General Financial Aid Information
- Federal Student Aid - An office of the U.S. Department of Education
- FERPA - Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act
- IRS for Students - An IRS guide to higher education
- NASFAA - National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Resources for Students, Parents, & Counselors
- Student Aid Tips for Unique Student Circumstances - NASFAA tip sheets for students facing unique circumstances when applying for aid. Tip sheets are available for Adult Learners, Undocumented Students, Servicemembers & Veterans, and Refugee & Asylee Students.
Other Resources
Admitted students who have filed a FAFSA will receive a financial aid offer letter along with an enrollment packet in the mail. Your packet contains important information to help guide you through the financial aid process, including:
- Dates and Deadlines
- Financial Aid Checklist
- Outside Scholarships
- Cost and Payment Information
- Important Campus Contacts
Please take time to carefully review this information and reach out to our office with any questions. A digital copy of the enrollment packet is available below:
All students are expected to read and understand the policies published in the Financial Aid Handbook.
By accepting the financial aid you have been offered, you are certifying that you have read, understood, and agreed to abide by the polices published in the current Financial Aid Handbook.
- Financial Aid Handbook - Updated 01/09/2025
Please contact the Office of Financial Aid if you have any questions regarding published policies.
Guidelines for Eligibility for GRE® Fee Reduction Certificate
To be eligible for a GRE® Fee Reduction Certificate, an applicant must be a United States citizen or resident alien who is a college senior or an un-enrolled college graduate.
- College seniors must be (1) receiving financial aid through an undergraduate college in the U.S., American Samoa, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico, AND EITHER (2) a dependent, who has a FAFSA Student Aid Report (SAR) that shows a parental contribution of not more than $2,500 for the senior year, OR (3) self-supporting and have a SAR that shows a contribution of not more than $3,000 for the senior year.
- Unenrolled college graduates must (1) have applied for financial aid AND (2) have a SAR that shows a self-supporting status and a contribution of not more than $3,000.
To apply for a GRE® Fee Reduction Voucher, complete the GRE® Fee Reduction Request form (PDF) and follow the instructions on the form regarding the submission of materials to ETS. Allow up to three weeks for processing and mail delivery.
Additional information about the GRE® Fee Reduction Program is available on the program's website.
Students who borrow from the Direct Loan program are required to complete entrance prior to borrowing and exit counseling when they are no longer enrolled at least half time.
Entrance Counseling
First time borrowers of the Federal Direct Student Subsidized and Unsubsidized loans are required to complete loan entrance counseling. Loan entrance counseling should take you 30-45 minutes to complete.
- Complete Direct Loan Entrance Counseling
Exit Counseling
Exit counseling is required when you are no longer enrolled at least 1/2 time (6 credits for undergraduate students; 5 credits for graduate students). For most students, you will complete exit counseling when you graduate. After you have submitted the 'Exit Counseling' the results can take up to two weeks before the University of Portland is notified.
- Complete Direct Loan Exit Counseling
- Review Loan Repayment and Forgiveness options and resources
For comprehensive information regarding your federal student loans, log onto the Federal Student Aid Dashboard.
Several repayment and forgiveness options are available for student loan borrowers
Loan Repayment
For the most recent and accurate information regarding federal student loan repayment, please visit studentaid.gov or contact your loan servicer directly.
New Repayment Options
Starting July 1, 2026, federal student loan borrowers will choose between the following two repayment plans:
Standard Repayment Plan
- Fixed monthly payment based on loan amount
- Repayment term is generally 10 years, but the repayment term may be extended in certain circumstances. Loan servicers will have the most recent information.
- No income consideration
- Automatic enrollment for borrowers who don't select a plan.
Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP)
- Monthly payments are based on a percentage of adjusted gross income (AGI).
Additional Loan Repayment Resources
- Federal Loan Deferment and Forbearance Options
- Federal Loan Repayment Plans
- Federal Student Aid Dashboard
Loan Forgiveness, Cancellation and Discharge
For the most current information regarding loan forgiveness, cancellation, and discharge options, please contact your loan servicer. More information can be found at student.gov/manage-loans/forgiveness-cancellation.
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