Understanding the DVR Training Grant Calculator Form

Updated: April 2025

Purpose

To provide an explanation of how calculations are made using the DVR Training Grant.

Rationale

To help DVR staff and consumers understand:

• What costs are included in the DVR cost of attendance.
• What costs are included in the Financial Aid Office (FAO) cost of attendance.
• How DVR unmet need is determined.
• When an exception request might be requested.
• How calculations are adjusted:
  • When there are no additional living expenses approved by DVR.
  • When additional living expenses are approved by DVR.
  • For private or out-of-state school attendance.
  • For graduate school attendance.
  • For students receiving social security benefits for their own disability.
  • When need-based scholarships and/or grants are identified as a resource.
  • When an individual has an amount of Student Aid Index (SAI) identified as a resource.

Internal Info Center  (Staff Only, Internal Link)

FAO Cost of Attendance

The FAO cost of attendance is the amount when the following categories are added together. These are the items included in the financial aid calculation and identified for each student by the FAO:

• Tuition and fees
• Books and supplies
• Transportation
• Room and board
• Personal/miscellaneous
• Dependent care expenses
• Other costs required (not loan fees)

Note: Individual consumer's resources (need-based grants, scholarships and/or Student Aid Index (SAI)) will be proportionally applied to all the cost of attendance categories when determining DVR unmet need.

DVR Cost of Attendance

DVR cost of attendance is the following categories added together:

• Tuition and fees
• Books and supplies
• Transportation
• Dependent care expenses
• Other costs required (costs specifically required by the school/program to participate)

Note: The DVR cost of attendance will include room and board amount if additional living expenses is checked "Yes."

DVR Unmet Need

Note:

• The DVR Training Grant offered typically equals the DVR unmet need, not to exceed $6,000.00 per academic school year.
• For consumer's receiving SSI/SSDI benefits, DVR unmet need will be calculated differently.

Students Receiving Social Security Benefits for their Own Disability

• DVR cannot require a DVR consumer/student receiving social security benefits to fund services included in their Individual Plan for Employment (IPE). DVR can use comparable benefits to offset costs including need-based scholarships and grants identified by financial aid. DVR will not use funds identified as Student Aid Index (SAI) as a resource in calculating the DVR unmet need for these students.
• DVR can use a fee schedule to determine costs. If an administrative review is denied, DVR students attending private or out-of-state school, will have the DVR cost of attendance capped at the University of Wisconsin equivalent cost of attendance. DVR students also cannot submit an exception request for any dollar amount related to private or out-of-state school attendance when an administrative review is denied.

DVR Unmet Need Calculation for a student receiving Social Security Benefits

Private or Out-of-State School Attendance

Calculations for private or out of state school attendance include:

• The DVR cost of attendance and the DVR unmet need are calculated as outlined above.
• Private school/out-of-state school approved:
  • Students may receive a DVR training grant equal to the DVR unmet need. With a completed exception request, they can exceed $6,000 per academic year.
• Private/out-of-state school denied:
  • All students may receive a DVR training grant equal to the DVR unmet need, not to exceed $6,000.00 per academic year. They cannot submit an exception request for any dollar amount related to private or out-of-state school attendance.

Part-Time Attendance Calculation:

Full-time attendance is encouraged. If a student decides to attend post-secondary school on apart-time basis, which is less than 12 credits per term or 24 credits per academic year for most schools, they may receive up to $250 per credit. The amount for graduate school is up to $333.33 per credit.

Graduate School Attendance

Calculations for graduate school attendance include:

• The DVR cost of attendance and the DVR unmet need as calculated above.
• Students may receive a DVR training grant equal to the DVR unmet need, not to exceed $6,000 per academic year.
• If the consumer is attending graduate school part-time, the amount is calculated based on a per credit amount.

Note: When the DVR Training Grant form is marked "Y" for graduate school, the funding for credits is calculated at a higher rate due to the higher cost of attendance for graduate school. The formula is weighted to provide a higher funding level for graduate school credits. Regardless of the number of credits entered, the Training Grant amount max will be $6,000 per academic year.

Exception Request

An exception request is the process to request, review and document the approval or denial for purchases of goods and services that exceed the fee schedule prices or scope of services, established policy and/or procedure. For more information, please review Training Grant Exception Requests Guidance (Staff Only, Internal Link) and Exception Request/Process.

For CPA Grant information please refer to CPA Training Funds. (Staff Only, Internal Link)