Financial Aid and Scholarships

1.     Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), applying as soon as possible after Jan. 1 using previous year tax data (for example the 2013-2014 application will use 2012 tax information). Parents and students may estimate their income information as accurately as possible in order to complete the form and submit it by the OSU priority deadline of February 28th. Improvements to the FAFSA application process now allow for the completion of tax information questions from the IRS directly from your return! Follow the prompts while completing the application to authorize this information exchange. Always remember that there is no fee to apply for federal aid.

2.     List Oregon State University on your FAFSA application. Oregon State's school code is 003210.

3.     The priority FAFSA application deadline for OSU is February 28th. This date is used to determine eligibility for some need-based aid programs as well as State and Institutional funds. Applications received after the priority deadline will still be eligible for federal aid such as the Pell Grant and Direct Loans. Graduate students are not eligible for federal grants.

4.     Make sure you are eligible to receive financial aid. In order to receive federal funding you must:

•  have a high school diploma or a General Education Development (GED) certificate, meet other standards your state establishes that the Department approves, complete a high school education in a home school setting that is treated as such under state law, or have satisfactorily completed six credit hours or the equivalent course work toward a degree or certificate. 
• Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a degree or approved certificate program (e.g., not special admit)
• be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen.
• have a valid Social Security Number. 
• register with the Selective Service if required. You can register at www.sss.gov, or you can call 1-847-688-6888. (TTY users can call 1-847-688-2567.)
• maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by Oregon State University once in school.
• are not in default on a federal student loan and do not owe money on a federal student grant.
• The Higher Education Act of 1965 as amended (HEA) suspends aid eligibility for students who have been convicted under federal or state law of the sale or possession of drugs, if the offense occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving federal student aid (grants, loans, and/or work-study).

5. Apply for admission to Oregon State University: Apply Online. You will not be considered for any financial aid award, until you have applied to the University.