More than 96% of Woodbury University undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid, with the average student financial aid grants during the 2024-2025 academic year totaling over $25,238.
For undergraduate students, Woodbury University coordinates a comprehensive financial-aid program consisting of scholarships, grants, loans and part-time employment through funding from state and federal programs, its own resources, and outside/private donors.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Woodbury University Application for Financial Aid must be completed by all entering and returning students in order to apply for financial aid. Graduate-student aid packages consist primarily of loans.
A valid FAFSA is required to determine eligibility for the Federal Direct Education Loan Programs. Alternative loan funding may also be an option, however, this type of funding is based on the applicant’s credit history and ratings.
Financial-aid awards will be applied toward direct costs (tuition, fees, materials or lab fees, parking, and any contracted housing and meal plan charges) first. Institutional grants and, typically, most named scholarship awards can only be used to pay tuition.
Woodbury’s Business Office will notify students of any credit balance available on your their accounts after these direct costs have been paid. A credit balances will be refunded to students and may be used to cover indirect costs such as books, supplies, and other miscellaneous expenses.
Graduate students that demonstrate merit based on admit scores and grade point averages may qualify for scholarships and/or teaching assistantships in their program of study. Consult your admissions counselor for more information about these options.
Learn how affordable a Woodbury education can be. Click on the buttons below to view sample financial summaries for students entering during the 2024-2025 school year who are approved for a Cal Grant and have an expected family contribution of zero.
2024-2025 Data
Learn about the variety of scholarships and grants that are available to Woodbury students.
Have additional questions?
The objective of Woodbury’s new 10% Federal and State Grant Match program is to increase Institutional Aid to students from low-income families with a GPA of 2.5 to 3.39. In addition to providing merit-based scholarships for eligible students, we are providing need-based aid tied to federal and state programs such as Pell and Cal grants. We believe this will increase access for underrepresented students who wish to attend Woodbury and increase the diversity of our student body.
To encourage and reward academic excellence, each year Woodbury University awards a number of undergraduate merit scholarships based on a student’s academic promise and personal accomplishments. Merit scholarships are awarded to students in their first year at Woodbury. A student’s high school GPA (or college GPA for transfer students) is reviewed to determine which category of merit gets awarded.
As long as the required GPA is maintained, these merit awards are renewable up to an additional three years for standard programs or up to four years for architecture students.
DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL FRESHMAN:
→ PRESIDENTIAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP $24,000 [3.70 GPA and above]
→ DEAN MERIT SCHOLARSHIP $20,000 [3.40–3.69 GPA]
→ WOODBURY EDUCATIONAL GRANT $16,000 [2.95–3.39 GPA]
→ WOODBURY EDUCATIONAL GRANT $12,000 [2.50–2.94 GPA]
DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER:
→ PRESIDENTIAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP $20,000 [3.70 GPA and above]
→ DEAN MERIT SCHOLARSHIP $18,000 [3.40–3.69 GPA]
→ WOODBURY EDUCATIONAL GRANT $12,000 [2.95–3.39 GPA]
→ WOODBURY EDUCATIONAL GRANT $8,000 [2.50–2.94 GPA]
Note to students determined eligible for need-based financial aid: financial aid program regulations require the university to include these merit awards as a financial resource when assessing a student’s overall financial needs. Your merit award will be incorporated into your financial-aid package.
Donor-Sponsored Scholarships
Woodbury University administers various scholarships derived from gifts and endowments given to the university by individuals and organizations. Special applications are not necessary for these funds; they are awarded based on availability of funds and the needs of the university as well as a combination of eligibility requirements, such as academic standing, financial need, or criteria specified by the donor.
Applicants to Architecture graduate programs may qualify for institutional scholarships and/or assistantships, which may be awarded by the School of Architecture committee upon review of the completed application and supporting documents (2 letters of recommendation, resume, personal statement, transcripts).
Institutional scholarships range from $8,000-$20,000, and assistantships range from $3,000-$6,000.
Woodbury University is proud to provide merit scholarship packages for our graduate students in an effort to help you stay on track to achieve your educational and career goals during this challenging time.
MBA students who apply for our admission may now qualify for a merit scholarship of up to $20,000. The MBA merit awards are based on your undergraduate GPA (GPA is not cumulative and is based solely on the degree awarding college/university):
Woodbury University administers programs funded through the California Student Aid Commission. These undergraduate scholarship programs are awarded on the basis of academic achievement and financial need and can only be used at an approved California college or university. These programs can be used for four years of undergraduate study with a fifth year of eligibility for students in an approved five-year Architecture program.
-Cal Grant A is awarded to the financially needy.
-Cal Grant B is awarded to students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
To be considered for a Cal Grant, you must submit a “Cal Grant GPA Verification Form” that has been certified by a high school or college official no later than March 2 of the application year.
The Federal Pell Grant is a direct grant from the federal government to financially needy undergraduate students. Students are restricted to a lifetime eligibility of 6 years as a fulltime student or 600%. For 2024-2025, Pell grants will range up to a maximum amount of $7,395.
The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is federal funding provided to Woodbury specifically to make awards to very-high-need undergraduate students and may range from $200 to $1000 per year.
The Federal Work Study (FWS) enables undergraduate students to earn part of their financial award through part-time employment while attending Woodbury University. Employment is usually on campus, but limited off-campus opportunities may be available as well. Due to limited funding, interested students must contact the Financial Aid Office to be put on the waiting list.
William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Programs and Federal Direct Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized) are loans made available through the U.S. Department of Education to undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduate student loans have a fixed interest rate for subsidized loans and 6.53% (for the 2024-2025 academic year) for unsubsidized loans. Graduate students are only eligible for unsubsidized loans at an interest rate of 9.08%. Woodbury University determines eligibility based on the student’s cost of education or program costs and expected contributions from income.
Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (Parent PLUS) is a loan made available through the U.S. Department of Education and is a credit-based loan for parents of dependent undergraduate students. These loans are guaranteed at a fixed interest rate of 9.08%. Creditworthy parents can borrow up to the difference between the cost of attendance for one year and the amount of financial aid the student is eligible to receive.
Alternative Loans are private bank loans for students, designed to help meet the gap between the costs of attendance and financial aid. These loans are not guaranteed by the federal government; therefore, they can carry different fees and interest rates. Careful research is strongly suggested. Students are encouraged to first apply for federal and institutional financial aid before considering an alternative student loan.
The 2025–26 FAFSA form is now available for all students and contributors. Visit https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa to file your FAFSA.
Key steps for students applying for financial aid
Applying for financial aid can be a painless process if you keep in mind some helpful hints and follow the instructions provided here.
FAFSA Overview and Helpful Hints
Complete all sections about you, your school plans, and financial information, don’t leave blank spaces.
CONTRIBUTORS
What are Contributors on the FAFSA 2025-26?
Contributor is a new term introduced on the 2025-26 FAFSA form. It refers to anyone asked to provide information on a student’s FAFSA form, i.e., the student, the student’s spouse, a biological or adopted parent, or the parent’s spouse (stepparent).
A Contributor is NOT a grandparent, foster parent, legal guardian, brother or sister, aunt or uncle, even if they helped provide for or raise the student.
A Contributor on the FAFSA form doesn’t mean they are financially responsible for the student’s education costs.
How are Contributors determined?
The student’s or parent’s answers will determine which contributors (if any) will be required to provide information. For help determining who is a contributor visit the Who is my Parent FAFSA Wizard on studentaid.gov.
What do Contributors need to provide?
These contributors will be invited to complete their portion of the FAFSA form by entering their name, date of birth, Social Security number, if applicable, and email address. They must also provide personal and financial information in their own sections of the FAFSA form.
What are the steps Contributors must follow?
What if my parents are divorced? Who is the contributor to my FAFSA?
Students that live with a single/divorced/widowed parent and receive most financial support from that parent, will report only one parent on the FAFSA.
The parent included in the FAFSA as a contributor must be the parent that provides the greater portion of the student’s financial support. If that primary parent is remarried, the income of that parent’s spouse (stepparent) will also be required.
Why does the FAFSA 2025-26 require consent from students and contributors?
According to the Future Act, all students and contributors must provide consent to the following:
Important: Even if students or contributors don’t have a Social Security number, didn’t file taxes, or filed taxes outside of the U.S., they still need to provide consent.
What if I don’t want to provide consent as a student or a required contributor?
CONTRIBUTOR WITH NO SSN
Note: It is recommended that the student starts the FAFSA and invites the parent(s) to contribute to the form.
A contributor without an SSN will need to complete an extra step to confirm identification when setting up the FSA ID. If the contributor is not able to answer the additional questions, they will receive information on how to submit documentation of identity.
Some applicants are receiving an error message when inviting contributors without a SSN.
FSA IDs
What is FSA ID, and who needs it?
CONSENT, TAXES AND FINANCIAL DATA
What is consent, and why do I have to provide it when completing the FAFSA 2025-26?
The Future Act requires that every contributor on the FAFSA provide consent to share their taxes information in the application so that the IRS can share this information with Federal Student Aid (FSA). All parties whose Federal Tax Information (FTI) is included on a student’s FAFSA form must consent annually.
The consent will be required when a student submits a FAFSA, chooses Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) when starting loan repayment, or submits the Total and Permanent Disability discharge (TPD) within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for totally and permanently disabled students.
The consent is necessary not only for the Department of Education to request federal tax information from the IRS but also to use that FTI in the federal student aid application process, as well as do other things such as redisclose that information to certain eligible entities, such as higher education institutions.
What happens if I, as a student, or a spouse or parent, don’t want to provide consent on the FAFSA?
If a student, spouse, or parent doesn’t provide consent on the FAFSA, the Student Aid Index (SAI) will not be calculated, and the student will not be eligible for any federal aid.
Verification – What is Verification?
The U.S. Department of Education or the California Student Aid Commission may select your financial aid application for verification. The verification process is an audit of your FAFSA or CADAA, comparing household and income information from documents we request with the information provided on your FAFSA or CADAA. This does not affect all students and may be required of a student one year and not the next. If selected for verification, the verification process must be completed before your financial aid can be awarded or disbursed. Verification forms are submitted through your Financial Aid Portal (NetPartner).
APPEALING FINANCIAL AID FOR SPECIAL AND UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Some students and families experience financial situations that are not reflected on the FAFSA. Circumstances that impact the family’s ability to pay for college may possibly be reviewed in the Special Circumstance Appeal process. If your situation meets the criteria below, contact our office to discuss your situation and obtain the documents required for the appeal.
PLEASE NOTE: Appeal requests will not be processed until the student receives their initial financial aid offer. Not all appeals will result in an increase in financial aid.
POSSIBLE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES (Financial Situation)
Students and families facing significant financial hardship may be eligible for additional financial aid through the Special Circumstance Appeal process. The student must have the correct year FAFSA on file with Woodbury to be eligible to request a special circumstance review. Based on the timing of the circumstance we may be able to review this appeal for the current year or it may be reviewed for the upcoming year.
Some examples of changes in circumstance that may warrant a Special Circumstance Appeal are:
UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES (Dependency Status)
UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES – DEPENDENCY STATUS
Note: Dependency status cannot be changed just because you live by and support yourself. There must be additional factors for us to consider such as if the student left home due to an abusive or threatening environment; has been abandoned by or estranged from their parents, and have not been adopted; have refugee or asylee status and are separated from their parents, or their parents are displaced in a foreign country; are a victim of human trafficking; are incarcerated, or their parents are incarcerated, and contact with the parents would pose a risk to the student; or are otherwise unable to contact or locate their parents, and have not been adopted.
UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES – HOMELESSNESS
If the student’s circumstances resulted in their not having a safe, stable place to live, they may be considered a homeless youth. Students can review their answers to the following FAFSA questions to determine unaccompanied or homeless status:
At any time on or after July 1, 2024, was the student unaccompanied and either (1) homeless or (2) self-supporting and at risk of being homeless?
If the answer is “Yes,” did any of the following determine the student was homeless or at risk of becoming homeless:
Circumstances that alone do not warrant a dependency override include:
Undergraduate Cost of attendance – What will it cost to attend Woodbury?
Financial planning for college begins with an estimate of what the total cost will be for one academic year. Tuition, food and campus housing are direct costs, but indirect costs such as required course materials and educational supplies, personal expenses and travel must also be considered.
The Office of Financial Aid establishes standard expenses that represent typical costs for students during the academic year. These costs are based on full-time enrollment and living arrangements (whether on or off campus or with parents).
Although it is impossible to estimate your unique expenses, these budgets approximate the average direct and indirect costs for the majority of students.
Use the cost estimates listed below, including figures from the chart where applicable, to approximate your total cost of attendance at Woodbury.
2024-25 Estimated Undergraduate Cost of Attendance (sample Bachelor of Science degree, north hall double dorm, 10 meals/week )
With- Parents Off-Campus On-Campus
*additional fees may apply
You must inform the financial aid office if any of the following conditions apply to you:
Any change in unit load:
Your award is based on your enrollment status (usually full time). Students must notify the Financial Aid office prior to any changes in your unit load if the change causes you to fall below full-time enrollment (12 credits per award period). For all students, a change in your unit load may require a revision in your financial aid and may require you to repay any awards previously awarded. If academic credit has already been earned for a course twice, the repeated course will NOT count towards full-time enrollment status.
ACADEMIC LOAD
Full-time Enrollment Status: Students are expected to pass a minimum 24 semester hour units each academic year, an average of 12 units each semester, fall and spring.
Part-time Enrollment Status: Typically students are expected to pass a minimum 12 semester hour units each academic year, an average of six (6) units each semester, fall and spring. During each semester of part-time (less than 6 units) enrollment, he/she is expected to complete all units attempted.
Note: Summer session at Woodbury University allows students to accelerate or remediate unit or grade point deficiencies from the previous academic semester through full-time or part-time enrollment.
Increase in resources:
If you receive any additional resources (e.g. tuition benefits, outside scholarships, etc.) during the academic year, according to federal regulations and Woodbury University policy, you are required to inform the Office of Financial Aid.
General Conditions of Financial Aid
Woodbury University reserves the right to revise this financial aid award. Modifications of this offer may be required by lack of necessary state or federal funding, corrections or changes in the data reported to the University by parents and/or students, receipt of additional awards by non-university sources, unintended error, student changes in unit load, changes in residence, or other reasons consistent with University policy. Students who receive funds in excess of their eligibility will be liable for any resulting over award. In the event of an overaward that results in a return of funds, the student will be billed for the over award amount.
While some financial aid is conveniently credited to your account, there are some awards that must be made payable directly to you (e.g. employment earnings, and other similar programs). Other awards such as outside scholarships may not be reflected when tuition charges must be paid. It is the students’ responsibility to inform us of these awards and to make satisfactory payment arrangements for all charges.
All Federal Direct Student loans (Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and PLUS) are subject to a federal origination fee.
Regardless of the amount of financial aid you accept, you are expected to bring a certain amount of cash to defray immediate expenses such as books, supplies, and personal expenses at the beginning of each term. If you have a credit as a result of financial aid, it will be refunded within 14 days of our disbursement date.
If you fail to maintain satisfactory progress towards your degree, you will be denied future assistance.
You must accept responsibility for reading and for understanding all forms that you are asked to sign (via paper and digital). You are urged to keep a copy of all documents for your records.
If the Office of Financial Aid requires any additional information to complete your award file, we will be in touch with you via your Woodbury email account, once an email account has been assigned to you. Federal regulations dictate that aid eligibility can be forfeited if certain deadlines are not met; therefore, it is imperative that you regularly check your Woodbury email account.
Financial Aid Policies
Enrollment Policy
Students applying for financial aid are expected to be enrolled full time (12 units or more) each semester during the academic year. Students enrolled less than full time must notify the Office of Financial Aid. Institutional aid is reserved for full-time students only. Federal and state aid may be received by students enrolled less than full time but will be prorated according to the actual enrollment status.
Withdrawal Policy
If you withdraw from Woodbury University during a semester, a calculation of “earned” versus “unearned” federal aid must be determined. This federal policy assumes you earn your aid based on how much time has elapsed in the term. If you receive federal financial aid, that aid may be reduced as a result of your withdrawal. There are three steps that Woodbury University must complete to comply with the federal policy:
The withdrawal date is the date you begin the withdrawal process. If you fail to withdraw officially, the withdrawal date will become the midpoint of the term, unless the University can document a later date. In certain circumstances, if an earlier date of last academic activity is determined, this date may be used in the calculation of “earned” federal aid. If you withdraw before completing 60 percent of the term, you “earn” federal funds in direct proportion to the length of time you were enrolled. The percentage of earned aid is determined by dividing the total number of calendar days enrolled by the total number of calendar days in the term. If you complete 60 percent of the term, you earn all federal financial aid for the term. The institution’s share must be repaid to the federal aid programs in the following order before the student’s share is considered:
If you are required to repay a portion of your loan through the student’s share calculation, you will not be expected to return those funds immediately, but rather when repayment begins according to the terms and conditions of the promissory note.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) All students enrolled in an undergraduate degree completion program or graduate program must meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy as determined by the Woodbury University in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education. Students will be evaluated at the end of each term. SAP is evaluated both on quantitative (number of credits earned) and qualitative (cumulative GPA) measurements.
FINANCIAL AID DISQUALIFICATION AND PROBATION STATUS
Financial Aid Disqualification Status:
Financial aid recipients who are unable to meet the qualitative and quantitative standards outlined under the policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) now place themselves on financial aid disqualification. An appeal must be filed with Financial Aid to be considered for probation status. Warning notices of pending disqualification status are mailed to students after the conclusion of the fall semester. Official notices of financial aid disqualification status are mailed to students after the conclusion of each academic year (Spring semester).
Loss of Eligibility for Financial Aid:
When the terms of the policies on Satisfactory Academic Progress are not met, students experience a loss of eligibility for financial aid. Students who are disqualified for financial aid may continue their study at the University unfunded if they are not academically disqualified as well. Academic achievements during this period may assist students in regaining eligibility for financial aid during future terms of enrollment.
Financial Aid Probation Status:
Official notices of financial aid probation status are mailed to students following a successful appeal of loss of eligibility for financial aid. During semesters with an approved financial aid probation status, students remain eligible for financial aid and must meet the conditions of their probation to continue their eligibility during future semesters. The conditions of an approved financial aid probation status are defined based upon the deficiencies of the student and must be met within the specified timeframes. When probation status is not removed within the specified time limit, students lose their eligibility to qualify for financial aid programs.
Provisions for Regaining Eligibility for Financial Aid:
Students who have lost their eligibility for financial aid may regain their eligibility by remediating the factors, which caused the disqualification, including the following:
Unit deficiencies may be remediated through completion of credit through approved transfer credit procedures or, under special provisions; the student may complete additional residency course work, which remediates unit and GPA deficiencies.
Re-admission to the University after a two year period of absence from the University.
The Second-Year Rule: When eligibility for financial aid is lost due to failure to end the second academic year of undergraduate studies at Woodbury with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better, eligibility may only be reinstated following a financial aid appeal. If the appeal is granted, the student must meet the minimum GPA in the semester immediately following the semester during which the minimum GPA was not achieved.
An appeal for Financial Aid Probation Status, through a successful appeal of policies on Satisfactory Academic Progress.
Remediation through summer enrollment at Woodbury. Summer sessions may be used to remediate deficiencies from the previous academic year.
Procedures for Appeals to the Policies on Satisfactory Progress:
Students who have not made satisfactory academic progress have the right to appeal their “loss of eligibility for financial aid.” Students who believe they have an extenuating circumstance may submit a written letter of appeal and provide full documentation of the circumstances for review by the Director of Enrollment Services or the Director’s designee. Each appeal will be considered on the merits of the circumstances and on an individual basis. Students are notified in writing regarding the decision.
Satisfactory Academic Policy (SAP):
Criteria include both qualitative measures which mean review of GPA levels and quantitative standards which mean review of units completed per academic year. These satisfactory academic policies apply equally to those who receive financial aid and those that may apply to receive financial aid in the future.
Qualitative Standards: Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) – All students, including recipients of financial aid, are subject to the academic regulations governing scholastic status as outlined in this catalog. To maintain academic progress, undergraduate students must earn a GPA of 2.0 or better, graduate students must earn a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better. Failure at the undergraduate level to achieve a cumulative 2.0 GPA by the end of the second year of enrollment at Woodbury University will result in loss of eligibility for financial aid.
Graduate students in the School of Architecture are evaluated within a system of Credit, Credit with Distinction, and No Credit. Students are required to pass all courses with CR or CR+; the grade of NC requires the student to retake the course in order to receive credit and remain in good academic standing. For financial aid purposes M-ARCH students must receive credit in all classes attempted in a semester. Failure to receive credit in all classes for the academic year will constitute unsatisfactory academic progress and places a student on financial aid disqualification.
Quantitative Standards (Units): Each academic year, recipients of financial aid are expected to achieve a minimum number of units based on their enrollment status. When the minimum units are not achieved, students place themselves on financial aid probation and may become ineligible for financial aid.
DEFINITIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS APPLICABLE TO REQUIREMENTS FOR SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS (SAP):
Satisfactory academic progress: based on both qualitative (GPA) and quantitative (units) criteria.
When a student’s semester enrollment status varies between full-time and part-time he/she is expected to complete at least twelve units during each semester of full-time enrollment; during each semester of part-time enrollment, he/she is expected to complete all units attempted.
Failure and No Pass Grades: Courses for which a grade of “F” or “NP” is recorded cannot be counted as units completed toward SAP requirements.
Withdrawal: Courses for which grades of “W”, WU or WW are recorded cannot be counted as units completed toward SAP requirements.
Audit Courses: Audit course units do not apply as units of progress during an academic semester, and the units graded “AU” are not applied as units completed toward SAP requirements.
Incomplete: Courses for which a grade of “I” is recorded cannot count as units toward SAP requirements. When the final grade is recorded, then the units and letter grade will be applied toward the quantitative and qualitative SAP requirements.
In Progress: Courses for which an interim mark of “IP” is assigned do not count as units completed toward the requirement until the course is completed and a final grade is recorded.
Repeated Courses: A student may remediate a course for the purpose of improving their grade. However, the student only has one chance to repeat a course in which they received a passing grade. If no passing grade is achieved, then a student may repeat the course until they do achieve a passing grade.
Non-credit Prerequisite of Remedial Courses: Units of enrollment for prerequisite and non-credit prerequisite or remedial courses do not earn credit toward the degree but are counted as units completed toward meeting SAP requirements.