A college education has become a significant expense for most families and requires careful planning. Whatever your financial situation is, we encourage you to use this information to help you understand college funding so you can navigate the financial aid process with greater ease.

State Financial Aid

States provide many financial aid opportunities to help ease the cost of a college education. Please select the state you reside in to learn about state sponsored internships, scholarships and financial aid programs for undergraduate students and assistantships, fellowships, and residency programs for graduate and professional students.

STATE OF WYOMING FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS

For more detailed information on state financial aid programs contact:

Wyoming Community College Commission

2020 Carey Ave. 8th Floor

Cheyenne, WY 82002

Telephone: (307) 777-7763

FAX: (307) 777-6567

Go to:

http://edu.wyoming.gov/

www.commission.wcc.edu

The following are financial aid programs available to students who are residents of the state of Wyoming.

Adult Basic Education

Wyoming Adult Basic Education (ABE) focuses on strengthening basic reading, writing, and math skills for adults. Instruction for the General Education Development (GED) Exam is offered. English as a Second Language (ESL) teaches English language skills to adults whose first language is not English. ESL seeks to develop an understanding of American culture and society to facilitate effective citizenship

Distance Education

Taking college classes is a worthwhile challenge. It’s an even bigger challenge if you are working, not close to a college, or not close to an outreach testing center.

Distance education courses may help you achieve your goal. Technology can bring education to your doorstep. It’s definitely more convenient, even if distance education classes require a lot of work.

The seven colleges in Wyoming offer a wide variety of distance education courses. The links to your right for each college will take you directly to the Distance Education page on their web site.

Even Start

Authorized through the Literacy Involves Families Together (LIFT) Act of 2000 and the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Even Start is an education program for low-income families designed to improve the academic achievement of young children and their parents, especially in the area of reading. Even Start offers promise for helping to break the cycle of poverty and low literacy by combining four core components:

Early childhood education
Adult literacy (adult basic and secondary-level education and/or instruction for English language learners)
Parenting education
Interactive literacy activities between parents and their children

Even Start supports family literacy services for parents with low literacy skills or limited English proficiency, and their children, primarily birth through age seven. It contains three goals:

To help parents improve their literacy or basic educational skills
To help parents become full partners in educating their children
To assist children in reaching their full potential as learners

Wyoming is home to five Even Start centers. They are located in Cheyenne, Gillette, Casper, Torrington and Worland. The centers are supported by a combination of state and federal funds. The Wyoming Community College Commission, in partnership with the Wyoming Department of Education, administers the program. Four of the centers, (Cheyenne, Casper, Torrington and Worland), are affiliated with the non-profit organization, NOWCAP of Wyoming. Gillette Even Start is closely associated with Campbell County School District.

Wyoming Hathaway Scholarship Program

The state of Wyoming established a generous scholarship program in the name of former Wyoming Governor Stan Hathaway that rewards eligible Wyoming students with scholarship money to attend one of Wyoming’s community colleges or the University of Wyoming.

The program provides merit- and need-based awards to eligible students. Merit Awards between $800 and $1,600 per semester are available to high school graduates and others who are Wyoming residents and meet certain academic requirements. Need Awards above and beyond the Merit Awards are available to those with unmet financial need as determined by your Financial Aid application (FAFSA),

The first eligible students will be from the high school graduating class of 2006, those who completed a home-based educational program or those who completed a GED after April 1, 2006 .

Contact the community college of your choice for further detail on these exciting new scholarships, including eligibility requirements, award levels, application processes, and frequently asked questions.

Teacher Shortage Loan Repayment Program

The Wyoming Teacher Shortage Loan Repayment Program (TSLRP) was adopted by the 2005 Wyoming legislature. The goal of the program is to provide loans to students who will stay in Wyoming after graduation and work as teachers.

The legislature provided funds to be used for students who are at least juniors at the University of Wyoming in the teacher education program leading to certification in special education, mathematics or science. The funds are to assist with educational expenses as determined by the University of Wyoming Office of Student Financial Aid. Completion of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is necessary for consideration for the Wyoming Teacher Shortage Loan Program.

What should you do to be considered for a TSLRP loan?

The most important steps to take are these:

Submit the application form.
Begin the process of applying for federal financial aid at UW as soon as possible.
Submit the application by the last Friday in April.

Wyoming Teacher Education Contact Information:

University of Wyoming

College of Education

Dept. 3374

1000 E University Avenue

Laramie, WY 82071-3374 307-766-3275 (Secondary Education)

307-766-6325 (Special Education)

307-766-3800 (Student Financial Aid)

Wyoming Workforce Alliance

Four years ago the Wyoming Business Council, the Department of Workforce Services and the Community College Commission formed the Wyoming Workforce Alliance as a vehicle and process for meeting almost every month to assess and respond to the current and projected workforce needs in Wyoming. In the last year, the Alliance has expanded to include the University of Wyoming and the Wyoming Department of Education in order to make our efforts even more responsive and comprehensive. The Alliance’s primary responsibility is to coordinate and support agencies and colleges in developing workforce initiatives with a statewide impact. The Alliance also shares workforce-related information about high-skill, high-wage, or high demand occupations.

Available through Wyoming’s Seven Community Colleges. Wyoming’s community colleges can help you to meet your businesses performance, productivity and profitability goals by giving your employees the skills necessary to succeed!

From customer service training to ethics training, hazardous materials handling to leadership development, our highly educated and certified staff can tailor a program that fits your business perfectly… delivered at a time and location that works for you.

Wyoming Investment in Nursing

The Wyoming Investment in Nursing (WYIN) originally adapted by the 2003 Wyoming legislature, was amended by the 2010 Legislature to continue until June 30, 2016. The funds are for students who are accepted into nursing programs at the University of Wyoming or one of the six Wyoming community colleges. The funds are to assist with educational expenses as determined by the financial aid office at each academic institution. The need for financial assistance through WYIN is based on a student applying for federal financial aid by completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

If you are interested in being considered for a WYIN loan, the first requirement is to be accepted into the nursing program offered by one of these schools: