Book Voucher

A book voucher allows students to purchase or rent books and supplies from the WSU Bookstore before your financial aid award has been disbursed. It is an advance on your financial aid refund, and the amount will be deducted from the refund total.  

Visit the WSU Bookstore or use the WSU Bookstore website to make a purchase. When shopping online, choose the Textbook Voucher option as the form of payment at checkout and use your nine-digit student ID number, which starts with 00 do not use your AccessID. Place your order no fewer than 10 days before the start of classes to reduce shipping delays. 

Eligible students will be notified via WSU email. You must authorize your book voucher in Academica each semester by the posted deadline before you can use it at the bookstore. 

Qualifying and using a book voucher

In order to qualify you must:

• Register at least half time for the semester in an undergraduate or graduate degree program.
• File a 2024-25 FAFSA.
• Satisfy all financial aid requirements.
• Meet satisfactory academic progress standards.
• Accept financial aid with an expected credit balance of $25 or more for the semester.

Note: students who have a balance from a previous term will not be eligible to participate.

Authorizing a book voucher

You must authorize your book voucher in Academica before shopping for books and supplies. 

If you meet the qualifications to obtain a book voucher, an email will be sent to your WSU email account including instructions to complete the authorization process. 

The amount of your voucher depends on the expected amount of financial aid funding that remains after your charges are paid. Financial aid may include scholarships, the Federal Pell Grant, other federal grants, and federal student loans. Charges may include tuition, fees, and room and board (if applicable).

• The minimum amount is $25.
• The maximum amount for law students is $800. 
• The maximum for those other than law students is $500.

Eligibility changes

If you've made any changes to your registration or university housing charges, and if your student account balance exceeds the amount of pending financial aid, you no longer qualify to participate in the book voucher program.

• Check your student account summary and your financial aid awards in Academica to review your student account balance.
• Changes to your financial aid that result in funds being reduced or removed may affect your eligibility.

Book voucher purchases made before changes in your award package or fee assessment may result in a balance on your student account.

After your aid is disbursed to your student account balance, you are no longer eligible to opt in and complete the authorization form.

Using a book voucher

You may use your voucher for required and recommended textbooks including digital textbooks (eTextbook) as well as course supplies such as calculators, lab coats, pens, pencils and paper. You can also purchase technology items like tablets, laptops and other devices. Vouchers can also be used to purchase reference books such as language translation dictionaries, text exam books and study aids.

You can use your WSU OneCard to make purchases using your voucher at the WSU Bookstore or online. You do not have to spend the entire amount at once; you can make several purchases until the expiration date or until you have spent the full voucher amount  whichever comes first.

You can also pay textbook rental fees in the store or at the WSU Bookstore website with your bookstore voucher. You must use a credit card to guarantee the return of the book by the last day of finals.

To use your vouchers on the WSU Bookstore website, please select the payment option for Student Financial Aid when you complete your order. Enter your Student ID Number for the store to complete your order.

• If your order total is greater than your bookstore voucher award amount, please choose a second form of payment from the options on the site.
• The Student Financial Aid payment option is only visible during the book voucher period.

Unused book vouchers

Book vouchers are offered each semester to students who meet the eligibility criteria and each voucher is specific to the semester it was offered. 

If you do not use the full amount of the voucher, your account will be adjusted to reflect your actual purchases. If you do not owe a student account balance or have not used your entire balance at the time of expiration, you will be issued a financial aid refund for the remaining amount. Refund processing can take up to two weeks after the last shopping day.