7 tips on how to apply for financial aid

Oregon State financial aid experts share advice for online students

Let’s be honest: Receiving financial aid can be the difference between earning your college degree and not being able to go back to school at all.

That makes applying for financial aid a hugely important process, and we at Oregon State want to help you navigate it like a pro. And here’s more good news: Nearly all students who apply for federal financial aid — and meet the enrollment requirements — qualify for some form of assistance.

Straight from the experts in Oregon State’s Office of Financial Aid, here are seven tips for prospective online learners:

1. Apply for aid opportunities early

• Oct. 1, 2024: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opens
• Nov. 1, 2024: OSU ScholarDollars application opens
• Feb. 1, 2025: OSU ScholarDollars priority deadline
• Feb. 15, 2025: OSAC scholarship early bird application deadline for Oregon residents
• Feb. 28, 2025: OSU’s FAFSA priority filing deadline
• April 1, 2025: OSAC scholarship application deadline for Oregon residents
• Please note: Applying for these aid opportunities means you are applying to receive funding for the 2025-26 academic year.

2. Estimate your costs

• Use the OSU Ecampus tuition and fees calculator to compare costs to the amount of financial aid you’ll receive each term.
• Create a plan to pay any remaining amount owed. OSU’s Office of Financial Aid can help you develop a clear plan.

3. Be aware of limits and guidelines

• Federal Direct Loans, Federal Pell Grants and other forms of aid typically have yearly and aggregate limits on the amounts you can receive. Learn more about these limits for undergraduate students and for graduate students.
• Meet the federal satisfactory academic progress to maintain your aid eligibility.
• Submit an enrollment revision request form after you receive your financial aid offer if you plan to be enrolled less than full time.

4. Select OSU as your institution

• To receive financial aid from Oregon State, you must cancel any aid you’re receiving at any other schools.
• Update your FAFSA to add OSU as a recipient school (code 003210).

5. Once admitted, check your OSU email

• You’ll be notified by email when your financial aid offer is ready or if more info is needed.
• You can also find notifications on MyOSU in the Paying for College tab.

6. Explore the Ecampus need-based grant

• Oregon State’s financial aid office awards a need-based grant to eligible, degree-seeking OSU Ecampus students. Funds are limited and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

7. Have questions? Just ask.

• Explore the Ecampus financial aid FAQ.
• Ask Finn, the financial aid chatbot on OSU’s financial aid website.
• Send a question to staff in OSU’s financial aid office.