Applying for Financial Aid

What do I have to do to apply for financial aid?
What is the school's federal ID/code?
What is the Office of Financial Aid's fax number and can I fax my application to you?
Is it too late to apply for financial aid?
Why do I have to complete the verification worksheet?
Why do I have to provide tax transcripts?
How do I obtain a tax transcript?
Is it worth taking the time to apply for aid if I think I make too much money?
Why am I considered a "dependent student"?
What are "special circumstances" and how can they affect my financial aid?
Do I have to apply for aid every year?

Receiving Financial Aid

When can I expect to get my award and is there any way to speed up the process?
My award letter indicated that to keep my financial aid I need to make satisfactory academic progress. What does that mean?
My award letter says I have to complete a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note. What does that mean?
What is "loan entrance counseling" and how do I complete it?
When will my loan be certified?
Can I do my loan entrance counseling and complete the loan master promissory note before I am awarded aid?
How do I know that my application for a Stafford or PLUS loan has been approved? Is there a possibility of it being rejected?
What is the difference between a subsidized and an unsubsidized federal Stafford loan?
What are the Stafford loan limits?
What are "alternative loans"?
Is any more aid available?
I only want to take one class this term. Can I still receive financial aid for that class?
If I only have one class left to take toward my degree, should I register for additional classes to get up to half-time enrollment so I can receive financial aid?

Cost and Financial Aid Refunds

How much are tuition and fees?
How much will books cost?
Will financial aid cover my admissions fee or test fees?
I was awarded financial aid in excess of my actual costs. When will I get my money?
Can financial aid cover an outstanding balance from a previous school term?
Can I get aid for repeated courses?
What is "pending aid"? Can I get a refund from pending aid? If my aid is pending, can I defer payment on my student account?
When can I get a book voucher?
When do I need to clear my student account?
How do I use financial aid to clear my student account?
Does Marylhurst University provide short-term loans?
What options do I have to clear my account if my financial aid does not cover my bill?

Co-Enrollment and/or Consortium Agreements

I am taking classes at Marylhurst University and another school. Can I get aid from both schools?
What is the difference between being "co-enrolled" and completing a "consortium agreement"?
How do I complete a consortium agreement form?

Other

How do I find a federal work-study job on campus?
Where do I look for outside scholarships?
How do I get Veterans' Administration education benefits?

Applying for Financial Aid

What do I have to do to apply for financial aid?
If you haven't already done so, you must apply for admission to Marylhurst University. You can apply for admission and financial aid at the same time. Visit our Apply for Financial Aid page for more details on the application process.

What is the school's federal ID/code?
Marylhurst University's federal ID code for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is 003199.

What is the Office of Financial Aid's fax number and can I fax my application to you?
The financial aid office fax number is 503.635.6585. We can accept faxes of most documents as long as they are signed. We cannot accept faxes of the FAFSA. If your documents are printed on colored paper, please make white photocopies of them for faxing; color paper faxes often are unreadable.

Is it too late to apply for financial aid?
Financial aid can take two to four weeks to process, depending on the time of year you apply and how you file your FAFSA (paper vs. electronic). Aid cannot be given at the end of the term, so if you apply for aid on the last day of the term, you probably won't be awarded in time to receive aid for that term. If you want to use aid to clear your student account, please allow enough time to receive your award prior to the due date for that term (generally the second week of classes).

Why do I have to complete the verification worksheet? (undergraduate students only)
The federal financial aid processor flags 30 percent of all aid applicants for a process called verification. However, Marylhurst University verifies ALL undergraduate aid applicants. This means we will request certain financial documents to confirm the information on the FAFSA is correct.

Why do I have to provide tax transcripts?
The information on the verification worksheet and the tax return transcript is compared to the information on the FAFSA to ensure accuracy and allow for maximum aid eligibility consideration.

How do I obtain a tax transcript?
The easiest ways to order a federal tax return transcript from the IRS are by phone at 800.908.9946 or online. If you go online, click "Order a Return or Account Transcript."

Is it worth taking the time to apply for aid if I think I make too much money?
We encourage all students to apply for financial aid even if they think they make too much money. Financial aid is based on a variety of factors, not just financial need. Most students can qualify for non-need-based federal student loans if they are enrolled at least half-time in an eligible degree program.

Why am I considered a "dependent student"?
The federal government considers any student in an undergraduate degree program who is under 24 years old to be dependent, unless a student meets one of several specific criteria (e.g., married, orphaned, ward of the court, veteran, have a child to support). If you believe you have special circumstances that could override your designation as a dependent, please contact our Office of Financial Aid. Being self-supporting and/or a parent's unwillingness to provide information on the FAFSA are not considered special circumstances.

What are "special circumstances" and how can they affect my financial aid?
The FAFSA asks for previous year's income information. You must re-apply for financial aid every year, and you are reconsidered for aid based on your previous year's income information. In some cases, previous year information is not an accurate reflection of your ability to pay for your education. Special circumstances could include a dramatic loss of income from one year to the next year due to "involuntary" circumstances, such as an involuntary loss of your job or one-time income from an insurance settlement. In some special circumstances, we can base your aid on estimated current year income instead of previous year income. If you think you have special circumstances, please complete our Request for Re-Evaluation of Aid form.

Do I have to apply for aid every year?
Yes, students must re-apply for aid for each new award year. Award years include fall term through summer term (e.g., fall 2013 through summer 2014).

Receiving Financial Aid

When can I expect to get my award and is there any way to speed up the process?
Once you have completed all items in your To Do List, it can take two to four weeks to receive your award, depending on the time of year. Spring and summer are peak processing times when delays are generally longer. We review applications in the order they are completed. The best thing you can do is complete all required forms correctly at least four weeks prior to your enrollment date. The earlier you apply for aid, the sooner you will get your award.

My award letter indicated that to keep my financial aid I need to make satisfactory academic progress. What does that mean?
Federal regulations require us to track your "satisfactory academic progress" in both qualitative and quantitative ways to make sure you are making adequate progress toward earning your degree. We measure your GPA; undergraduates must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, and graduate students must have a cumulative GPA or 3.0 or higher. If your GPA falls below those levels, you may be placed on financial aid probation or financial aid suspension. You also must complete the credits for which you receive financial aid. If you don't complete the number of credits for which you received aid in any given term (e.g., you were awarded aid for 6 credits and only completed 3 credits), you may receive a financial aid warning or a financial aid suspension. We review these combined factors at the end of each term for which you are receiving aid to make sure you are making "satisfactory academic progress."
Learn more about satisfactory academic progress 

My award letter says I have to complete a Direct Loan Master Promissory Note. What does that mean?
All new borrowers at Marylhurst need to complete this note, even if you have completed it at another school. You only need to complete the MPN at Marylhurst once; any future money you borrow through the direct loan program will be added to the MPN you previously completed. To complete your Direct Loan MPN, go to our Secure Your Loans page, choose the type of loan you are taking out, and follow the instructions from there for filling out the note. If you are eligible for Stafford and/or Graduate PLUS loans and wish to activate both, please follow the links from the Secure Your Loans page to complete that paperwork.

What is "loan entrance counseling" and how do I complete it?
If you receive federal student loans and are a new borrower at Marylhurst, federal regulations require you to complete loan entrance counseling prior to receiving your loan funds. This is to ensure you understand all terms of the loans you are taking out and must eventually repay. You only need to complete loan entrance counseling once, prior to borrowing federal money for the first time. To complete your loan entrance counseling, go to our Secure Your Loans page, choose the type of loan you are taking out, and follow the instructions from there for completing your counseling.

When will my loan be certified?
After you have accepted your loans in FinAidOnline, we can certify your loans. Generally, we certify student loans within a week of the time you accept your aid.

Can I do my loan entrance counseling and complete the loan master promissory note before I am awarded aid?
We generally ask students to wait to complete their loan counseling and master promissory note until after we've determined what type of loan and loan amount they qualify for. If you complete these steps prior to receiving your loan award, the master promissory note you sign may expire prior to our being able to certify your eligibility. This would mean you would have to re-do the counseling or re-sign the note. It's better to wait and complete the process in order.

How do I know that my application for a Stafford or PLUS loan has been approved? Is there a possibility of it being rejected?
Federal Stafford loans are guaranteed. Once the Financial Aid Office determines your eligibility for the Stafford loan programs, you will qualify as long as your remain enrolled at least half-time. There is no credit check and no co-signer requirement. Federal PLUS loans (for graduate students or parents of undergraduate students) do require a credit check and could be denied for adverse credit.

What is the difference between a subsidized and an unsubsidized federal Stafford loan?
The subsidized Stafford loan is interest-free while you are enrolled at least half-time. With unsubsidized Stafford loans, interest accrues from the time the loan is disbursed. Both loans can be deferred while you are enrolled at least half-time. Both also assume a standard repayment period of 10 years once you are no longer enrolled at least half-time.

What are the Stafford loan limits?
Stafford loans have annual and cumulative limits based on a student's grade level. For example, juniors can borrow more per term than sophomores. There is a cumulative limit for both undergraduate and graduate students. The loan limits for the Stafford loan programs can be found on our Federal Student Loan Maximum Amounts page.

What are "alternative loans"?
Private alternative education loans are offered by lenders to students for education expenses not covered by other federal aid. These loans are not guaranteed and they generally require good credit and/or a co-signer to qualify. The amount you can borrow is limited by Marylhurst's defined cost of attendance. You can see our list of recommended private loan lenders on our Private Education Loans page.

Is any more aid available?
The award letter you receive from the Office of Financial Aid lists the maximum financial aid resources available to you. If you believe you have special circumstances, you should complete the Request for Re-Evaluation form. A revised award letter will be sent to you if additional assistance is found.

I only want to take one class this term. Can I still receive financial aid for that class?
Financial aid regulations require students in a degree-seeking program to register at least half-time (6+ credits for undergraduates, 5+ credits for graduates) to receive most financial aid resources. If you register for fewer credits than these minimums, you won't be eligible for most forms of financial aid. Please note that federal financial aid requirements also require students receiving financial aid to enroll in classes that fulfill unmet degree requirements.

If I only have one class left to take toward my degree, should I register for additional classes to get up to half-time enrollment so I can receive financial aid?
No. In addition to minimum credit requirements, federal financial aid regulations require students receiving financial aid to enroll in classes that fulfill unmet degree requirements. If you are taking classes that don't fulfill unmet degree requirements, those classes can't count toward your enrollment for financial aid purposes.

For example: You have one 3-credit class to complete to receive your degree. You register for this class and another 3-credit class that doesn't fulfill a degree requirement for you to be eligible for financial aid. Although you're registered for 6 credits, for financial aid purposes, you're only registered for 3 credits, as those are the only credits you are taking to fulfill an unmet degree requirement. At a 3-credit enrollment, you would not be eligible to receive most forms of financial aid.

We strongly encourage students to work with an academic adviser to develop an academic plan that avoids this type of situation.

Cost and Financial Aid Refunds

How much are tuition and fees?
Tuition and fees are based on your degree program and can be found on our tuition and fees page. You can utilize the Cost of Attendance Calculator to help you determine your account balance based on the credit load and financial aid offered to you. 

How much will books cost?
Book costs vary per class and what the instructor requires. For financial aid purposes, we estimate books will cost about $50 per credit.

Will financial aid cover my admissions fee or test fees?
No, financial aid cannot be used to cover your admissions fee or test fees.

I was awarded financial aid in excess of my actual costs. When will I get my money?
After we've disbursed all financial aid to your student account, if the total provided to you is greater than what you owe, we will refund the excess to you. Refunds are issued once a week, and the first refunds of each term are issued the Friday of the third full week of classes. Financial aid must be disbursed to your account by Tuesday evening to get a refund on Friday of that same week. We won't issue refunds until we've actually disbursed and credited the financial aid to your account. You should always confirm with our Student Accounts Office if you are expecting a refund.

Can financial aid cover an outstanding balance from a previous school term?
It depends. Federal regulations allow aid to cover costs within one academic year. If the aid received is within the same academic year as the term the balance is due, then it can be used to cover those costs. However, federal regulations don't allow aid to cover prior year balances. For example, summer term aid can help pay the previous spring term balance. However, fall term is the start of a new academic year, so fall aid cannot be used to cover the previous summer term balance.

Can I get aid for repeated courses?
Under certain circumstances you can get aid for repeated courses. Generally, if you receive a grade of C- or lower, you can receive aid the first time you repeat the course. If you must receive a grade higher than the grade you earned for a course in order for that course to count toward your graduation requirements, you can receive aid the first time you repeat a course. Please check with the Office of Financial Aid to get more specific information about receiving aid for repeated courses.

What is "pending aid"? Can I get a refund from pending aid? If my aid is pending, can I defer payment on my student account?
If you are registered for the correct number of credits for the term and you have turned in all items on your To Do List, then your accepted aid will show as "pending" aid on your student account. You'll receive your refund of excess financial aid when the aid has actually been disbursed and credited to your account. Pending aid allows you to defer payment of the amount owed that will be covered by financial aid. However, if the accepted pending aid never gets disbursed to your account, you are still responsible to pay the amount due. Please contact the Student Accounts Office to confirm any balance on your account.

When can I get a book voucher?
If your awarded financial aid will be more than what you will owe for tuition and fees and will create a credit on your student account, you can request a book voucher to purchase your books prior to aid actually being disbursed to your account. Your aid must show as "pending" in the Student Accounts Office to qualify for a book voucher. You also must be registered for the correct number of credits for the term and have turned in all fund-required documentation on your To Do List. Book vouchers are available two weeks prior to the start of each term and until the end of the second week of classes. For more information on how to receive a book voucher, contact the Student Accounts Office or visit Student Accounts FAQ.

When do I need to clear my student account?
You must clear your account by the end of the second week of classes. Please contact the Student Accounts Office for more information about clearing your account.

How do I use financial aid to clear my student account?
If you are registered for the correct number of credits for the term and you have turned in all fund-required paperwork listed on your To Do List, then your aid will show as "pending" on your student account. You'll receive a financial aid refund for any aid that is over and above the cost of your tuition and fees only when the aid has actually been disbursed and credited to your account. Pending aid allows you to defer payment of the amount you owe that will be covered by financial aid. However, if the accepted pending aid never gets disbursed to your account, you are still responsible for paying the amount due. Please contact the Student Accounts Office to confirm any balances on your account.

Does Marylhurst University provide short-term loans?
No, but payment options are available through the Student Accounts Office.

What options do I have to clear my account if my financial aid does not cover my bill?
Please contact the Student Accounts Office for information about options for clearing a balance due on your account. Payment options are listed on the Student Accounts FAQ.

Co-Enrollment and/or Consortium Agreements

I am taking classes at Marylhurst University and another school. Can I get aid from both schools?
You can't get federal financial aid at more than one school at a time. You need to decide at which school you want to receive aid and complete a consortium agreement at that school. If the financial aid you receive at one school is more than what you need to pay tuition and fees there, you can use the excess funds to help pay your charges at the second school. You must be enrolled at least half-time at the home school to be eligible to complete a consortium agreement.

What is the difference between being "co-enrolled" and completing a "consortium agreement"?
If you are co-enrolled, you don't have to pay an admission fee when you apply for two schools that have a co-enrollment agreement. Our Admissions Office can provide you with more information about schools Marylhurst has co-enrollment agreements with. Co-enrollment means you are considered an active student at both institutions and can register for classes at both. It does NOT affect your financial aid eligibility in any way. The only way to "add your classes together" to possibly increase your aid eligibility is to complete a consortium agreement form. To be eligible for a consortium agreement, you must be enrolled at least half-time at your home school.

How do I complete a consortium agreement form?
You can pick up the consortium agreement form in the financial aid office at Marylhurst or download the form. You must complete the form and obtain the required signatures. The form must be signed by a representative of our Office of Financial Aid as well as by your academic adviser to ensure the classes being taken at the other school (the host school) will transfer to Marylhurst University (your home school). A representative of the host school Financial Aid Office also will need to sign the form and return it to the Marylhurst Financial Aid Office. A copy of your course registration must be attached to the form. At the end of the term, you must submit grades from the host school to the Marylhurst Financial Aid Office as well as to our Registrar's Office to ensure the classes have been transferred.

Other

How do I find a federal work-study job on campus?
Federal work-study job openings are posted on a bulletin board in the Financial Aid Office and on My Marylhurst. You'll need to stop by the Financial Aid Office to pick up the hiring paperwork and confirm you qualify for work-study before applying for any open positions on campus.

Where do I look for outside scholarships?
You can find information about outside scholarships posted on a bulletin board in the financial aid office. You'll also find several scholarship search resources on our Apply for Scholarships page. The Oregon Student Access Commission has an online scholarship application due March 1 each year. By filling out this application, you'll be considered for more than 400 private scholarships awarded in the state. Another good website with links to free national scholarship search engines is www.finaid.org.

How do I get Veterans' Administration education benefits?
To apply for VA benefits, visit our VA Education Benefits page. You will find information about the different forms you'll need to complete based on your VA status.