Financial Aid

Janet Turner, director

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

The financial aid process begins in the admissions office, where various types of merit-based scholarships are determined. The Office of Financial Aid then reviews the information each student provides on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility for other aid options. This application is available at studentaid.gov. After reviewing 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 may be from federal, state, or institutional sources and are awarded based on 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 may come from federal, state, institutional or outside sources each with unique eligibility requirements. Some scholarships are reserved for students with special qualifications, such as academic, athletic, or artistic talent. Students are encouraged to apply to outside scholarships each academic year.

Educational loans are a form of financial aid that must be repaid with interest. Undergraduate loans are available from federal, institutional, and private sources. Graduate student loans are available from federal and private sources.

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. University of Portland also provides institutional student employment opportunities. Information about student employment can be found on the website at up.edu/studentemployment.

Detailed information covering eligibility, financial aid programs, application procedures and the financial aid satisfactory academic progress policy can be found within the Financial Aid Handbook located online at up.edu/finaid/resources.

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