What to know
WashU is dedicated to providing all students with a transformative, inclusive experience that fosters belonging—regardless of financial circumstances. The Student Success Fund (SSF) supports academic and personal enrichment as well as emergency needs as they arise. This essential resource empowers students to deepen their learning, develop valuable skills, and ensure that financial hurdles don’t disrupt their path to success.
Please read all of the information on this page before beginning an application.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Student Success Fund a student must:
- Be enrolled as a full-time student
- Have demonstrated need as identified by Student Financial Services
- Provide supporting documentation of an expense or need to receive an initial payment
- This must be followed with the submission of an itemized receipt to show proof of purchase
- Provide an itemized receipt of each purchase to receive a reimbursement
Deadlines
| Sept 8, 2025 | SSF application portal opens |
| Dec 1, 2025 | SSF application portal closes at 5 p.m. |
| Dec 17, 2025 | Deadline to upload itemized receipts for all payments received during the spring semester |
Important information
Supporting documents
A list of acceptable supporting documents and receipts can be found in the Student Success Fund List of Acceptable Documentation.
Acceptable supporting documents and receipts must include the itemized cost for each item or service purchased.
If you apply with supporting documents other than a receipt, (e.g. letters, estimates, screenshots, etc.), please upload a copy of your itemized receipt within (2) two weeks of receiving your award/payment to confirm your actual purchase or use of the SSF funds provided.
Failure to submit the missing itemized receipt will cause you to be ineligible for future SSF funding.
Fund restrictions
We cannot pay for the following:
- Tuition
- Housing deposits/damages
- Housing/rent
- Clothing (seasonal, shoes, etc.)
- Technology (including computers/laptops, phone repairs, software, etc.)
- Recurring bills including utilities and cell phones bills (excludes mental health prescriptions)
- Textbooks, course fees
- Meal plans
- Taxes
- Study abroad (all costs except passports and visas)
- Bear Bucks
- Parking or parking tickets
- iPads and AirPods
All requests for textbooks, course fees/materials, seasonal clothing, travel and other Cost of Attendance items must go through Student Financial Services.
Emergency events
- Unexpected and urgent medical expenses including emergency tooth extraction, replacing broken glasses, emergency room visit, and ambulance services.
- Unexpected and urgent trip home due to the death or critical illness of an immediate family member (defined parent, stepparent, grandparent, step-grandparent, sibling, stepsibling, spouse, or child).
Financial aid impact
It is important to note that due to federal regulations, all non-emergency requests (excludes request for emergency events and veteran’s education benefits) will undergo a review by Student Financial Services to determine if your requested funds will be considered additional financial assistance for the enrollment period and impact your current financial aid offer.
If Student Financial Services determines that an adjustment is required to your financial aid, you will receive a notification from the SSF Manager with detailed information before any changes to your aid or payments are processed.
Please review the deadlines and important information on this page before completing an application.