Financial Aid

Janet Turner, director

The Office of Financial Aid supports students in achieving their educational goals by offering various funding options through the financial aid packaging process. We understand that each student’s financial situation is unique..

The financial aid process begins in the Office of Admissions where various merit-based scholarships are awarded. The Office of Financial Aid subsequently reviews the information provided through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine eligibility for other aid options. The FAFSA application is available at studentaid.gov and opens on October 1st each year. Financial aid packages for FAFSA filers may include grants, scholarships, loans, and work study.

Grants may be funded by federal, state, or institutional sources and are awarded based on need and fund availability. Financial need is determined by subtracting the student aid index (SAI) from the cost of attendance (COA). The SAI is derived through the FAFSA formula and the COA includes both direct and indirect average costs for a typical student type.

Scholarships may be funded by federal, state, institutional, or outside sources. Scholarships may have unique eligibility requirements, or may require specific 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.

Federal Work Study (FWS) is an employment opportunity that allows students to work in a job that only 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 online at up.edu/studentemployment.

Detailed information covering eligibility, financial aid programs, application procedures, and the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) 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. Other important disclosures can be found on the Consumer Information and Disclosure website.