UWF provides access to high quality education through aid in a variety of ways

The University of West Florida is doing its part to help students by providing access to financial aid in a variety of forms. During this past academic year, the University awarded more than $110 million in UWF grants, scholarships and loans. 

“At UWF, we continue to address the financial needs of our students to ensure they can dedicate themselves fully to the high quality education we offer,” said UWF President Martha D. Saunders. 

Argo 30 Guarantee is part of UWF’s commitment to ensure all students have access to higher education, regardless of their financial situation. This program is the University’s pledge to cover tuition and fees for low-income, Pell Grant-eligible Florida students. Argo 30 Guarantee may be awarded to all undergraduate Florida residents who are full-time students, Pell Grant-eligible and working toward their first undergraduate degree. The grant will cover all tuition and fees not covered by other grants or scholarships for up to 30 credit hours each academic year.

In 2019, the University established the Argo Spirit scholarship, a full-ride, competitive scholarship awarded to first-time in college freshmen who have shown strength of character, or “Argo Spirit.” Argo Spirit involves overcoming obstacles, fighting for something important and making an impact while in high school. 

Austin Witt, a rising senior studying psychology, received the Argo Spirit scholarship in 2020. 

“This scholarship has allowed me to do everything; I probably wouldn’t be able to achieve a higher education otherwise,” Witt said. “I can live on campus, be active on campus and enjoy clubs and activities. I can obtain my degree without the stress of college.”

In addition to UWF-funded institutional aid, this fall, UWF will also begin dispersing $11.6 million in student aid funds, part of the third round of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, known as HEERF. Earlier in the spring, UWF provided 2,837 students with student emergency aid totaling $3.4 million with HEERF I. UWF disbursed another $3.4 million in June with HEERF II student emergency aid funds, assisting 4,034 students. The University has also used nearly $883,000 of the institutional aid portion of the funds to pay unpaid balances for 1,033 students. 

UWF is working on the methodology for awarding the HEERF III funds and is following guidance by prioritizing students with exceptional needs along with following the expansion of guidelines to include student populations that were ineligible under the previous guidance. Financial aid grants may be used by enrolled students for any component of their cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to the pandemic, such as tuition, food, housing, child care or health care, including mental health care. Students determine how they may use their emergency financial aid grant within the allowable uses. 

For more information about financial aid available to students, visit uwf.edu/financialaid.