Financial Aid and Scholarships
Below you'll find information about:
Financial Aid
Financial aid, including loans, grants and part-time employment, may be available to help you finance your undergraduate or master's degree. Scholarships from a variety of outside sources may also be available as an element of financial aid.
In collaboration with Central Oregon Community College, OSU-Cascades offers 16 undergraduate majors and over 25 program options, plus graduate programs. Students admitted to OSU-Cascades can take lower division classes from Central Oregon Community College, or transfer directly into upper division courses in the program of their choice.
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 OSU-Cascades. Although you may be attending classes taught by more than one institution, you can receive financial aid only from your home institution. For financial aid purposes, only credits earned through OSU or OSU-Cascades and COCC 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, grants, 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. OSU-Cascades offers six categories of dedicated scholarships for OSU-Cascades degree-seeking students.
Grants
Grants are based on financial need and do not need to be repaid. Available grants include Federal Pell Grant, Federal ACG Grant, Federal SMART Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Supplemental Tuition Waiver, and State of Oregon Opportunity Grant.
Student Employment
Part-time student employment 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 offer a grace period before repayment begins. Potential loans include the Perkins Loan, the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program, or the Federal Stafford Loan Program. The Ford and Stafford programs include subsidized and unsubsidized loans, and PLUS loans which are available to graduate students or parents of dependent students.
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. Applications are available 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. Institutions collaborating with OSU-Cascades are:
- Oregon State University - 003210
- Central Oregon Community College - 003188
Important Deadlines
You can apply for federal financial aid at any time during the school year, but you and your family can get the best package of federal, state and campus funding if your application meets your home institution's early applicant priority deadline (generally February 28). Applicants meeting this deadline are given the highest consideration for campus-based funding. Some scholarships may have earlier or later deadlines.
Be sure to complete and submit your admissions applications to the institutions you are interested in attending. Your financial aid application will not be reviewed until an admissions application has been submitted.
If you have met your home institution'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, depending on the institution.
Scholarships
OSU-Cascades scholarships are funded from a dedicated $3.5 million endowment from Oregon State University. Community scholarships from private donors are also offered to support OSU-Cascades students in Central Oregon. Students applying for OSU-Cascades scholarships must complete the scholarship application available online, 2013-2014 Scholarship information and application links.
Students enrolled in OSU-Cascades degree programs can apply for scholarships in the following areas with one application if they meet the following criteria.
| Scholarship | Deadline | Award Amount | Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|
| OSU-Cascades Scholarships 2013-2014 |
4/1/2013 | Admitted to OSU-Cascades; most require full-time enrollment. 2013-2014 Scholarship information and application links. | |
| Cascades Diversity | 4/1/2013 | $900-$3000 |
Junior standing, contribute to diverse campus community, financial need. |
| Cascades Partner | 4/1/2013 | $900-$3000 | Junior standing, contribution to Central Oregon community, financial need. |
| Cascades Scholar | 4/1/2013 | $900-$3000 | Junior standing, cumulative GPA 3.50 or higher. |
| Cascades Honor | 4/1/2013 |
$3000-4500 | Offered to COCC honor scholarship recipients, with Junior standing, cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher. Eligible students will be contacted. |
| Cascades Mini-Grant | 4/1/2013 | $900-$1500 | Freshman to Senior standing, 2.50 GPA or higher. |
| Cascades Community | 4/1/2013 | $300-4500 | Varying eligibility requirements. |
| Other Scholarships | Information available in Cascades Hall, Room 223 |
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| Chapter FL, Oregon P.E.O. Scholarship | 5/15/2013 | Varies | Application, transcripts, letter of reference, essay, income and expense statement. See application for more details. |
| Charles Beckley OHA Scholarship | 04/25/2012 | $250-$1000 | Application, transcripts, lettter of reference, essay required. See application for more details. |
| OSU-Cascades TOL Expedition Scholarship | 2/4/2013 | $1000 | Tourism & Outdoor Leadership Expedition course scholarship, fillable application, essay. |
| OSAC Scholarships | 3/1/2013 | Varies | Online application, varying eligibility requirements. |
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OSU Scholarships |
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| OSU Scholarship Information | Varies | Visit OSU Scholarships for more information. | |
| OSU International Programs Scholarships | Varies | Visit International Programs Scholarships page for more information. | |
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Online Scholarship Searches |
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| www.collegequest.com | Peterson's and the National Association of Financial Aid Administrators collaborated to provide a comprehensive Web site for credible information on financing a college education. | ||
| www.fastweb.com | The largest free scholarship search service on the Internet with a searchable database of more than 275,000 private sector scholarships, fellowships, grants and loans. Students are provided an updated list of "matched" scholarships as new funding sources become available. | ||
| www.finaid.org |
A reliable source for a free and comprehensive guide to student financial aid, providing valuable information on scholarship search services and searchable databases. The page provides links to some of the largest free scholarship search services on the internet. |
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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 the Office of Enrollment Services at 541-322-3100.
More Information?
Office of Enrollment Services
541-322-3100
cascadesadmit@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)
