Federal, State, & Local Government Aid

Students who are admitted to degree and select certificate programs* and take a minimum number of credit hours each semester may be eligible for federal, state, and local government financial aid. Learn more about how to apply for financial aid.

Complete the FAFSA to apply for federal grants (Pell) and loans (Stafford), and the Missouri Access Program.

The newly overhauled 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, will be open to students and families by December 31, 2023, nearly three months later than usual. As a result of this, the delivery of applicant information from the 2024-25 FAFSA will be delayed, possibly until the end of January 2024. Although we do not anticipate any major impact to CAPS students, the financial aid team will remain diligent in processing awards as FAFSA applicant information is received.

*The Geographic Information Systems certificate program is eligible for financial aid.

Financial Aid FAQs

Financial Aid FAQs

Common questions we receive regarding financial aid and scholarships.

Employer Tuition Reimbursement

Many companies in the St. Louis area pay all or part of their employees’ tuition. If your employer has a tuition reimbursement plan that pays all or part of your tuition, you can defer all or part of the tuition until the end of the semester. Learn more about the program on our Tuition & Fees page.

Lifetime Learning Tax Credit

The Lifetime Learning federal tax credit may reduce the cost of tuition and fees for college-level courses taken to improve or acquire job skills.

Tuition Assistance & Remission Programs

  • WashU Contractor Services Scholarship Program
    Contract employees who work full time on WashU’s campuses are encouraged to take classes at the School of Continuing & Professional Studies (CAPS) for free or reduced cost. This program allows employees to earn a degree, certificate, or simply explore their interests in a stimulating academic setting.
  • Half-tuition for Individuals 60 and Over
    People 60 years of age and over may enroll for credit in most CAPS courses at one-half the regular tuition. Exceptions include applied music, independent courses (i.e. independent study, directed research, master’s thesis), special programs and courses in which enrollment is limited. This discount cannot be combined with the WashU Tuition Assistance benefit, CAPS scholarships or military benefits. A birth certificate, driver’s license, or other official verification of age is required at the time of registration.
  • WashU Employee Tuition Assistance Program
    Full-time WashU employees and their families are eligible for CAPS tuition remission.

Veterans Benefits

Veterans are eligible for CAPS tuition remission including the Yellow Ribbon Program. Learn more at Veterans Benefits.

CAPS Scholarships

Students who are admitted to degree and select certificate programs* and take a minimum number of credit hours each semester may be eligible for both merit and need-based scholarships. Learn more about available CAPS scholarships.

*The Geographic Information Systems certificate program, Post-Baccalaureate Elementary Teacher certification and Post-Baccalaureate Secondary Teacher certification programs are eligible for financial aid.

Financial Aid Resources

Federal Student Aid
Office of the U.S. Department of Higher Education.

FinAid.org
A collection of financial aid tools and links.

Missouri Department of Higher Education
The Missouri Department of Higher Education carries out the goals and administrative responsibilities for the state system of higher education, which serves more than 360,000 students through 13 public four-year colleges and universities, 19 public two-year colleges, one public two-year technical college, 25 independent colleges and universities, and 152 proprietary schools.

National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrations
NASFAA provides professional development for financial aid administrators; advocates for public policies that increase student access & success; serves as a forum on student financial aid issues, & is committed to diversity throughout all activities.

St. Louis Scholarship Foundation 
Grants and interest-free student loans available to permanent residents of St. Louis city and county, the Missouri counties of Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, St. Charles, or Warren; the Illinois counties of Clinton, Jersey, Madison, Monroe, or St. Clair. Need-based: deadlines for application are April 15 and Nov. 15.

St. Louis Graduates 
A collaborative network of youth-serving college access provider organizations, K-12 education, higher education, philanthropic funders and businesses, all working together to increase the proportion of low-income, first generation and African American students in the St. Louis region who earn a postsecondary degree. It offers an online centralized scholarship application website called Scholarship Central.

Fastweb.com
A personalized scholarship search engine.

Collegenet.com
Scholarship search engine, plus a wealth of other information on colleges and financial aid.


University Policy Information Notice
Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the rights, responsibilities, procedures, and related information outlined in university policy.  Web links to key policy statements are available on the University Registrar’s web site at registrar.wustl.edu/university-policy-information.  Policies may be amended as necessary throughout the year.


Resources at your fingertips

Nothing should get in the way of your education. That’s why we’ve created a database for resources, so you spend less time on paperwork and more time building your future. Here are a few to get you started, or search all resources.

Academic Calendar

Academic Calendar

See dates for semester, finals, holidays and more.

CAPS Scholarships

CAPS Scholarships

Find and apply for student scholarships.

Student Financial Services

Student Financial Services

Receive personalized, confidential assistance to make your dream a reality.