Financial Aid

Post-Baccalaureate Certification

Post-baccalaureate certificate programs offer students who have already received their first bachelors degree the opportunity to earn additional credentials and training through certification. For additional program information, please review the WIU Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Programs.

Enrollment Requirements

Students who enroll in a post-baccalaureate certificate program should be aware that they will have restricted financial aid eligibility which will only cover courses that are required by the certificate - no course substitutions or transfer work are permitted. To be eligible for federal student loans, a student must be enrolled in at least 6 credit hours of certificate-required coursework. For more details, please review our Federal Direct Loans for Graduate Students.

As most certificate programs require fewer hours than traditional degree programs, students should be careful to plan their enrollment in accordance with their financial aid needs, particularly during their final semester.

Annual Loan Limits for Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program Students

Annual loan limits cap the total amount of Federal Direct Loans a student can receive during one academic year (generally fall/spring/summer). Actual loan eligibility will vary based on enrollment. Keep track of your outstanding federal student loans online.

Gainful Employment Median Loan Information is also available to view for each program.

Enrollment

Base Award
(Sub/Unsub)

Additional
Unsubsidized

Six hours of required post-baccalaureate certificate coursework $8,500* $12,000

* Starting July 1, 2012, graduate students will no longer be eligible to receive subsidized loans – however, annual loan limits will not change.

Aggregate Loan Limits for Post-Baccalaureate Certificate Program Students

Aggregate loan limits cap the total amount of Federal Direct Loans a student can accumulate. Keep track of your outstanding federal student loans online. Once a student reaches aggregate loan limits, they are no longer eligible to receive federal student loans, and may instead consider a Federal Grad PLUS Loan or a private student loan.

 

Maximum for Subsidized

Combined Maximum
(Sub + Unsub)

Graduate $65,500* $138,500