Financial Aid Night Office of Student Financial Aid & Scholarships University of Oregon

What are we going to talk about? What is financial aid? Cost of attendance Filing your FAFSA How to pay for college Grants & Scholarships Work-study Loans Tips for Students & Parents Agenda

Funds provided to students & families to help them pay for post-secondary educational expenses Makes college more affordable for more families What is Financial Aid?

Cost of Attendance

Both direct and indirect costs are accounted for in the cost of attendance These vary from college to college Direct Costs: Tuition & Fees, On-Campus Room & Board Indirect Costs: Books & Supplies, Personal Expenses Direct & Indirect Costs

How Much Do You Think the University of Oregon Costs to Attend for One Year?

OR Resident ( UO Undergraduate) Tuition and Fees $10,287 (Based on enrollment of 15 credits per term) On-Campus Room and Board$11,430 (Off-campus prices will vary) Books and Supplies $1,068 Personal Expenses $2,382 Estimated Total$25,167 UO Cost of Attendance (COA)

Average COA at Oregon Schools

Filing Your FAFSA

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid The FAFSA is your application for many types of aid Who should file? Everyone! You must complete the FAFSA to receive federal aid List up to 10 schools File by the priority deadline for your college March 1 for the University of Oregon What is the FAFSA?

SSN for you and your parent Date of birth Use the correct parent’s information If parents are divorced, use the parent the student lived with more If equal living situation, use the parent that financially supports the student more If the biological parent that you live with is remarried, have to include step-parent’s information Don’t forget to have both student and one parent sign with your FSA ID before submission Common FAFSA Errors

Make sure you know when to file your FAFSA FAFSA has opened January 1 st for… forever, but not anymore! For juniors, you’ll complete your FAFSA beginning October 1 st of your senior year Changes to the FAFSA

Keep an eye out for s from FAFSA Keep an eye out for s from the colleges you listed May ask for more information such as verification of tax information You’ll receive a financial aid award letter from each school you are accepted to The award letter tells you the COA and lists the aid you have been offered Compare award letters to find your best fit I’ve Filed My FAFSA, Now What?

Apply for non-federal financial aid from more than 300 colleges & scholarship programs Some colleges, especially private colleges, may require you to complete this application in addition to your FAFSA CSS Financial Aid PROFILE

CSS Profile  About 300 colleges (mostly private, but a few public universities as well) require the CSS Profile to be completed for families applying for financial aid  When the Profile is required, it is always in addition to the FAFSA  Colleges use it to determine eligibility for institutional need-based aid, in addition to federal aid

Differences between the Profile & FAFSA Submission dates- Profile can be submitted in the fall; the FAFSA not before January 1. Questions specific to each school Different methodology (Profile factors in if you own your own home for instance). In general, the Profile is more detailed. Profile requires a minimum student contribution Greater reliance on professional judgment Cost- Profile has a per-school fee ($25 for the first school, then $16). Fee waivers are available, and distributed automatically for eligible families. (source-

Completing the PROFILE financial aid application Your first step is to register for the PROFILE. Once you are registered, you'll be able to complete the PROFILE application (either the online version or the paper form). Some schools may require you to complete additional forms, such as the Business/Farm Supplement or the Noncustodial Parent's Supplement. Gather all the material you’ll need to answer the questions. For example, you will have to know the amounts for salary, dividend, and interest income; taxes paid; and the value of any savings and investments. After completing the application, you'll receive an acknowledgement summarizing your PROFILE information and listing your colleges. (source: Peterson’s College Guidebook)

Types of Financial Aid

What Types of Financial Aid Have You Heard About?

Savings, Including 529 Plans and IDAs Gift Aid Scholarships Grants Oregon Promise Work-Study Federal Loans Subsidized student loan Unsubsidized student loan Parent PLUS Loan Alternative Loans Options for Paying for College

Start searching for scholarships now Think about your personal story – this will help you when writing scholarship essays Why do you want to pursue higher education? What uniqueness will you bring to campus? Make notes of deadlines and what additional documents may be required Scholarships: What to Do Now

Your high school Your parent’s workplace Your workplace Local businesses Your church Community organizations National search engines Fastweb.com Scholarships.com Scholarships: Where Do I Look?

Check out our website! You’ll find information on the scholarships offered through our University Summit & Apex Scholarships General University Scholarship Stamps Leadership Scholarship Presidential Scholarship Diversity Excellence Scholarship You’ll also find a scholarship bulletin board Check with your academic department There are study abroad specific scholarships, too! What About UO Scholarships?

This is a new state program that gives new students the opportunity for full or partial tuition grants to attend an Oregon community college You have to meet specific criteria to qualify: Receive an OR high school diploma or GED in spring or summer of 2016 Enroll within 6 months of completing high school or GED Have been an OR resident for at least 12 months prior to community college enrollment Have a cumulative high school GPA of 2.5+ Accept all state and federal grants awarded Apply for an Oregon Promise grant from 11/1/15- 3/1/16 at Oregon Promise

PathwayOregon could be for you if you’re an Oregonian wondering how you might afford an education at the University of Oregon Ensures that your full tuition & fees are covered (without using loans) for four years if you qualify Oregon resident Graduate from an OR high school in last 2 years Admission as a first-time freshman Minimum 3.4 high school GPA Eligible for a Federal Pell Grant as determined by the FAFSA (complete FAFSA by February 15 th ) Students also receive academic support from dedicated advisors PathwayOregon

financialaid.uoregon.edu

Tips for Students & Parents

If possible, start saving money now Talk to your parents about a financial plan for college Research and apply for scholarships Apply for your FSA ID now In January (or October for juniors), file your FAFSA. The earlier the better! Make sure you are meeting all deadlines College application deadline Transcript & standardized test deadlines Scholarship application deadlines Tips for Students

Talk to your student about a financial plan for college and what is affordable for your family Will you be borrowing the Parent PLUS Loan? Will you be approved? Encourage your student to research and apply for scholarships Apply for your FSA ID now In January (or October for juniors), help your student file their FAFSA. The earlier the better! If your financial situation has changed (job loss, less income), contact our office for assistance Make sure your student is meeting all deadlines Tips for Parents

Remember the Process! Complete the FAFSA January 1, 2016 Review Award Letter March/April Accept or Decline Aid on DuckWeb May/June Submit req’d documents to Financial Aid April-August Begin searching for scholarships for next year! September- March

Our office is located on the 2 nd floor of Oregon Hall Phone: (541) Lobby hours: Monday & Tuesday 8am-5pm Wednesday 9am-5pm Thursday & Friday 8am-5pm Drop-in counselor hours (no appointments): Monday-Friday 9am-4pm Phone hours Monday-Friday 8am-5pm Contact Information

Questions?