Orientation
New Student Orientation
Summer 2024 Presentation Information
For more information on New Student Orientation, visit the New Student Orientation website.
To the parents, families, and guests who attended our presentations at Orientation, thank you for coming! Below you can find the helpful information, tips and tricks, and websites shared during the presentation.
To stay up to date moving forward, follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram. We post scholarship opportunities and important reminders that can help you and your student stay on track for financial aid, scholarships, billing, and more!
Also, see our special Parents webpage that addresses financial aid topics that parents and families often have questions on.
What is the WVU Hub?
Your connection to:
- Student accounts and billing
- Financial aid and scholarships
- Federal Work-Study employment
- Registrar and academic records
- Admissions
How will you hear from us?
It is critical that students pay attention to notices sent from the WVU Hub because they could be regarding their financial aid or a balance due.
- Emails regarding the above topics are sent from the WVU Hub to students’ WVU MIX email
- Students can set it up on their mobile devices. This will make it easier to stay informed of important information, deadlines and additional requirements
- Students should check their MIX email regularly via their WVU Portal
- Students can view up-to-date information in WVU Portal and WVU MyAccount billing information
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Simplification
Impact of FAFSA Simplification
- Due to the delayed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) release and changes to the financial aid process by the Department of Education, our processes are delayed for the 2024-2025 academic year.
- Full financial aid offers for 2024-2025 have started, and we are working diligently to ensure offers are going out as quickly as possible if you have not received one yet.
- Students should regularly check their MIX email for notifications from us.
How do I access my account information?
WVU Portal
Students can access their Financial Aid Information by clicking on the "Financial Aid Information" button in their WVU Portal.
Financial Aid Information section of their WVU Portal, students can view:
- Their financial aid offer
- Estimated cost of attendance
- Unsatisfied requirements for aid eligibility
STAR is the system where you can view your student records, add or drop courses, access your transcripts, and more.
WVU MyAccount
Students can access WVU MyAccount by clicking on the "PAY YOUR BILL HERE!" button in their WVU Portal .
Within their WVU MyAccount, students can:
- View billing details
- Access On Demand Statements
- Make payments
- Sign up for payment plans
- Add parent/guest as an Authorized User
For help logging into WVU MyAccount and navigating the system, please refer to our Tutorials webpage.
STAR System
Within the STAR system, students can view or update information such as:
- Grades
- Class schedules
- Personal information
- Parent/guest proxy
Students can access STAR by clicking on the "STAR" button in their WVU Portal.
How can parents or guests access my information?
Student Privacy Regulations
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA)
- Federal policy that protects the privacy of education records, such as:
- Billing
- Financial aid
- Class schedule
- Grades
- We cannot release protected information to anyone other than the student once the student moves into on-campus housing OR attends their first day of class at the University (whichever comes first) unless the student grants proxy access to their account information
- Directory information is public and may be disclosed at WVU’s discretion without explicit permission, but students can choose to withhold their directory information.
Visit the WVU FERPA website for more information.
Proxy Access and the WVU Parent and Guest Portal
- Allows parents and guests to view financial aid information and academic records via their own login.
- Allows parents and guests to discuss protected information with WVU Hub and other offices upon confirming passphrase (exception: GPA).
- Student can revoke permission at any time.
How Can Students Grant Permission?
- Students can find detailed instructions on how to grant access to their account on the Parent and Guest Portal website. During the setup, please remember to include a passphrase, valid end date, and appropriate authorizations to information.
- Each proxy must their own account.
- A passphrase is required and must be confirmed before the WVU Hub can discuss account details.
- If students want a parent or guest to have access to view their charges online, they need to give them Authorized User access to their WVU MyAccount via their WVU Portal. Instructions for setting up Authorized User access are available on our Tutorials webpage.
- Any proxy added prior to May 20 requires the student to reselect authorizations due to a system upgrade.
WVU MyAccount & Authorized Users
- As an Authorized User, a parent or guest can view billing details and make online payments via WVU MyAccount using their own login information.
- An Authorized User without proxy access will not be able to discuss billing information with WVU Hub
- A parent or guest with only proxy access will not be able to view billing information or make a payment online
- Students can add Authorized Users in their WVU MyAccount via their WVU Portal.
- New Authorized Users will receive two emails with link and temporary password that will expire 24 hours after it was initiated
Information about navigating WVU MyAccount and instructions for setting up Authorized User access are available on our Tutorials webpage.
How can we plan for fall charges?
First Day Complete
- WVU has partnered with Barnes & Noble to provide undergraduate students with rented course materials at a lower, flat fee.
- Undergraduate students are automatically enrolled and billed each semester.
- Students must opt out if they do not want to participate in the program.
- The fall opt-out window is open from July 22 to August 30.
- Emails about this program will be sent to student MIX accounts from Barnes & Noble College.
- Visit our First Day Complete webpage for additional details.
Cost and Resource Planner
- The Cost and Resource Planner can help students estimate direct costs and potential out-of-pocket expenses for fall and spring before charges are available to view
- Billable (direct) costs are costs that will be billed by WVU ( tuition and fees, housing, dining, and student insurance).
- If students wish to review how changes to their major, residence hall, or dining plan may impact their balance due, please visit our Cost and Resource Planner webpage.
- To obtain information needed for the Cost and Resource Planner, please go to “Financial Aid Information” via the WVU Portal to view the estimated Cost of Attendance and available financial aid under “Offer.”
- All amounts are estimated — the WVU Board of Governors does not approve new tuition and fee amounts until later this summer.
Tips for Estimating Costs
- Students should remember that the estimated cost of attendance is not a measure of what you will owe. It is a figure used for financial aid purposes.
- For estimating balance, only include billable items from the estimated cost of attendance in your financial aid offer.
- Student Insurance will be included in your billable costs, but you will only be billed if you do not complete the waiver.
- Books, course materials, supplies and equipment will be included your billable costs, but you will only be billed if you choose to utilize First Day Complete and do not opt out.
- Don’t forget to include things that will not be billed through WVU, such as personal expenses and transportation.
- Do not include Federal Work-Study as financial aid. It does not apply to charges directly but is earned for hours worked as paychecks throughout the semester.
How and when can I see my charges?
Fall Billing Information
- Fall charges will be available on or around July 1 through WVU MyAccount for students who have registered for fall classes.
- Students who owe a balance will receive a notification on or around July 3.
- If students have a July balance due, payment is due August 1.
- To avoid a 2.85% late payment fee, please make sure any balance is covered by August 1.
- Charges and credits may change for various reasons. It is important to monitor WVU MyAccount for most up-to-date billing information at least once a month. New balance is usually due by the 1st of the upcoming month.
For additional information about fall 2024 billing, please visit our Billing webpage.
After accepting offered aid, what other resources are available to help cover my balance?
Utilizing Available Financial Aid
- Students can check their “Financial Aid Information” via their WVU Portal to make sure they have accepted any available financial aid they would like to use
- Ensure there are no unsatisfied requirements for their financial aid
- For Federal Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans to apply to their charges, the student must complete the following loan requirements on the Federal Student Aid website
- Entrance Counseling
- Master Promissory Note (MPN) for Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loans
Other Resources
Private/External Scholarships
- Payment must be received by the August 1 payment deadline.
- Notifications or scholarship letters will not credit toward charges.
More information about scholarships is available on our Scholarships webpage.
College Savings Plan (529, Prepaid College Plan)
- Contact your plan manager for instructions on how to send funds.
- Ask plan manager if an ACH transfer is an option.
- Can only be credited to the student's charges once payment is received.
Part-Time Student Jobs
- Working 1 to 20 hours per week has been shown to improve time management and GPA
- Students earns a paycheck to help with non billable (indirect) costs like books, supplies, and transportation
- Federal Work-Study is awarded based on financial need determined by the FAFSA, but students do not need to have work-study to apply for part-time jobs on and off campus
- Students can search and apply for jobs via Handshake
Third-Party Sponsorship
- Vocational rehabilitation, military, employers, etc.
- Please contact the third-party sponsor for more information.
- Official authorization document must be received by payment deadline.
More information about third-party billing can be found on our Third-Party Billing webpage
Veterans Benefits
- Information on benefit types and required documentation can be viewed by selecting "Benefits" on the home page under the Future Students tab.
- Start the online certification process with the WVU Bunker.
- Once certified, these funds will be processed through third-party billing.
For more information about veteran benefits, visit the WVU Veterans website.
Enrolling in a Tuition Payment Plan
WVU offers an interest-free payment plan through WVU MyAccount to help you manage your balance.
- The earlier you enroll, the more time you can spread your payments over.
- Can help reduce borrowing through loans.
- A $35 enrollment fee plus the first payment are due when you sign up.
- You can sign up between July 1 and July 15 to make 5 payments.
- Beginning July 16, the 4-installment option opens.
- Students can enroll, manage their account, and make payments 24/7. To learn more, visit our Tuition Payment Plan webpage.
The payment plan is also a great tool to minimize borrowing when possible. For example, perhaps you can't do the plan for your full balance due and intend to pursue credit-based loans to cover your balance due. However, you know you can afford to pay $100 a month. You can set up the payment plan for $100 a month and pursue the credit-based loan for the rest of your balance due. This could save you up to $4,800 in loan debt over four years - not including interest! Please note if you are taking a credit-based loan out to receive a refund for books or living expenses, that loan will go toward your balance due first before disbursing a refund (even if you have a payment plan set up). Also, please be aware of whether or not your credit-based loan starts repayment when determining how much you can afford in a payment plan for the month.
Making Direct Payments
Online Payments via WVU MyAccount
- Pay online with an e-check using the routing and bank account numbers for your checking account (fastest and easiest method).
- Pay online with a debit or credit card (2.85% convenience fee).
Mailing Payments
- Pay with a check, money order, or certified bank check paid to the order of WVU or West Virginia University.
- Include the student’s name and WVU student ID number.
- Cash payment are not accepted by mail or in person.
More on payment options and instructions for paying online can be found on our Tutorials webpage.
Applying for Credit-Based Loans
There are credit-based loan options from the federal government and private lenders. Credit-based loans require an application and credit approval. However, there are differences between federal and private loans such as the borrower, the lender, interest rates, fees and terms. We have tools to help students determine what works best for them!
Federal Parent PLUS Loan
- Lender: Federal government
- Borrower: parent of a dependent undergraduate student who has submitted their 2024-2025 FAFSA
- Interest: fixed
- Parents can apply using the 2024-2025 PLUS loan application
Visit our Federal Parent PLUS Loan webpage for more information.
Private Loans
- Lender: private lenders and financial institutions
- Borrower: student or parent (varies by lender)
- Interest: varies by lender
- Applications are available through each lender
Visit our Private Loans webpage for more information.
What if my financial aid exceeds what I owe for the semester?
Refunds
Some students are due a refund because their financial aid and/or payments are more than WVU charges.
If the student is due a refund:
- The earliest refund processing of a semester is after the first financial aid disbursement, when the student's financial aid pays toward their account, which is 10 days prior to the first day of a semester
- For students who have direct deposit set up, refunds may be available in their bank accounts on or around August 21
- If they do not choose a refund preference, a check will be mailed to the student's mailing address listed in STAR, which usually takes longer than direct deposit
Students and parents who are due a refund can set up direct deposit once they receive the email from the Nelnet Refund Portal. This is the recommended refund method. Students can start setting up direct deposit on or around July 7. Students will know their refund has been processed when they see a “Student Refund” transaction in the Charges column in their WVU MyAccount. This is not actually a charge!
The refund is issued based on what you are owed at the time it is issued. A new balance could occur after the refund has been issued. Monitor your WVU MyAccount for the latest details.
The WVU Hub processes refunds twice a week after the initial processing for the semester. Students should monitor their WVU MyAccount! For more information on refunds, visit our Refunds webpage
Are there requirements students must meet to maintain financial aid?
Maintain Your Aid
The short answer is YES! Aid eligibility can be impacted by GPA, the number of earned credit hours, completion of attempted courses, submission of the FAFSA each year by March 1 priority deadline, and more.
Most aid types have enrollment requirements such as:
- Full-time (12 credits or more) or part-time (6-11 credits) enrollment.
- Registered for credits required for the degree program.
- Aid could be canceled or prorated.
Be aware of requirements required for all of the aid offered, such as annual applications or documentation.
Application Requirements
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Required each year for any federal aid and most state aid
- Opens on October 1 each year for the next school year
- Priority deadline at WVU is March 1
- Applications for credit-based loans may need to be renewed each year to continue to receive private loans
- Application/document(s) needed for other aid such as departmental scholarships, private scholarships, state aid, etc.
Enrollment Requirements
- Students must meet the enrollment requirements for aid each semester for financial aid to pay out
- Some financial aid requires full time (12 credits or more) based on degree pursuing credit hours, some requires half time (6 credits or more), some will be prorated
- Dropping or withdrawing from classes could impact financial aid eligibility, resulting in financial aid adjustments
Visit our Enrollment Standards and CPOS webpage for more information.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
Students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards for financial aid eligibility to keep federal and some state financial aid for future academic years.
To meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards, students must:
- Have a minimum overall GPA of 2.0 by the end of each spring
-
Earn at least 67% of all hours they attempt by the end of each spring
- Withdrawing from classes after the add/drop period, incompletes and failing classes have a negative impact on this percentage
- Complete their program of study within 150% of the hours required for the program (example: complete a program that requires 120 hours within 180 attempted hours)
Visit our Satisfactory Academic Progress webpage for more information.
Institutional Scholarship and WV State Aid Renewal Requirements
In addition to Satisfactory Academic Progress, some types of aid have their own overall GPA and earned hour requirements.
Promise and Institutional Scholarships
- Earn at least 30 credit hours each academic year (fall, spring, and summer).
- Have a minimum overall GPA of at least 2.75 by the end of summer.
- Credit hours earned before the fall 2024 semester do not count towards earned hours but do count towards overall GPA.
For additional details, visit our Renewal Requirements webpage.
WV Higher Education Grant
- Earn 24 credit hours in fall and spring for full-year recipients. If necessary, the summer semester can be used to meet the credit hours requirement.
- Overall GPA of at least 2.0 at end of spring. If necessary, the summer semester can be used to meet the GPA requirement.
- Renewal is reviewed at the end of spring, but students can attempt to regain eligibility by taking summer credits at their own expense. Please note that summer financial aid is limited to any remaining loan eligibility.
More information is available on the WV Higher Education Grant website.
Next Steps
Next Steps
- Set up parents/guests proxy AND Authorized User access, if necessary
- Check your Financial Aid Information via the WVU Portal for unsatisfied requirements
- Estimate costs and sign up for a payment plan starting on July 5
- Complete loan requirements
- Student borrowers complete Entrance Counseling and MPN for Federal Subsidized/Unsubsidized loans
- Parent borrowers with approved Parent PLUS loans complete MPN for Federal PLUS Loans
- Complete the Student Health Insurance Waiver before August 1. If the waiver is not completed by June 26, it will not reflect in the student's charges by July 1.
- Select a dining plan. If a plan is not selected by June 28, students will have the Go Anytime plan added to their charges by default.
- Monitor WVU MyAccount in July for fall charge assessment and updates
- Contact private scholarship issuers and education savings plan account managers to send payments; contact third-party sponsors to send authorizations
- Apply for credit-based loans, if necessary
- Set up direct deposit after receiving an email about a fall refund
Fall 2024 Timeline: June and July
- June 1: Student health insurance waiver is available on the Student Health Insurance website.
- June 28: Last day to select a meal plan before default plan (Go Anytime) is used for July charge assessment.
- July 1 (on or around):
- Fall charges are available in WVU MyAccount.
- Five-installment payment plan opens.
- July 3 (on or around): Students with a balance will receive a notification of fall charges.
- July 15: Last day to sign up for the five-month payment plan.
- July 16: Four-installment payment plan opens.
- July 22: Opt-out for First Day Complete program opens.
- July 26: Student Health Insurance waiver deadline.
Fall 2024 Timeline: August
- August 1: Payment due date for those with a July balance.
- August 5: Late fees assessed on past due student account balances.
- August 4: Last day to reserve books with financial aid through the WVU Bookstore Program
- August 6: Students with a balance due will receive a notification of fall charges.
- August 11: Financial aid pays toward fall 2024 balance if all requirements have been completed.
- August 21:
- First day of classes.
- Refunds are typically available to students signed up for direct deposit.
- August 27: Last day to add or drop any 16-week courses.
- August 30: Last day to opt-out of First Day Complete.
WVU Hub Information
Visit our WVU Hub Appointments form to schedule an appointment.
- Online Assistance
- Phone: 304-293-1988
- Available Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. ET
- Fax: 304-293-4890
- Mailing Address: P.O. Box 6004, Morgantown, WV 26506
- Morgantown Campus: Evansdale Crossing, 2nd Floor, 62 Morrill Way, Morgantown, WV 26506
- Beckley Campus: 609 South Kanawha Street, Beckley, WV 25801
- Keyser Campus: Administration Building, Room 101, 101 Fort Avenue, Keyser, WV 26726
Follow @WVUHub for deadlines, reminders, scholarship opportunities, and budgeting tips.