Financial Aid FAQ

The FAFSA

What is Porter’s FAFSA school code?

009399. List it on the FAFSA every year or your application never reaches Porter; if you see a different number on an older page, use 009399. See the financial aid process.

When should I file?

The 2027–28 FAFSA opened October 1, 2026. File by the February 1, 2027 priority date for the best shot at limited funds; the FAFSA, line by line walks through the form.

What happens if I file after February 1?

You still get aid — February 1 is a priority date, not a cutoff. Federal Pell Grants do not run out, but Porter’s own grants, state grants and work-study do, and they go out in the order applications are completed.

Do I have to file every year?

Yes. Aid is awarded one year at a time, and continuing students who skip the FAFSA lose need-based aid for the next year. Wesconsin residents are considered for the state grant through the same form.

I was selected for verification. What now?

Roughly one in three applications is selected; it is a document check, not an accusation. Submit everything the aid portal lists at once — for priority consideration by March 15, 2027 — because nothing disburses until verification clears (verification).

Can international students file?

No. Most U.S. federal and state aid is not available to international students, but Porter and outside scholarships and on-campus jobs are. See the international students FAQ.

Your aid offer

When will I see my aid offer?

Most offers for priority filers post in MyPorter by April 1, 2027. Accept or decline your aid by May 1, 2027, the same day the enrollment deposit is due (scholarship deadlines).

How do I compare Porter with another school?

Use net price: cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships only — not loans or work-study. For 2026–27 the full cost for a Wesconsin resident living on campus is $24,330, and the average net price for aided resident first-years was $11,340 (cost of attendance).

Do I have to take the loans in my offer?

No. You accept, reduce or decline each loan individually; borrow the minimum that makes the year work. First-time federal borrowers complete entrance counseling and a Master Promissory Note.

How does work-study work?

A work-study award is permission to earn up to a set amount in an eligible campus job, paid as a biweekly paycheck for hours worked. Positions are posted on the Work-Study board in PorterConnect; unearned work-study does not roll over or turn into a grant (Federal Work-Study).

My family’s income dropped. Can my aid change?

Ask for a professional-judgment appeal. Job loss, reduced income, divorce, large medical bills, a parent’s death or one-time income on the FAFSA year all qualify for review; bring a written timeline and documentation, and expect a decision in a few weeks (aid appeals).

What does cost of attendance include?

Direct costs Porter bills — tuition, segregated fees, and housing and food if you live on campus — plus estimates for books ($1,000), transportation and personal expenses. Aid is awarded against the full figure, not just the bill.

Scholarships

Do I apply separately for Porter scholarships?

Not for merit and access awards: first-year and transfer students admitted by February 1, 2027 are reviewed automatically, and students admitted by December 1, 2026 are in the first round. Awards include the President’s Scholarship ($4,500 a year, 3.9+ GPA) and the Founders’ Scholarship ($3,000 a year, 3.75+ GPA).

What is the Foundation scholarship application?

One online form that matches you to more than 180 donor-funded awards by major, county, need, first-generation status and activities. It is open December 1, 2026 to March 5, 2027 at 11:59 p.m., takes about an hour, and recipients are notified by April 30, 2027.

How do I keep a scholarship?

Stay full time and meet the renewal GPA in your award letter, usually between 2.75 and 3.25. A term below the line usually brings a one-term warning before the award is paused, not an immediate loss (scholarships).

Do I have to report outside scholarships?

Yes, by July 1, 2027 for fall. Federal rules make them part of your package, and Porter reduces loans or work-study before it touches any grant. Never pay a fee to apply for a scholarship (reporting outside scholarships).

Are there scholarships for transfer students?

Yes. The Transfer Momentum Award pays $1,500 a year to transfer students with a 3.3 transfer GPA and at least 24 transferable credits, awarded automatically with admission.

Does Porter offer athletic scholarships?

No. The Ironclads compete in NCAA Division III, which does not award athletic aid; student-athletes are considered for the same merit and need-based aid as everyone else.

Keeping aid and getting paid

When does my aid pay out?

Accepted aid is applied to your bill first. If it exceeds your charges, the difference is refunded — by direct deposit within a few days if you set up an account in MyPorter — usually in the second week of the term (understanding your bill).

What is satisfactory academic progress?

Three tests to keep aid: a minimum cumulative GPA, completing a minimum share of attempted credits (often 67 percent), and finishing within 150 percent of your program length. It is checked at the end of each academic year; a miss brings a warning term, then an appeal (SAP for aid).

What happens to my aid if I drop a class?

Dropping below 12 credits can reduce or cancel aid and leave a balance. Talk to an aid counselor before you drop — a five-minute conversation can prevent a bill for several thousand dollars.

What if I withdraw from the term?

Federal aid has its own return calculation for students who withdraw before the 60 percent point of the term, and it can require paying aid back. See withdrawal and financial aid before you file anything.

Is there aid for summer?

Summer shares the year’s loan and Pell limits, so there may be little left. Enroll at least half time, file the correct year’s FAFSA and check with the office first (summer financial aid).

When money is tight

Is there emergency money?

Yes. The student emergency fund gives one-time grants of $150–$750, usually within three business days, with nothing to repay. It covers things like a car repair or a utility shutoff, not tuition; apply through the Student Success Center, (715) 555–0170.

Can I split my bill into payments?

Yes. The term payment plan splits a semester into four or five monthly payments for a $35 enrollment fee and no interest. Enroll before the first due date; see the tuition and billing FAQ.

I am running out of food money. Where do I go?

The campus food pantry is open to any enrolled student with a Porter Card, with no application or income check. Students on meal plans donate swipes that the Dean of Students Office grants confidentially (meal swipe donation).

My aid still does not cover the bill. Can I borrow more?

Ask about a parent or private loan only after grants, scholarships and the payment plan, and borrow the minimum. You can request more federal loan funds later in the year, but you cannot easily un-borrow (financial aid process).

Can someone help me build a budget?

Financial wellness coaches will build a full-year plan with you at no charge. Book through the Financial Aid Office at (715) 555–0231 or see financial wellness coaching.