Applications for Aid
Applications for financial aid must be submitted annually for the academic year and/or summer aid. The academic year at Portland State University begins with fall term and ends after summer term. While the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships accepts FAFSA data at any time during the year, priority is given to admitted applicants who submit their FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1st, and who provide all requested information promptly. It is recommended that students apply no later than February 1st each year. It is not necessary to wait for formal admission to the University before submitting the financial aid application. Scholarship applications are only accepted within the scholarship application open and close dates.
In order to be eligible to receive federal, state or institutional financial aid, students must remain in good academic standing as defined in the University Scholastic Standards Policy and by the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy requirements described at the end of the Financial Aid section. The student must be officially admitted to an aid-eligible degree or certificate program, and must be a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen as defined by federal regulations. Students may not receive aid beyond established limits, which include a rate of course completion, a maximum time frame, and annual aggregate dollar amounts. Information about each aid program is available at www.pdx.edu/finaid/financial-aid-programs.
Undergraduate students
Eligible undergraduate students may receive consideration for financial assistance through the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Federal TEACH Grant, Federal Work-Study, and Federal Direct Loan programs. Oregon resident students may also be eligible for the Oregon Opportunity Grant. Eligible parents of dependent students may borrow through the Federal Direct PLUS Loan program, described in the Educational Loans section.
Post-baccalaureate students
Eligible post-baccalaureate students may receive consideration for financial assistance through the Federal Direct Loan programs. Parents of dependent post-baccalaureate students may borrow through the Federal Direct PLUS Loan program, described in the Educational Loans section.
Graduate students
Eligible graduate students may receive consideration for financial assistance through the Federal TEACH Grant, and Federal Direct Loan programs, which include Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans and Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans.
International students
International students are not eligible to participate in federal financial aid programs but are eligible for certain scholarships.