Enrollment Services Center
Britt Hall
541-552-6600
http://www.sou.edu/enrollment
Financial aid assistance at Southern Oregon University is available for those who qualify. The Enrollment Services Center staff awards financial aid and provides financial aid counseling.
Since SOU has a limited amount of financial assistance available, so the primary responsibility for meeting the student’s educational expenses rests with the family.
Application Procedures
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used to apply for grants, scholarships, loans, and the work-study program. Students may access the FAFSA on the Internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Students who do not have access to the Internet may call 800-4FED-AID to obtain a paper FAFSA. A student must be admitted to SOU before an offer is made.
Application Deadlines
To meet the University’s March 1 deadline for financial aid priority consideration, file the FAFSA listing SOU between January 1 and February 10. These early applicants who have been admitted to SOU usually receive their award notifications beginning in April. Later FAFSA applicants who have applied for admission are notified on a rolling basis.
Financial aid awards are for a one-year period. Applicants must reapply through the FAFSA each year to receive continued consideration for financial assistance. For more information, contact the Enrollment Services Center at 541-552-6600 or visit www.sou.edu/enrollment.
Scholarships, Awards, Grants, and Gifts
Last academic year, SOU students received more than $5 million through SOU sources or other public and private scholarship donors. Students should contact the Enrollment Services Center or visit www.sou.edu/enrollment for more information about scholarships.
Scholarships. SOU offers a number of scholarships ranging from $100 to full tuition/fees. Many scholarships are awarded to students already attending the University. However, approximately 275 freshman scholarships are available, including the SOU Diversity, Presidential, Laurels, Incentive, Provost, Smullin, Robert W. and Betty F. Root, and Ruth Kneass Memorial Scholarships.
Many scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement, while others are based on need or community service. Applicants must file the FAFSA to be considered for need-based scholarships.
To apply for SOU scholarships, students must fill out the Southern Online Scholarship Application (SOSA). Consult www.sou.edu/enrollment for information about the scholarship application and information. Applicants will be considered for every scholarship for which they are eligible.
Federal Pell Grants. This award provides students with up to $5,550 for each undergraduate year. Pell Grants are awarded to low-income families. Unlike loans, grants do not have to be paid back.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG). These grants provide up to $1,000 a year to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need who file the FAFSA early. Students must be Pell-eligible to receive SEOG consideration.
Federal ACG (Academic Competitiveness Grant). This grant is available to first- and second-year students who are eligible for a Pell grant and who have completed a rigorous secondary program. Awards may be up to $750 for first-year and $1,350 for second-year students.
Federal National SMART (Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent). This grant is available to third- and fourth-year students who are eligible for a Pell grant and are majoring in specific science, math, or foreign language programs. The maximum award is $4,000 per year.
Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG). The Oregon Student Assistance Commission (OSAC) considers undergraduate students who are Oregon residents for this grant. The OOG is based on financial need and is renewable annually for up to twelve terms, provided financial need and satisfactory progress continue. Early filing of the FAFSA is strongly advised.
SOU Supplemental Tuition Grant. Undergraduates who are Oregon residents are considered for the Supplemental Tuition Grant. The student must be enrolled full time each term. The maximum award is $1,200 a year.
Perkins Loan
The Federal Perkins Loan is a 5-percent deferred interest loan. First priority in awarding is given to early FAFSA filers with high financial need. At SOU, the average award is $1,000 a year. These funds must be repaid. Repayment begins nine months after the student graduates or leaves school.
William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan
The Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loan is available to all eligible students. Students with financial need borrow first from the subsidized Stafford/Ford Loan (interest deferred). Students categorized as “no need” are only eligible to borrow through the unsubsidized Stafford/Ford Loan (interest accrues while enrolled). Annual limits for both unsubsidized and subsidized loans for 2009-10 are: (dependent undergraduate) $5,500 for freshmen, $6,500 for sophomores, $7,500 for juniors and seniors; (independent undergraduates) $9,500 for freshmen, $10,500 for sophomores, $12,500 for juniors and seniors; and $20,500 for graduate students.
The total combined Stafford/Ford Loan debt maximums are $31,000 for dependent undergraduates and $57,500 for independent undergraduates. The graduate maximum of $138,500 includes loans received as an undergraduate.
Postbaccalaureate students or those pursuing a second bachelor’s degree are limited to borrowing the appropriate undergraduate amount.
For loans disbursed on or after July 1, 2006 interest rates are fixed, the interest rate for unsubsidized loans is 6.8%. The interst rate for subsidized loans disbursed between July 1, 2009 and July 1, 2010 is 5.6%, for loans disbursed between July 1, 2010 and July 1, 2011 the interest rate is 4.5% and for loans disbursed between July 1, 2011 and July 1, 2012 the interest rate is 3.4%. The interest rate for loans disbursed prior to July 1, 2006 is variable.
Loan processing fees of 1.5% are deducted from each loan disbursement. Repayment begins six months after the student graduates, leaves school, or drops below 6 credits.
Federal Direct PLUS Loans are available to parents of dependent undergraduate students. No family income restrictions are attached to this auxiliary loan program. A credit check is required. The interest rate is variable, not to exceed 9 percent. Loan processing fees of 4 percent are deducted from each loan disbursement. Parents may borrow up to the cost of attendance minus other aid. These loans may be used to offset expected contributions by the parent.
Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loans are available to graduate students. No family income restrictions are attached to this auxiliary loan program. A credit check is required. The interest rate is variable, not to exceed 9 percent. Loan processing fees of 4% are deducted from each loan disbursement. Graduate students may borrow up to the cost of attendance minus other aid. These loans may be used to offset expected contriutions by the student.
Employment
The Federal 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 in campus departments and off-campus nonprofit agencies, including community service work.
The Career Development Services System ( http://www.sou.edu/careers/ ) lists all available work-study jobs.
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