Financial aid for graduate students, including loans and part-time employment, may be available to help you finance your master's degree. Scholarships from a variety of outside sources may also be available as an element of financial aid.
The institution from which you are seeking your degree, referred to as the "home institution," awards financial aid. To receive financial aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and be admitted to an OSU-Cascades graduate program. For financial aid purposes, only credits earned through OSU or OSU-Cascades will be combined and counted towards your financial aid enrollment and disbursement.
Types of Financial Aid
Financial aid packages generally include one or more types of aid, including scholarships, student employment and loans. Aid is granted based on eligibility for the aid programs, and meeting application filing deadlines. Scholarships are included in combination with any federal and state aid.
Scholarships
Scholarships are private or institutional funds available to students with no requirement of repayment. Usually a separate application is required. Graduate students are eligible to apply for scholarships through their program (College of Education).
Student Employment
Part-time Work-Study opportunities on and off campus may be available to help students earn money toward educational expenses. Federal Work-Study is a need-based employment program offered to financial aid applicants with priority application status. Work-Study availability generally depends on positions available from a student's home institution.
Loans
Loans are borrowed money that must be repaid with interest. Educational loans generally carry a low interest rate and some offer a grace period before repayment begins. Potential loans include the Federal Ford Subsudized and/or Unsubsudized Loan, the Perkins Loan and the Graduate Student PLUS Loan.
Getting Started
The first step on the road to acquiring financial aid is completing and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA. Application Worksheets are available at the OSU-Cascades Enrollment Services Office in Cascades Hall, but you must complete your application online at www.fafsa.gov.
While completing the FAFSA, you will be asked which institutions you would like your application released to. You must include those Federal School Codes on your application.
- Oregon State University - 003210
Important Deadlines
You can apply for federal financial aid at any time during the school year, but you can get the best funding package if your application meets OSU's priority deadline (generally February 28). Applicants meeting this deadline are given the highest consideration for need-based funding. College of Education scholarships may have earlier or later deadlines.
Your financial aid application will not be reviewed until an admissions application has been submitted.
If you have met OSU's financial aid priority deadline, provided requested additional information, and have been admitted, you can expect to hear what financial aid you qualify for as early as April 1.
Work-Study at OSU-Cascades
If you were awarded work-study as part of your OSU financial aid award and are interested in applying for a position, please read the OSU Work-Study instructions. Job postings on the OSU-Cascades campus will not be visible until after September 6. If you need additional information, contact Enrollment Services at 541-322-3100.
For More Information
Enrollment Services Office
541-322-3100
admit@osucascades.edu
OSU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships
541-737-2241
financial.aid@oregonstate.edu
Oregon Student Access Commission
(administers privately funded scholarships for Oregon residents)
U.S. Department of Education
(information on financial aid available from U.S. government)