Financial Aid
Financial Aid Office
Churchill 115
541-552-6161

Constance Alexander, Director

SOU CATALOG HOME : FINANCIAL AID

Southern Oregon University's financial aid program provides financial counseling and monetary assistance. Loans, scholarships, grants, and federally subsidized employment are available separately or in various combinations.

The University has a limited amount of financial assistance available. The primary responsibility for meeting the student's educational expenses rests with the family, including both the parents and the student. A federal loan program is available for any student or parent.

Application Procedures

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be used to apply for loans, scholarships, grants, and the work-study program. In addition to using the hard copy form, FAFSA on the web can be accessed at: www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Students who filed for aid for the 1998­99 school year can anticipate receiving a renewal application by mail from the Department of Education. All other students can obtain a FAFSA application from any college financial aid office or their high school counselors. An admissions application must be on file before an aid offer can be made.

Application Deadlines

Applications must be received by March 1 to receive first consideration for funds. Students are advised to have aid forms mailed to the processor by February 1 to be received at the University by March 1. Therefore, families should not wait to do the FAFSA based on a completed federal tax form.

Applicants normally receive notification of their financial aid awards beginning in April. Financial aid awards are for a one-year period. Applicants must reapply each year to receive continued consideration for financial assistance.

Perkins Loan

The Federal Perkins Loan is a 5 percent deferred interest loan based on federal need. First priority in awarding is given to early FAFSA filers with high financial need. At Southern, the average award is $1,000 per year. These funds must be repaid. Repayment begins nine months after graduation or leaving school.

William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan

Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loan. This loan is available to all students. Needy students borrow first from the subsidized Stafford/Ford Loan (interest deferred). Students analyzed as "no need" borrow through the unsubsidized Stafford/Ford Loan (interest accrues while enrolled). Annual limits are: freshmen, $2,625; sophomores, $3,500; juniors/seniors, $5,500; graduate students, $8,500.

Students defined by aid law as independent may qualify to borrow both the subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford/Ford Loan amount each year. This allows the eligible independent student to borrow approximately twice as much as the dependent student.

Cumulative loan limits (including undergraduate and graduate work) are $138,500 for independent students and $65,000 for dependent students.

Post baccalaureate students, or those pursuing a second bachelor's degree, are limited to borrowing the appropriate undergraduate amount.

The interest rate is variable, not to exceed 8.25 percent. Repayment begins six months after leaving school.

Federal Direct PLUS Loans. This auxiliary loan program is available to the parents of undergraduate students. No family income restrictions are attached to this program. A credit check is required. The interest rate is variable, not to exceed 9 percent. Parents may borrow up to the cost of attendance minus other aid. These loans may be used to offset expected contributions by the parent.

Employment

Federal Work-Study. The Federal College Work-Study Program provides federally subsidized part-time employment for students with analyzed financial need. Job hours are coordinated with the student's class schedule. Positions are available with campus departments and nonprofit agencies off campus. The program encourages community service work.

Part-Time Employment. The Student Employment Office helps students find other, non work-study part-time jobs on campus and in the community.

Scholarships, Awards, Grants, and Gifts

Last year, students received more than $2,500,000 through Southern Oregon University sources or through other public and private scholarship donors. Scholarships normally range from $100 to $3,000 each. Students should contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information about scholarships.

Scholarships. Southern Oregon University has a number of scholarships ranging from $100 to $3,000. Many scholarships are awarded to students already attending the University. However, approximately eighty freshman scholarships are available, including the SOU Diversity, Presidential, Oregon Laurels, Smullin, and Ruth Kneass Memorial scholarships. Many scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement and financial need. Check with the Office of Financial Aid for scholarship application deadlines. Applicants must file the FAFSA for need-based scholarships. Institutional scholarships are coordinated through the Financial Aid and Awards Committee.

Federal Pell Grants. This award provides students up to $3,125 for each undergraduate year. Pell Grants provide a foundation of financial aid to which aid from other federal and non federal sources may be added. Unlike loans, grants do not have to be paid back.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG). These grants provide up to $600 a year to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need. Students must be Pell eligible to receive SEOG consideration.

State Need Grant. Oregon residents are eligible to apply for the State Need Grant given by the Oregon State Scholarship Commission. State Need Grants are based on financial need, and students may receive up to $1,140 per year. Grants are renewable annually provided financial need and satisfactory progress are continued.

OUS Supplemental Tuition Grant. Undergraduate students who are Oregon residents are considered for the OUS Supplemental Tuition Grant. The student must be enrolled full time each term. The maximum award is $600 per year.

The scholarships listed below are administered by Southern Oregon University.

Departmental Scholarships

Department of Biology

School of Business

Department of Chemistry

Department of Computer Science

Department of Criminology

Department of Education

Department of English

School of Arts and Letters

Department of Geography

Department of Geology

Department of Health and Physical Education

Department of History

Department of Military Science

Department of Physics

Department of Political Science

Department of Psychology

School of Sciences

School of Social Science and Education

Department of Sociology

General and Foundation Scholarships