The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) has to be completed each academic year in order to receive any federal and state aid, most institutional aid and most scholarships.

To ensure aid is available to charge tuition, fees and books, the FAFSA^® and any required paperwork should be submitted by the following Wake Tech priority dates:

Spring 2027

You must be registered for courses before you can enroll in the payment plan. Pending financial aid may create a credit balance on your account and prevent enrollment in the plan.

Nelnet charges a $30 nonrefundable enrollment fee each semester you participate in the plan. The fee is added to your first payment. Once enrolled in the plan, subsequent payments are drafted automatically on the payment due date.

Fall 2026

Spring 2027

Financial aid refunds are sent after aid has been applied to a student's account and all eligibility and enrollment requirements have been met.

Refund timing varies for each student. In some cases, processing may take longer if additional review is needed to confirm eligibility, resolve account issues or protect students and the college from fraud.

Students should monitor their Wake Tech account and official college email regularly for updates. When the account has an eligible credit balance, Wake Tech will process the refund according to federal guidelines.

Students should contact the Financial Aid Office with questions about financial aid or refund status.

Please be aware that Wake Tech will never request your password, multi-factor authentication codes, financial aid details or personal information via email, SMS text message or phone call.

Scammers often impersonate college departments (such as Financial Aid, Human Resources or the IT Helpdesk) and online learning platforms (like Canvas or Blackboard) to steal your credentials.

How to protect yourself:

• Do not reply to emails or texts demanding urgent credential verification
• Do not approve Microsoft Authenticator push notifications that you did not actively initiate yourself
• Report suspicious messages immediately by forwarding them to [email protected].

To receive a refund, Wake Tech must receive funds from the funding source by the date specified. If you are awarded a Direct Loan, you must complete entrance counseling and sign the Master Promissory Note and acknowledge the Financial Aid Terms and Conditions before funds are released. You also must be enrolled for at least six credit hours when your funds are disbursed.

If you are taking courses in a combination of sessions that include second eight- or five-week , your financial aid will in most instances be paid in two disbursements.

If a student does not claim a refund that has been issued, the disbursement will be voided and the funds returned to the appropriate federal or state agency.

Students can use financial aid funds to purchase required textbooks and supplies for their courses during these windows:

Fall 2026

Spring 2027

Summer 2027