s) (subsidized and/or unsubsidized).
  2. The amount to decline, whether declining for the semester or academic year.
  3. Your Wilkes Identification Number (WIN).

You need to send an email each academic year that you would like to decline your loan(s).

Parents are not able decline or accept a student's loan(s) on the student's behalf.

Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan

This program allows a creditworthy parent to pursue loan assistance on your behalf. A credit check is required to determine eligibility.

Your parent will be responsible for repaying this loan. The repayment of principal can be deferred until you complete your program of study or drop to less than half-time status.

Interest Rate

8.05% through June 30, 2024

The federal government determines the rate each year on July 1.

Origination Fee

4.228% through Sept. 30, 2023

This is the amount charged to process a new loan application.

How to Apply

  • To complete the Parent PLUS loan application on studentaid.gov external website, your parent must log in using the parent FSA ID (not your student FSA ID).
  • Your parent should apply between July 1 and Aug. 1 to ensure adequate processing time before your fall tuition balance is due. We recommend that you apply for the entire academic year to eliminate the need to submit a second application for spring semester balances.
  • If you need to cover indirect costs such as transportation and personal educational related expenses, your parent can add funds to the amount requested through a Parent PLUS loan.
  • Calculate the origination fee of 4.228% in your total gross loan amount to know what net loan amount will be needed.
  • If the application is approved, your parent must complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN) external website.

NOTE: If your parent is denied a PLUS Loan due to lack of creditworthiness and does not pursue an endorser or appeal the decision external website, you are automatically eligible to borrow up to an additional $4,000 via the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan.

Private/Alternative Loans

These loans allow you, as a student with a creditworthy cosigner, or your parent to borrow funds for educational expenses. Please note that private loans require a credit check by each lender through which you or your parent pursue a loan.

In most cases, repayment of principal and/or interest is deferred until after you graduate or are no longer enrolled. Terms, conditions and interest rates vary from lender to lender.

Contact your credit union or bank for details on their offerings or review some options and apply at ELMSelect external website.

We recommend that you apply between June 1 and Aug. 1 to ensure adequate processing time before your fall tuition balance is due. We strongly recommend that you apply for the entire academic year to eliminate the need to submit a second application for spring semester balances.

If you need to cover indirect costs such as transportation and educational related expenses, you can add funds to the amount requested through a private loan.

Books and Course Materials are Covered

As a Wilkes student, your book and course materials are paid for and ready before you start class, giving you one less thing to think about.

Learn More about Colonels are Covered

Outside Scholarship Opportunities

We encourage you to search for additional outside scholarships, though we don’t recommend engaging with scholarship search organizations that charge a fee to participate. Wilkes partners with Scholarship Universe external website to aid in the scholarship search process.

More about searching for scholarships

Some additional popular, free scholarship websites include:

You may also contact local civic groups, parents’ employers, etc., to inquire about additional scholarship opportunities.

Billing and Payment Information

The Bursar’s Office generates electronic bills each semester. Your bill will be available via the online student portal about eight weeks before each semester begins.

Tuition payments are due two weeks before the start of each semester:

  • Fall 2023: Monday, Aug. 14, 2023
  • Spring 2024: Monday, Jan. 2, 2024

Learn How to Pay Your Tuition

Important 2023-2024 Dates

June 1Apply for the federal Parent PLUS loan and/or private loan(s)
July 10Fall bills are available on the Wilkes portal for registered students and the fall payment plan enrollment opens.
Aug. 14Fall semester tuition payments are due.
Dec. 4Spring bills are available on the Wilkes portal for registered students and the spring payment plan enrollment opens.
Jan. 2Spring semester tuition payments are due.
May 1Deadline to submit the 2024-2025 FAFSA.

Submit the 2024-2025 FAFSA

For billing and payment questions, contact our Bursar’s Office:

Bursar's Office, Miller Hall | 570-408-4960 | billing@wilkes.edu

Wilkes University Payment Plan

Wilkes University offers a payment plan to help simplify budgeting. The payment plan allows your family to divide full or partial semester balances into five equal monthly payments for the fall semester from August through December, and, if you enroll for the spring semester, five equal monthly payments from January through May.

There is no interest fee attached to the payment plan, but there is a $25 fee for each semester you participate in the plan.

You may use the payment plan on its own or in addition to any loan programs listed above.

Enrollment for the payment plan begins July 10, 2023, via the Wilkes Portal.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The FERPA affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. In order for University staff to discuss or release specific academic or financial information to a family member(s), please complete the Release of Information form electronically through our registrar's office. Details will be provided at orientation.

Don't Stress. We're here to help!

Please contact us with any questions.

Office of Student Financial Services, Capin Hall
570-408-4512
financialaid@wilkes.edu