Prospective Students

The first step to determining your eligibility for federal need-based financial aid is to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Incoming freshmen and transfer students are also required to submit the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile for consideration for all the need-based financial aid resources. Virginia students who are non-immigrants, undocumented, have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status or are otherwise ineligible to file the FAFSA can still pursue financial assistance from the state of Virginia through the Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) application.

Application Deadlines

Our priority deadlines ensure the timely determination of your financial aid eligibility. You will still be able to submit your applications after the deadline, but this may delay the determination of your financial aid eligibility.

If you are applying to W&M as a Spring 2026 transfer student, you will need to make sure you have filed the 2025-26 FAFSA and the 2025-26 CSS Profile.

For students applying to W&M to enroll starting in Fall 2027, you will need to file the 2026-27 FAFSA and the 2026-27 CSS Profile, which are available as of October 1, 2025. For more information on the release of the 2026-27 FAFSA, please refer to the Student Aid government website. A guide has been created regarding how to get an FSA ID for individuals without Social Security Numbers in English and Spanish.

Application deadlines for financial aid eligibility
Classification	Priority Date	Final Filing Date
Early Decision I	Nov. 15	Dec. 13
Early Decision II	Jan. 5	Mar. 1
Regular Decision	Feb. 1	Mar. 1
Transfer (spring)	Oct. 15	Oct. 15
Transfer (fall)	Mar. 1	Mar. 1

Final Costs

The financial aid package email should be received within one week to 10 days after you receive your acceptance (if there are no document requirements for the student to submit for review). Initial aid offers are estimates until the Financial Aid Office has received the finalized costs for the upcoming year from the William & Mary Board of Visitors. If an adjustment is needed, you will receive a revised eligibility notification.

Submit the FAFSA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required for U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens students requesting consideration for federal financial aid. Eligibility criteria and guidance with helping you complete the FAFSA can be found at studentaid.gov. Use W&M’s school code 003705 when you complete the FAFSA.

Complete Your CSS Profile

In addition to the FAFSA, undergraduate freshmen and transfer students are required to submit the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile to be considered for W&M institutional funding. W&M does not provide fee waivers for the cost associated to complete the CSS Profile. W&M’s school code for the CSS Profile is 5115.

Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA)

Virginia students who are nonimmigrants, undocumented, have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status or are otherwise ineligible to file the FAFSA can still pursue financial assistance from the state of Virginia through the Virginia Alternative State Aid (VASA) application. Students eligible to complete the VASA application will still be required also to submit the CSS Profile.

VASA Application

Appeal for Reconsideration of Aid Package

If there are unforeseen changes to the information provided on your FAFSA. (i.e., involuntary loss of income) you can appeal for a reconsideration of financial aid. Although the appeal does not guarantee a change in your financial aid eligibility, it does provide the opportunity for an individual review of the circumstances. To begin the appeal process, submit the Appeal for Special Circumstances Consideration form.

Applying to the St Andrews Joint Degree Programme?

To be considered for aid for the St Andrews Joint Degree Programme, you must complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile. Find additional information about how to apply for aid or learn more about St Andrews Joint Degree Programme admission.