Incoming first-year fall semester student
This timeline details actions fall semester incoming first-year students should take after the admission decision and initial financial aid offer have been received.
Before you have confirmed your enrollment to CWRU*
Between December 1 and May 15
- Review your financial aid offer through your admission portal.
First- and second-year students are required to live on campus unless they live within 40 miles of the university. If you plan to commute, contact the Office of Financial Aid for an updated financial aid offer.
*The deadline to confirm your enrollment is May 1.
After you have confirmed your enrollment to CWRU
After May 15
- Review your financial aid offer through your My Financial Aid portal.
- Accept or decline each type of aid that has been offered from the Accept Your Awards section of your My Financial Aid portal. Declining a type of aid will remove any related documents from your portal.
By July 31
Student
- If you plan to borrow through the Federal Direct Loan program, follow the steps from our Loan Application Process.
If you would like to discuss additional student loan options, please contact the CWRU External Loan office at 216.368.6153 or faloans@case.edu.
Parent
- Parents planning to borrow through the Federal Direct PLUS should follow the steps from our Loan Application Process.
View information for adverse credit criteria. - Students interested in granting access to billing and/or academic records to another individual can do so by making that person an Authorized User of the Student Information System. Authorized users with financial access can view the bill, billing history, account activity, pending aid, and can make an online payment.
After August 1
- If you have changed your mind regarding declining or accepting any financial aid, contact the Office of University Financial Aid via email at financialaid@case.edu.
- Financial aid for the fall semester will be applied to your university account ten days before the beginning of the fall semester.
Tip: Once all documents have been completed, any remaining aid will be applied.
- If the financial aid applied to your university account exceeds the cost payable to the university, you will be entitled to a refund to help with costs payable to others (books and supplies, personal expenses). These refunds will be processed within 15 days of the funds being released to the university.
Tip: To speed up the receipt of your funds, please sign up for direct deposit.
Current Student: Renewing your need-based aid for the next academic year
Merit-based scholarships do not require these steps. Families not reapplying for aid should contact the Office of University Financial Aid by email at financialaid@case.edu so we can update your record.
Between winter break and March 1 of your first year
- Complete any missing documents as listed on the Documents & Messages section of your My Financial Aid portal for the next academic year.
Tip: Academic years can be changed using the drop-down menu in the top right corner of your My Financial Aid portal.
By May 1 of your first year
- Complete any subsequent documents that have been added to your My Financial Aid portal. Subsequent documents are added as their requirements become known, based on the submission of prior documents.
By July 1 through mid-July (summer after your first year)
- Accept or decline your aid from the Accept Your Awards section of your My Financial Aid portal.
- Complete any missing documents as listed on the Documents & Messages section of your My Financial Aid portal.
Tip: If you have declined any type of aid, documents related to that aid will be automatically removed. - Submit credit-based loan applications (a separate application is required)
Federal Direct PLUS
Private Loans
Aid for the summer will be released on July 1 or the next business day.
First day of classes (second year)
- On the first day of classes financial aid for the fall semester of your second year will be applied to your university.
Tip: Once all documents have been completed, any remaining aid will be applied.
- If the financial aid applied to your university account exceeds the cost payable to the university, you will be entitled to a refund to help with costs payable to others (books and supplies, personal expenses). These refunds will be processed within 15 days of the funds being released to the university.
Tip: To speed up the receipt of your funds, please sign up for direct deposit.
Appeals
For new and current students, if you have special or unusual circumstances that are not already reflected in the FAFSA or CSS Profile, review the appeal process from the Financial Aid Reevaluation site.
Get in touch
University Financial Aid
Email: financialaid@case.edu
Phone: 216.368.4530