Financial Aid

The Financial Aid Office at Wharton County Junior College operates with the goal of providing students with financial assistance through scholarships, grants, loans, and on-campus employment (Work-Study).  Every student should apply for financial aid, and the Financial Aid staff is here to help!

The school code for all WCJC campuses is 003668.  Students should monitor important dates and start early completing financial aid requirements.

FAFSA applications for academic years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 are open for completion! 

WCJC Financial Aid and COVID-19

Due to precautions related to COVID-19, all WCJC Student Service offices are delivering services in a remote capacity and in-person by appointment.  Students are also reminded to check their Online Services accounts for updates on their financial aid status.

  • Students who need information about financial aid may contact Financial Aid staff in the following ways:
    • Email:  finaid@wcjc.edu (Financial aid forms accepted in this mailbox.)
    • Phone:  979-532-6345
    • Work-Study Information:  979-532-6345
  • Students who need information about Veteran Services may contact Merry Sprague, VA Certifying Official, in the following ways:

Wharton Campus In-Person Procedures:

  • Students who need to drop off documents may utilize the drop box located on the wall beside the door to the Financial Aid suite, Administration Building, A-101.
  • Students who need a 15-minute meeting with a Financial Aid staff member may make an appointment. 
  • Only 3 visitors may enter the Financial Aid suite at a time.  Please wear a mask upon entering the Financial Aid suite.  

Richmond Campus In-Person Procedures:

  • Students who need to drop off documents may do so at any of the staff counters in the campus foyer.
  • Students who need a 15-minute meeting with a Financial Aid Counselor may email Priscilla Salas at salasp@wcjc.edu or call 281-239-1539.
  • Please wear a mask upon entering the building.

Sugar Land Campus In-Person Procedures:

  • Students who need to drop off documents may do so at the reception-area desk.
  • Students who need a 15-minute meeting with a Financial Aid Counselor may email Lori Blust at lorib@wcjc.edu  or Jo Harrington at harringtonj@wcjc.edu or call 281-243-8431.  Appointments will be held Monday through Thursday, 9am - 2pm, in Brazos Hall #128.
  • Please wear a mask upon entering the building.

The Financial Aid Office staff thanks you for your understanding as we maintain operations during the COVID-19 outbreak, and we wish the best for you and your family during this difficult time.

 

5 Steps to Financial Aid

Step 1:  Complete and submit your application to WCJC through Apply Texas using these steps.

Step 2:  Create an FSA ID.  This username and password is your key to the Federal Student Aid's online systems, so write it down and keep it safe!  The FSA ID video describes the steps to set up your FSA ID.

Step 3:  Log in to studentaid.gov to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  You will provide income data for the prior-prior year, so for the 2020-2021 academic year, you will need to provide data from the 2018 federal income tax return.  For the 2021-2022 academic year, you will provide data from your 2019 tax return.  The FAFSA tutorial video can help you through the online application.

  • Your dependency status determines whose information you must report on the FAFSA.  If you are a dependent student, you'll need both your parents' information and your own.  Independent students will only need to provide information for themselves.  
  • To complete the FAFSA, you are highly encouraged to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) to transfer tax return information directly from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  Using this tool will cut down on errors and will result in a much faster processing time for your financial aid award.  The IRS Data Retrieval Tool video explains this retrieval method in more detail. 

Step 4:  Monitor your financial aid status by checking your Online Services account. 

If the Department of Education chooses your file for verification, you may be required to submit additional documentation to the WCJC Financial Aid Office in order to continue the processing of your aid. More information about the types of documents that may be required can be found at Financial Aid Forms.

The Financial Aid Office will also communicate with you through postal mail, so it is important to notify the Office of Admissions and Registration of any changes to your mailing address.

Financial aid eligibility is determined for only one year at a time. Students must complete steps 3 and 4 prior to every year of enrollment.  Processing of a financial aid application takes about 3 weeks. 

Step 5:  Apply for scholarships!  Through the generosity of donors, WCJC students have the opportunity to apply for several scholarships. This "gift aid" helps students achieve their educational goals at less personal cost. 

Office Hours, Locations, and Contact Information

Financial Aid staff are available year-round (except on WCJC holidays), Monday through Friday, from 8:00am to 5:00pm.  If you need assistance, please call 979-532-6345 or email finaid@wcjc.edu.  

All campus Financial Aid Offices can accept students' documents and answer questions, regardless of the WCJC campus the student will be attending.

Wharton Campus

911 Boling Highway

Wharton, TX 77488

Administration Building Rm. 101

979-532-6345

(Fax) 979-532-6937

finaid@wcjc.edu

 

Sugar Land Campus

14004 University Blvd.

Sugar Land, TX 77479

281-243-8431

finaid@wcjc.edu

 

Richmond Campus

5333 FM 1640

Richmond, TX 77469

281-239-1500

finaid@wcjc.edu

 

Submitting Documents

The WCJC Financial Aid Office accepts documents in the following ways:

  • Fax 979-532-6937
  • Attached to an email finaid@wcjc.edu.
  • Delivered in person at any campus
  • Mailed to WCJC Financial Aid Office, 911 Boling Hwy, Wharton, TX 77488

The 2020-2021 Signature Page or 2021-2022 Signature Page must be hand-delivered or mailed and must have an ink signature.  A photocopy or fax of this document will not be accepted.

Financial Aid Staff by Campus

Wharton Campus

Leslie Kolojaco

Director of Financial Aid

979-532-6345

kolojacol@wcjc.edu

 

Merry Sprague 

Assistant Director of Financial Aid/VA Certifying Official

979-532-6945

merryr@wcjc.edu

veterans@wcjc.edu

 

Rachel Cavazos 

Financial Aid Quality Control Specialist

979-532-6345

cavazosr@wcjc.edu

 

Selena Schmidt  

Financial Aid Data Exchange Specialist

979-532-6345

schmidts@wcjc.edu 

 

Missy Gavranovic  

Financial Aid Specialist

979-532-6348

gavranovicm@wcjc.edu

 

Ramona Petrosky 

Financial Aid Secretary/Receptionist

979-532-6347

petroskyr@wcjc.edu

 

Richmond Campus

Priscilla Salas

Financial Aid Counselor

281-239-1539

salasp@wcjc.edu

 

Sugar Land Campus

Lori Blust 

Financial Aid Counselor

281-243-8431

lorib@wcjc.edu

 

Jo Harrington 

Financial Aid Counselor

281-243-8438

harringtonj@wcjc.edu

 

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