Office of Financial Aid
A218 Kerr Administration Bldg.
Oregon State University
Corvallis, OR 97331
541-737-2241
Email: financial.aid@oregonstate.edu
Website: https://financialaid.oregonstate.edu/

Administration

Keith Raab, Director
Brian Hultgren, Senior Associate Director - Compliance
Regan Kaplan, Associate Director
Kirk Lind, Senior Associate Director - Systems and Innovation
Guy Boulanger, Analyst Programmer
Hao Truong, Analyst Programmer
Bobbi Jo Williams, Office Manager
Jordan Hall, Assistant Director
Laura Mondragon, Assistant Director
Jade Silver, Assistant Director
Rylan Wall, Assistant Director
Matt Munger, Assistant Director
Zola Nkansah, Grant and Scholarship Coordinator
Ashley Coleman, Return of Title IV Funds and Pell Coordinator
Emory Spence, Student Success Coordinator

Michael Goldtrap, Advisor
Michele Lynam, Advisor
Cheyenne Standing-Elk, Advisor
Layton Spence, Advisor
Ivy Snyder, Advisor
Jasper Morrison, Advisor
TaiAnn Williams, Advisor
Erica Smith, Advisor
Paige Fiske, Advisor
Gabriela Santos Botello, Advisor
Bodie Brooks, Advisor

The Office of Financial Aid is here to help you invest in your future. We recommend applying for financial aid at the same time that you apply for admission to OSU. Although we won't review your financial aid information until after your admission application is filed, you can still apply for financial aid before you have been admitted to OSU. Learn more about your options at OSU by choosing a category below.

Financial aid is based on the premise that you, and in the case of dependent students, your parents, are primarily responsible for providing for your educational expenses, and it is intended to supplement student and family contributions toward educational costs. Financial aid comes from many sources, including federal and state government, private organizations, and Oregon State University’s institutional funds. These funds consist of grants, scholarships, federal work study, subsidized loans, unsubsidized loans, and parent loans.

Eligibility/Application Procedures

To be eligible for federal financial aid, a student must:

1. Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), beginning October 1 using previous year tax data (for example the 2024–2025 application will use 2022 tax information). Parents and students will use the IRS direct data exchange to add their income information and submit their FAFSA by the OSU priority deadline of February 28. Follow the prompts while completing the application to authorize this information exchange with the IRS. Always remember that there is no fee to apply for federal aid.
2. List Oregon State University as a school that you would like your information to be sent to on the FAFSA. Oregon State’s federal school code is 003210. This same school code is used for all OSU campuses.
3. The FAFSA priority 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 Title IV grants or subsidized loans.
4. Take steps to ensure 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, or complete a high school education in a home school setting that is treated as such under state law.
   • 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.
   • 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.
5. Apply for admission to Oregon State University online. You will not be considered for any financial aid award until you have applied to the university.

What happens AFTER I apply?

Once you have submitted your FAFSA application online you will receive a confirmation of receipt from Federal Student Aid. They will also send you a FAFSA submission summary that will give you a summary of your application and inform you of any problems you might need to resolve. You should read this report carefully and resolve problems in a timely manner. If you receive notification that something on your FAFSA is missing or incorrect, you can check your financial aid information through Beaver Hub or contact the OSU Office of Financial Aid for further information.

Incoming students whose aid application was received by the end of February may expect to receive an initial award letter in mid-April.  Aid applications are then completed on a rolling basis by date of receipt with award notifications being sent out as files are completed.

You will receive an email once your financial aid award has been completed. You will also be notified if you need to provide further information in order for us to complete your application. All correspondence will be sent to your ONID email account.

The award notification will show the type and amount of aid available to you for the coming school year. To ensure you receive the maximum amount of institutional aid you have been offered, a student should accept their aid offer by May 1. The accepted award indicates the student has read and agrees to the terms of the award as outlined.

Understand Before You Accept

By accepting your award, you are stating that you have read, understand, and accept the Terms and Conditions of your award. As a recipient of financial aid, you must meet certain requirements to maintain financial aid eligibility. The Office of Financial Aid reserves the right to revise a financial aid award during any time of the year if there are changes in your financial aid eligibility. You will be notified through your OSU student email if new requirements have been established or revisions have been made. Your aid eligibility may change based on FAFSA Verification, Satisfactory Academic Progress, withdrawing from courses, course participation, Census Date enrollment, reaching aid limits, and other factors. If you will be less than fulltime (12 credits as an undergraduate/postbacc or 9 credits as a graduate student) please update your expected enrollment in your financial aid self-service portal.

Acceptance Deadlines

The acceptance deadlines listed on your award letter do not apply to federal Ford Direct subsidized and unsubsidized loan offers. If you are still deciding how much to accept in Ford loans, you may wait until closer to the start of the term to accept that portion of the aid offer.  

Students Who Are Not Yet Admitted

You will not be able to login and accept your aid offer until you have received your Admission’s letter and your OSU student ID number. If you have not yet received your ID number and cannot login to Beaver Hub, you may disregard the acceptance deadline listed on your award letter. Just be sure to accept or decline your aid offer once the Admission’s process is complete.

How to Accept Your Aid Offer

To accept your financial aid, login to your financial aid self-service portal. Log in using your ONID username and password. If you need assistance with this information, you can contact the OSU Computer Help Desk at 541-737-3474.

You can then accept, reject, or revise your Financial Aid Award through your financial aid self-service portal by completing the following steps:

• Select the appropriate year (ex. 2024-2025) in the top right of the screen
• Select the Award Offer tab
• Accept, reject or revise each individual offer of aid
• Click Submit when done
• Go to Student Loans to complete any necessary Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Notes (these are both required in order to receive federal student loans)
• If you will be enrolled less than full-time, update your expected enrollment in your financial aid self-service portal.

*You may accept all or a portion of aid awarded to you. You are also not required to accept the maximum loan amount offered to you. To borrow a lesser amount, indicate the total amount of loan you wish to borrow for the academic year. When deciding what amount to accept, please note that your loans must be divided up equally throughout the academic year.

*You are responsible for notifying the OSU Office of Financial Aid in the event that you receive any additional awards from any other source. The OSU Office of Financial Aid will then make any required revisions to your aid package. The receipt of additional aid may result in a reduction or elimination of aid from university-administered programs, even if it has already been paid.

*If you are considered a dependent student, your parents can also apply for a Parent PLUS loan up to the remaining cost of attendance by completing a PLUS loan application and Master Promissory Note available for them through the Federal Student Loans website. 

*Important notice about Parent PLUS loan applications: The PLUS loan application will not be available for 2024-2025 until May 01, 2024. If you attempt to apply prior to that date you will be told that OSU does not participate in the program. Rest assured, OSU DOES participate in the Federal Direct Parent PLUS loan program. Applications for parent PLUS loan requires a credit check each time the parent applies for the loan and is only valid for 180 days. Applying too early may cause delays with processing and disbursements. Students can review their file status by logging into their ONID account.

Types of Financial Aid

Federal Programs

Federal Pell Grant

A need-based grant from the federal government intended for high need undergraduate students seeking their first bachelor’s degree.

• After the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is filed, the Department of Education sends you a FAFSA Submission Summary or an Information Acknowledgement if you filed online. These documents will indicate if you are Pell eligible and it is important to review them for accuracy.
• Based on the Congressional approval of year round Pell, students may now receive up to 150% of their Pell eligibility in a single year. You may be eligible to receive a fulltime Pell Grant for all 4 terms of the academic year. 
• Students may receive the Pell grant for a maximum of 18 terms/12 semesters. Utilizing year round Pell will use this lifetime eligibility more quickly.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

• A need-based grant from the federal government intended for high need undergraduate students seeking their first bachelor’s degree.
• Administered by the OSU Office of Financial Aid. Funds are limited and eligibility is based in part by meeting the OSU FAFSA Priority Filing Deadline of February 28.

Federal College Work-Study Program (FWS)

Federal College Work-Study Program (FWS) program helps provide part-time jobs for students with financial need to help them pay for their education.

• The program is administered by the OSU Office of Financial Aid. Funds are limited and eligibility is based on need and in part by meeting the OSU FAFSA Priority Filing Deadline of February 28.
• Being awarded FWS funds allows you to apply for jobs that specifically have the Work-Study designation. If you are awarded FWS and secure a Work-Study job, you will be paid monthly for hours worked.
• The amount of FWS indicated on your award is the maximum amount you may earn for the academic year. Funds are paid monthly on the basis of hours worked in the pay period not to exceed 20 hours per week.
• Students not awarded FWS may still apply for jobs both on and off campus.

Please review our Work-Study Page for more detailed information

Loans

Loans: Federal Aid that does have to be repaid.

Federal Loan Basics

• Federal Student Loans are a type of aid that must be repaid.
• You must file a FAFSA each year to receive a federal loan offer.
• On Subsidized Loans, the U.S. Department of Education pays the interest while you are attending school at least half time.
• On Unsubsidized Loans, you are responsible for paying the interest during times of deferment.
• Parent PLUS and Graduate PLUS loans require a credit check and separate application each year.
• Minimum halftime enrollment is required each term to receive federal loans.
• Find interest rate and origination fees for all federal loans online
• There are yearly, and aggregate maximums for federal loans.
• The Perkins Loan program has not been extended beyond the 2017-2018 aid year. Repayment and deferment options are handled by the OSU Business Affairs Student Loan Office. Please see our Perkins disclosure page if you have an existing Perkins loan.

Types of Federal Loans

Subsidized Federal Ford Direct Student Loan

• Subsidized means the U.S. Department of Education pays the interest while you are attending school at least half time.
• Awarded to undergraduate students with financial need.
• The amount you are awarded is determined by your financial need and class rank.
• If you have not received a Federal Ford Direct Loan at OSU in the past, you must complete Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note online.
• Repayment begins 6 months after graduation or dropping below half time enrollment
• Has yearly, and aggregate limits.

Unsubsidized Federal Ford Direct Student Loan

• Unsubsidized means you are responsible for paying the interest during times of deferment.
• Awarded to undergraduate and graduate students.
• The amount you are awarded is determined by your class rank and dependency status.
• If you have not received a Federal Ford Direct Loan at OSU in the past, you must complete Entrance Counseling and a Master Promissory Note online.
• If you are a dependent student and your parent has been credit denied for the Parent Plus loan this year, you may submit a Student Loan Revision form to request an increase in the Ford Direct unsubsidized student loan.
• Repayment begins 6 months after graduation or dropping below half time enrollment.
• Has yearly and aggregate limits.

Parent PLUS Federal Loan

• The Federal Direct Parent PLUS Loan is a credit-based loan borrowed by the parent on behalf of a dependent undergraduate or postbacc student for educational expenses.
• It has no yearly or aggregate limits but amounts must fit into the expected cost of attendance.
• The loan is unsubsidized meaning you are responsible for paying the interest during times of deferment.
• The parent borrower must complete a Direct PLUS Loan Application and Master Promissory Note (MPN) online.
• The credit check, run as part of the application, is only valid for 180 days. Do not complete the application more than 180 days before the start of the term, or before May of the respective year if attending summer term.

*For applicants who have been determined to have an adverse credit history, but qualify for a Direct Parent PLUS loan by documenting extenuating circumstances or obtaining an endorser must complete the PLUS Counseling online. Students can review their file status by logging into their Beaver Hub account.

Graduate PLUS Federal Loan

• The Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loan is a credit based loan borrowed by graduate students to assist with educational expenses.
• It has no yearly or aggregate limits but amounts must fit into the expected cost of attendance.
• The loan is unsubsidized meaning you are responsible for paying the interest during times of deferment.
• You must complete a Direct PLUS Loan Application and Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Entrance Counseling online.
• The credit check, run as part of the application, is only valid for 180 days. Do not complete the application more than 180 days before the start of the term, or before May of the respective year if attending summer term.

*For applicants who have been determined to have an adverse credit history, but qualify for a Direct Graduate PLUS loan by documenting extenuating circumstances or obtaining an endorser must complete the PLUS Counseling online.

Federal Loan Limits

Dependent Undergraduate Ford Direct Student Loan Maximum Per Year:

• $5,500 freshman ($3,500 of that may be subsidized if eligible)
• $6,500 sophomore ($4,500 of that may be subsidized if eligible)
• $7,500 junior/senior ($5,500 of that may be subsidized if eligible)

* If a Parent Plus loan has been credit denied for this year, the student may submit a Student Loan Revision form to request an increase in the Ford Direct unsubsidized student loan. The maximum increase is $4,000 for fresh/soph and $5,000 for jr/sr.

Dependent Undergraduate Ford Direct Student Loan Aggregate Maximum (Limit for all years combined):

• $31,000 Ford Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans Combined (no more than $23,000 of that may be subsidized)

* If a Parent Plus loan has been credit denied for this year, the student may submit a Student Loan Revision form to request an increase in the Ford Direct unsubsidized student loan. In this case the aggregate maximum increases to $57,500.

* The credit hour maximum timeframe (MTF) is an additional limitation beyond the federal aggregate aid maximums. More information about the MTF may be found on the Satisfactory Academic Progress section of our website.

Independent Undergraduate Ford Direct Student Loan Maximum Per Year:

• $9,500 freshman ($3,500 of that may be subsidized if eligible)
• $10,500 sophomore ($4,500 of that may be subsidized if eligible)
• $12,500 junior/senior ($5,500 of that may be subsidized if eligible)

Independent Undergraduate Ford Direct Student Loan Aggregate Maximum (Limit for all years combined):

• $57,500 Ford Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Loans Combined (no more than $23,000 of that may be subsidized)

* The credit hour maximum timeframe (MTF) is an additional limitation beyond the federal aggregate aid maximums. More information about the MTF may be found on the Satisfactory Academic Progress section of our website.

Graduate Ford Direct Loan Limits

Graduate Ford Direct Student Loan Maximum Per Year:

• $20,500 (unless seeking certain medical or professional degrees)

Graduate Ford Direct Student Loan Aggregate Maximum (Limit for all years of undergraduate and graduate work combined):

• $138,500 (unless seeking certain medical or professional degrees)

* The credit hour maximum timeframe (MTF) is an additional limitation beyond the federal aggregate aid maximums. More information about the MTF may be found on the Satisfactory Academic Progress section of our website.

Campus Scholarships

These limited merit and need based scholarships are administered by the Office of Scholarships and the Office of Financial Aid. Incoming students are considered based on completion of the scholarship portion of the admissions application. Eligibility is limited to students who have completed fewer than 12 terms and submit the application for Admission by February 1. Recipients must be enrolled full-time and are notified of their awards in writing. Criteria is available on the Scholarships website.

Departmental Awards

Each department on campus administers their own awards. Contact the department or donor directly for specific information regarding the award. For a searchable database of scholarships, visit ScholarDollars.

Private Awards

These awards come from outside donors and can affect your financial aid package. Outside scholarship checks should be mailed to: Student Accounts, Oregon State University, PO Box 1086, Corvallis, OR 97339. If you have not already submitted notification to the Financial Aid Office regarding your outside scholarships.

State of Oregon Opportunity Grant

The Opportunity Grant is a state grant administered by the Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) and awarded to undergraduate Oregon residents based on need and allowable funding. Students must complete the FAFSA or ORSAA each year to be considered. Twelve terms of eligibility are possible. This grant is not available during summer term.

OSAC Scholarship Application

Start your OSAC Scholarship Application, final deadline is March 1 of each year. In the event that it falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline will automatically be extended to 5:00 p.m. (PST) of the following business day.

Oregon Student Child Care Grant

You may apply for the Oregon Student Child Care Grant if you are an Oregon student seeking financial support for college students with children in daycare.

Other Programs

Private Supplemental/Alternative Loan

Students needing additional funding for school, whose aid package has not fully met their cost of attendance, may opt to apply for funding through a private lending agency. These loans have a variable interest rate, and a credit check must be done on all applicants. OSU cannot recommend lenders for private/alternative loans. More information may be found on our webpage.

Graduate Students

Based on the FAFSA application, graduate degree seeking students may be eligible to receive Unsubsidized Direct Loans. The annual loan maximum for non-professional students is $20,500 per academic year. The aggregate borrowing limit is $138,500. This includes all Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans borrowed for undergraduate and graduate study. Students must be enrolled at least half time (5 credits) and repayment begins six months after graduation, withdrawal, or if you drop below half-time enrollment. Interest rate and origination fee information may be found on the FSA webpage.  For more information, visit our graduate student webpage.

In addition to Unsubsidized Direct Loan, Graduate Students can apply for a credit based Graduate PLUS loan. If credit approved for this loan, graduate students may accept up to their remaining cost of attendance for that year.

Before you can receive a PLUS Loan, your school must have determined your maximum eligibility for Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans.

In addition to these Federal Aid Programs, the Graduate School offers additional information on Assistantship, Grant and Scholarship Opportunities on their webpage.

Receipt of Aid Funds

OSU Office of Business Affairs is responsible for disbursing refunds from student accounts once financial aid has been applied. You must be registered and have your tuition and fees billed to your account for financial aid to be applied. Aid funds are never made available in advance. Textbooks cannot be charged to a student’s account. It is assumed that the student will purchase textbooks out-of-pocket and use any refund to "reimburse" themselves for the costs. If a credit balance remains on your student account after current university charges are paid, you will be issued a refund. Federal Work-Study earnings are paid by payroll check to you each month for hours worked. You may receive a refund and still have an outstanding balance on your account. For more information about your bill or refund, visit the Business Affairs website.

Delayed Disbursements

There are several ways in which your aid may be delayed. Here are the most common reasons:

• You may be required to complete Entrance Counseling and sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) for your Ford Direct Loans. You would have been notified of these requirements via an email to your ONID email account.
• Dropping classes (below 12 credits for undergraduates, 9 credits for graduates). All students are assumed to be full-time unless they notify Financial Aid in writing that they will be less. If you are not enrolled at full-time and have not notified us, your aid will not disburse.
• Registering late for classes.
• Being waitlisted for classes. These classes do not count toward your enrollment level until you are actually enrolled in them.
• Having unsatisfied requirements with your financial aid file. Check your status through your financial aid self-service portal.

You are responsible for managing your Financial Aid experience, so be sure to check Beaver Hub frequently and review any emails you receive from us as they may include requests for additional information or action.

Requesting Changes

It is understood that you want as much grant and scholarship money as possible. When you are awarded your financial aid, your award will reflect your eligibility for available grant aid. When accepting your award, you may always request a lesser loan amount. Please note that loan funds are divided into equal disbursements, based on your enrollment at OSU within the given year. You may replace your Federal Work-Study funds with a Direct Ford loan, however this is dependent upon your loan eligibility. In addition, if you initially decline loan funds but find later that you in fact need them, you may also request that the loan be reinstated up to the total of your original offer. Please request any changes in writing by submitting a Loan Revision Request form to the financial aid office. Be aware that not all loan requests can be accommodated.

Additional Costs

In certain instances, your cost of attendance may be adjusted to include other allowable costs incurred to meet your educational needs. Requests are reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine approval. Documentation of the additional expense must be included for consideration. If approved, additional expenses are usually funded with "self-help" assistance in the form of loans. Adjustments are not made for consumer debts, car payments, or private school tuition.

Adjustments may include, but are not limited to:

• Medical or dental cost not covered by insurance
• Computer expense (one time allowance)
• Child care cost for children 12 and under
• Commuting costs from outside the Corvallis area
• Costs related to students with disabilities
• Study abroad program fees

Student Aid Index (SAI)

The information you reported on your FAFSA is used to calculate a number called the Student Aid Index (SAI). The SAI is not the amount of money that your family must provide. The school uses the SAI to determine the amount of your federal grants, loans, or work-study awards for which you may be eligible.

Changes in Your Situation

Financial Aid offices may consider special or unusual circumstances that impact your financial situation. Please contact us with any questions you might have regarding your eligibility for a review.

Renewing Aid

You must apply for financial aid every year by submitting a FAFSA application. Applications must be received before February 28 at the central processor to be considered for priority funding. You may apply for aid online after October 1st for the following academic year.

Dropping Courses and the Census Date

Dropping courses impacts your financial aid in several ways. Aid is based on your enrollment level on the Census Date of each term. For undergraduates, full-time status is 12 or more credits, 3/4 time is 9-11 credits, 1/2 time is 6-8 credits, and less than halftime is 1-5 credits. Less than fulltime enrollment may affect your financial aid eligibility. Students enrolled less than halftime are not eligible to receive most types of aid including federal student loans. If you plan on being less than fulltime you must update your expected enrollment in your financial aid self-service portal..

Financial aid eligibility each term is based on your level of enrollment on the Census Date. On this date, budgets and financial aid are adjusted and locked based on your enrollment level at that time. If your aid was paid at the full-time amount and you are less than fulltime on the Census Date, your budget will be revised and your aid may need to be reduced to reflect your Census Date enrollment. This revision may create a new bill on your OSU student billing account.

Dropping or withdrawing from courses after the census date, may also impact your financial aid eligibility for the current and future terms. Withdrawing from all courses, failing to complete courses (unofficially withdrawing), or not participating in courses, may result in the partial or full loss of aid eligibility for that term. Future term eligibility will depend on continuing to make Satisfactory Academic Progress.

If you will be less than halftime, be sure to stay in contact with your loan servicer. Halftime enrollment is required in order to keep federal loans in the “in school deferment status”. Find more on our Loan Repayment page.

Short Sessions (Courses in Modules)

If a student is enrolled in sessions that do not span the entire 11 week term (modules) there are special rules that apply. You are paid federal financial aid based on all of the modules (entire payment period) you are registered for at the time of disbursement. If you do not complete all of those modules a return of federal funds may be required.

Be sure to monitor your OSU student email carefully. If you drop, withdraw from, or do not fully complete your current modules, you may be considered withdrawn from the term even if you are still enrolled in a future modules. In this case you may be emailed a request to complete a survey verifying your intent to participate in future modules. If you do not complete this survey, a return of federal aid may be required. See our Withdrawal Page under “How is the return of federal aid calculation different for short sessions/modules?” for more detailed information on how drops, withdrawals, and non-completion can impact your aid.

The Pell Grant must always be adjusted to exclude payments for any course you do not participate in. If you drop a course before that course session begins, we are required to reverse any Pell Grant payments made for that course. Reversed Pell will be returned to the Department of Education. This reversal of aid may create a new bill on your OSU student billing account.

What Happens If I Withdraw?

Students who withdraw from the university after the start of the term must complete a Withdrawal Form through the Registrar's Office and notify the Office of Financial Aid of their current and future term enrollment plans in their financial aid self-service portal. If financial aid funds were used to pay tuition and fees any refundable tuition amount is returned to the appropriate financial aid sources (refer to the tuition/fee refund schedule on the Business Affairs page).

OSU is required to calculate the Return of Title IV financial aid funds for students that officially withdraw (complete the withdrawal process) or unofficially withdraw (ceasing course participation) during the academic term. Students who do not intend to complete the term for which they are enrolled, should follow the official withdrawal process as outlined by university regulations.

The information below is a brief summary of the process that takes place when a student withdraws from all courses or fails to receive a passing grade for a given term. The policies and procedures listed are subject to change without advance notice based on changes in federal or institutional policies. This is not an exhaustive list of the rules pertaining to the Return of Title IV funds. Further guidance regarding these policies and procedures may be obtained by contacting the Office of Financial Aid. Reference material relating to the federal rules for this process may be found in Volume 5 of the Federal Student Aid Handbook. The return of funds calculation worksheet may be found in the FAFSA Partner Portal.

What Happens If I Withdraw From or Do Not Complete A Course

The impact of a partial withdrawal (official or unofficial) will vary greatly by student status, type of aid awarded, participation, and other factors. Students who plan to drop, withdraw, or not complete one or more courses, should contact the Office of Financial Aid for a personalized evaluation of how a partial withdrawal will impact their current and future aid eligibility.

Below are some important things to keep in mind about how a partial withdrawal may impact current and future term federal aid eligibility:

Current Term

The Census Date is the point at which your enrollment is locked for financial aid purposes. During the fall, winter, and spring terms, the census coincides with the last date you can drop classes for a full tuition refund at OSU. At this point in the term, credit hours are locked and financial aid for the term is adjusted to reflect the student's official enrolled credits. In a standard length term, a partial withdrawal after census does not impact current term aid eligibility in most cases.

Terms when a student is taking short session/modular courses are treated differently. You may be considered completely withdrawn from the term even if you have successfully completed earlier modules or are enrolled in future modules. Review the “How is the return of federal aid calculation different for short sessions/modules?” section (drop down on the lower part of the withdrawal page) for further information.

Future Term

To maintain federal aid eligibility a student must make Satisfactory Academic Progress. This means meeting certain criteria for OSU GPA, pace of completion, and maximum timeframe. The pace of completion percentage is calculated by dividing the number of credits successfully completed by the number attempted. When you withdraw from or do not successfully complete a course, your Pace of completion goes down. For example, if you complete 5 out of 10 credits your pace of completion is 50%. If you do not maintain a pace of at least 67% overall pace, federal aid eligibility can be lost. Find out more on our Satisfactory Academic Progress page.

Students are expected to understand the terms, conditions, and requirements that relate to their financial aid award. Additional information on retaining full financial aid eligibility may be found on the Financial Aid webpages:

• Satisfactory Academic Progress
• Terms and Conditions
• Renewing Your Aid
• Census Date
• Course Participation

What Happens If I Do Not Complete Any Courses in a Term?

Federal financial aid is awarded based on the expectation that a student will participate in all of their courses through the last day of the term. When a student does not complete any courses, the Office of Financial Aid is required to review their eligibility for aid that has been or could be disbursed. A return of Title IV (federal aid) calculation must be completed for any student who did not complete the term.  A student is considered to have earned the full amount of disbursed federal aid if they participated in all courses and completed more than 60% of the term. In cases where full participation and more than 60% term completion cannot be verified, a return of federal Title IV and other types of aid may be required.

In most cases, the percent completion date used for the Return of Title IV funds calculation will either be based on the date of withdrawal or the last date of participation reported by instructors. In the case of an official withdrawal that is processed during the term, the calculation is usually completed based on the date of official withdrawal is reported by the Registrar’s Office.  A student is considered unofficially withdrawn if they fail to receive any passing grades in a given term. In the case of an unofficial withdrawal, the date used will be based on participation dates reported by OSU and partner school instructors. The last date of participation may also be used for the Return of Title IV funds calculation instead of the withdrawal date in cases where the participation date is considered more accurate. 

In addition to a current term return of federal funds, future term aid eligibility may be impacted by a full withdrawal. Students are expected to understand the terms, conditions, and requirements that relate to their financial aid award. Additional information on retaining full financial aid eligibility may be found on these financial aid webpages:

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Terms and Conditions

Renewing Your Aid

How Does a Return of Federal Aid Calculation Work

The Return of Title IV Funds calculation determines the amount of federal funds that must be returned by the institution as well as how much aid the student must return for the period of non-enrollment. For students who completed 60% or less of the term, a pro-rated schedule is used to determine the amount of aid that must to be returned. That means the percentage of aid that a student is eligible to retain for the term is based on the percentage of the term that they completed. If a return of aid amount is calculated, the funds must be repaid to the financial aid programs in the following order:

• Federal Direct Unsubsidized Ford Loan
• Federal Direct Ford Loans
• Federal Perkins Loan
• Federal Direct PLUS Loan
• Federal Pell Grant
• FSEOG

The amount of federal aid that you must repay is determined via the Federal Formula for Return of Title IV funds (Section 484B of the Higher Education Act). This law also specifies the order in which funds are to be returned to the financial aid programs from which they were awarded, starting with loan programs.

You may be required to make a repayment when cash has been disbursed from financial aid funds, in excess of the amount of aid that you earned (based on the date of your total withdrawal or last date of participation) during the term. The amount of Title IV aid earned is determined by multiplying the total Title IV aid (other than FWS) for which you qualified by the percentage of time during the term that you were enrolled.

If less aid was disbursed than was earned, you may submit a request to receive a late disbursement for the difference.

If more aid was disbursed than was earned, the amount of Title IV aid that you must return (i.e. not earned) is determined by subtracting the earned amount from the amount actually disbursed.

The responsibility for returning unearned Title IV aid is shared between the university and you. It is allocated according to the portion of disbursed aid that could have been used to cover university charges, and the portion that could have been disbursed directly to you once those charges were covered. OSU will distribute the unearned aid back to the Title IV programs, as specified by law. The return of funds will be completed within 45 days of the date the determination of the withdrawal. You will receive a letter by postal mail if the Return of Title IV Funds calculation was completed and a return of funds was required. If the Return of Title IV Funds calculation was not required but funds needed to be returned for other reasons, you will be notified through your OSU student (ONID) email.

You will be billed for the amount that you owe to the Title IV programs, as well as any amount due to the university, as a result of Title IV funds that were returned that would have been used to cover university charges.

Withdrawing (official or unofficially) from a term may also impact a student’s eligibility for financial aid in future terms. Students should familiarize themselves with the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements for federal aid and should contact the Office of Financial Aid regarding how federal and other types of aid may be impacted.

How is the Return of Federal Aid Calculation Different for Short Sessions/Modules

OSU has multiple sessions that do not span the entire length of our usual 11 week term. These shorter sessions are considered “modules” for federal financial aid purposes and these modules have unique rules that may impact federal aid eligibility.

A student may be considered withdrawn if they do not complete all days in the payment period they were scheduled to complete. For a student enrolled in sessions not spanning a full 11 week term, the payment period they are expected to complete is made up of the combined calendars for all sessions that they were paid aid on.

A student who drops, withdraws from, or does not complete their current sessions, will be considered withdrawn from the term even if they are still enrolled in a future session. Students must monitor their student email for the survey request. Students will be required to submit that survey in order to verify their intent to participate in those future sessions. If this intent to participate survey is not received, a Return of Title IV Calculation must be done even if the student has successfully completed other coursework for the term and is enrolled in future sessions.

Below are two examples of how drops, withdrawals, and non-completion can impact aid in modules:

EX 1. Mary enrolls in 2 summer sessions. She withdraws from session 2 and remains enrolled in session 5. In this case Mary will be considered withdrawn from the term if she does not complete the summer survey to confirm her intent to attend session 5. As long as Mary submits that survey and successfully completes session 5, a Return of Title IV calculation is not required.

EX 2. Joe enrolls in 2 summer sessions. He receives a B grade in his session 2 course but, after that course had ended, decides he no longer wants to take the course in session 4. Joe had been paid federal aid with the expectation that he would complete the entire payment period that spanned both sessions. Because he decided not to complete session 4 after session 2 had ended, a Return of Title IV calculation is required and he may end up owing aid money back for the term.

What if I am a Degree Partnership Program Student Who Withdraws from of Fails Partner School Courses

In cases of official and unofficial withdrawal an instructor reported last date of participation may be required to determine a student’s aid eligibility. The OSU Office of Financial Aid is not able to contact partner school instructors directly to obtain this information. After a term has ended DPP students may be contacted with instructions on how to complete this participation verification process. Due to the time sensitive nature of this process, it is very important for DPP students to check their OSU Student (ONID) email regularly to look for these financial aid notifications. Failure to verify participation may result in the reduction or full loss of financial aid eligibility for the term.

Student Responsibilities

Reporting Changes

Your financial aid is based on the information submitted to our office for the current academic year in which you requested aid. To keep your file current and accurate, you are required to report the changes to the OSU Office of Financial Aid. You should expect a revision of your award in most cases. Reasons for changes can include but are not limited to:

• Additional financial assistance: scholarships, grants, loans, fee waivers, Tribal Assistance, tuition/book support, social security benefits or any other monetary award not reported previously.
• Receipt of graduate teaching or research assistantship, and/or fellowship.
• Receipt of resident advisor position.
• Changes in enrollment and/or withdrawal from the university.
• Changes in residency status for tuition purposes.
• Change in course load if below full time.

Entrance and Exit Interview

All Federal Direct Ford loan recipients are required to complete an entrance interview prior to receiving the first disbursement of their loan proceeds. They are also required to complete an exit interview during their last term of attendance. (For further information can be found online).

Student Enrollment Levels

Federal financial aid eligibility and deferment of student loans are affected by enrollment levels. Summer enrollment levels are the same as other terms.

Undergraduate
Full Time: 12 or more credits in a term
Three Quarter Time: 9 to 11 credits in a term
Half Time: 6 to 8 credits in a term

Graduate
Full Time: 9 or more credits in a term
Half Time: 5 to 8 credits in a term

Scholarships, Student Loans, and Grants

Eligible students who have accepted scholarships, student loans and grant awards will have those funds applied automatically to their student billing account. You can monitor your financial aid eligibility and billing account through Beaver Hub.

If financial aid amounts exceed the amount of qualifying tuition/fees expenses owed, a refund will be generated if the surplus exceeds $1.00. Distribution of the refund can be made by direct deposit or check. Please note that federal financial aid cannot be posted toward the balance of the matriculation fee, accrued interest, printing charges, parking or library fines or student health service charges.

• If you would like direct deposit of your financial aid refund, complete the Direct Deposit form found through Online Services or Student Finance website. 
• If you would like your refund as a check, your current mailing address must be up to date for all check processing. You can do this through Beaver Hub.

For full details, visit the Business Affairs Office Website.

Beginning the third week of the term, students eligible for refunds due to financial aid or scholarship disbursements may request a refund at the Cashier's Office or through email at refund@oregonstate.edu.

Scholarships Office

Refer to the Scholarships Office page for information on central, campus, Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) and external scholarships.