Financial Aid

Janet Turner, director

The goal of the Office of Financial Aid is to serve students by recognizing that every student has unique financial needs. We help students invest in their futures to attain their educational goals by providing financial options through the financial aid awarding process.

The process for applying for financial aid begins in the admissions office, where various types of merit-based institutional aid are determined. The Office of Financial Aid then reviews the information that each student provides on their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in order to determine eligibility for other aid options. This application is accessible at www.fafsa.gov.

After reviewing the FAFSA information for each student, financial aid counselors create individual financial aid packages based on applicant data. These financial aid packages can include grants, scholarships, loans, and work study.

Grants can be federal, state, or institutional and are awarded on the basis of need and fund availability to undergraduate students. Financial need is determined by the following formula: cost of attendance minus expected family contribution equals financial need.

Scholarships are a form of aid that help students pay for their education. Scholarships come from numerous sponsors; each with unique eligibility requirements. Some scholarships are reserved for students with special qualifications, such as academic, athletic, or artistic talent. Links to various outside scholarships can be found on our website at www.up.edu/finaid/scholarships.

Educational loans are a form of financial aid that must be repaid with interest. Undergraduate loans come in three major categories: federal student loans, federal parent loans, and private education student loans. For students attending graduate school there are federal graduate loans, as well as private education loans.

Work study is employment that provides students with an opportunity to work in a job that requires a small number of hours of work per week, making it easier to maintain a job while going to school. Job postings can be found at www.up.edu/finaid/studentjobs.

Detailed information covering eligibility, financial aid programs, and application procedures can be found in the Financial Aid Handbook located online at www.up.edu/finaid/handbook.

Additionally, every student should read and understand the financial aid satisfactory academic progress policy before accepting their financial aid award. This policy is included in the Financial Aid Handbook online at www.up.edu.finaid/handbook.

Please visit our website at www.up.edu/finaid for more information.