Financial Aid Office

Churchill 115
541-552-6161
Peggy Nitsos, Director

Financial aid assistance at the University comprises scholarships, loans, grants, and work-study to those who qualify. In addition to awarding financial aid, the SOU Financial Aid Office provides financial aid counseling.

Since SOU has a limited amount of financial assistance available, 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 loans, scholarships, grants, and the work-study program. Students may access the FAFSA on the Web at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Students may obtain a paper FAFSA application from any college financial aid office or their high school counselors. An application for admission must be on file before an aid offer can be made.

Application Deadlines

To meet the University's March 1 deadline for financial aid "first consideration," file the FAFSA listing SOU between January 1 and February 10. These early applicants who have applied for admission 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.

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. Needy students borrow first from the subsidized Stafford/Ford Loan (interest deferred). Students categorized as "no need" borrow through the unsubsidized Stafford/Ford Loan (interest accrues while enrolled). Annual limits are: $2,625 for freshmen; $3,500 for sophomores; $5,500 for juniors and seniors; and $8,500 for graduate students.

Students defined as independent by aid law may qualify to borrow both the subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford/Ford Loan amount each year. This allows the eligible independent student to borrow approximately twice as much as the dependent student.

The total combined Stafford/Ford Loan debt maximums are $23,000 for dependent undergraduates and $46,000 for independent under
graduates. The graduate maximum of $138,000 includes loans received as an undergraduate.

Postbaccalaureate students or those pursuing a second bachelor's degree are limited to borrowing the appropriate undergraduate amount.

The interest rate is variable, not to exceed 8.25 percent. Loan processing fees of 1.5 percent 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 the parents of 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 2.5 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.

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. The program encourages community service work.

The Student Employment Office helps students find other, non-work-study jobs on campus and in the community for part-time employment.

Scholarships, Awards, Grants, and Gifts

Last academic year, SOU students received more than $2,500,000 through Southern Oregon University sources or other public and private scholarship donors. Students should contact the Financial Aid Office or visit www.sou.edu/finaid for more information about scholarships.

Scholarships. Southern Oregon University offers a number of scholarships, ranging from $100 to $9,000. Many scholarships are awarded to students already attending the University. However, approximately eighty freshman scholarships are available, including the SOU Diversity, Presidential, Laurels, Smullin, Robert W. and Betty F. Root, and Ruth Kneass Memorial scholarships. Many scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic achievement and others on need or community service. Consult the Financial Aid Office or www.sou.edu/finaid for scholarship application deadlines. Applicants must file the FAFSA for need-based scholarships. Institutional scholarships are coordinated through the Financial Aid and Awards Committee.

Federal Pell Grants. This award provides students with up to $4,000 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 $600 a year to undergraduate students with exceptional financial need who file early. Students must be Pell-eligible to receive SEOG consideration.

Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG). The Oregon Student Assistance Commission considers undergraduate, full-time 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.

OUS Supplemental Tuition Grant. Undergraduates who are Oregon residents are considered for the OUS Supplemental Tuition Grant. The student must be enrolled full time each term. The maximum award is $1,200 a year.

The scholarships listed below are administered by Southern Oregon University.

Departmental Scholarships

Athletics

Al Akins Scholarship

Bill and Florence Schneider Athletic Scholarship

Don and Lolly Skillman Volleyball Scholarship

Fred Spiegelberg Scholarship

Gary Prickett Award of Excellence in Athletics

Ned and Betty Kester Scholarship

Omar's Restaurant Athletic Scholarship

Pete Belcastro "Weed Assassin" Memorial Wrestling Scholarship

Raider Athletic Association Scholarships

Robert and Alicia Hardy Endowed Scholarship

Robert A. and Joan Johnson Women's Tennis Scholarship

Troy Smith Memorial Scholarship

Department of Biology

Irene Hollenbeck Senior Fellowship in Biology

Blanche and Gilman Plunkett Scholarships in Botany/Biology

Robert R. Robinson Memorial Biology Scholarship

School of Business

Accounting Faculty Scholarship

Anna L. May Scholarship

Arnold D. Wolfe Accounting Scholarship

"Be an Example" Scholarship

Elmer C. Biegel Family Scholarship

Ethel Hansen Management Scholarship

Fred A. Tayler Scholarship

Tom Bulger Award

Gary Prickett Scholarship Award in Accounting

Jeanne D. Tyran Memorial Scholarship

John W. Bodilly Management Scholarship

LTM, Incorporated Scholarship

Moss Adams Scholarship

Will M. and Margaret Dodge Memorial Scholarship

Department of Chemistry

Chemistry Alumni and Faculty Scholarship

Department of Computer Science

Computer Science Faculty Scholarship

Department of Criminology

Brian Campbell Memorial Scholarship

Christopher J. Knox Memorial Scholarship

Oregon Association Chiefs of Police Scholarship

Oregon State Sheriffs' Association Scholarship

Department of Education

Catherine Reese Peterson Scholarship

Dorothea Bushnell Scholarship offered by Chapter AC, PEO Sisterhood

Frances E. Treadwell Endowed Scholarship

James A. and Mary Helen Gwinn Scholarship

John and Lillian R. Conway Memorial Scholarship

Kathryn MacDiarmid Scholarship

Omicron Chapter Alpha Delta Kappa Scholarship

Raymond and Luella (Wickstrom) Morris Endowed Scholarship

Ron Jenkins Scholarship

Teacher Education Scholarship

William Ruck Memorial Scholarship

Department of English and Writing

Isabel Meyn Memorial Scholarship

James K. Bowen Memorial Scholarship

John Smith Burley Memorial Scholarship

School of Arts and Letters

Angus Bowmer Theatre Arts Scholarship

Anonymous Art Award

Art History Scholarship

Betty L. Kester Endowed Scholarship for Women in Art

Clifford Sowell Memorial Scholarship

Bill and Florence Schneider School of Fine and Performing Arts, Art Award

Bill and Florence Schneider School of Fine and Performing Arts, Music Award

Bill and Florence Schneider School of Fine and Performing Arts, Theatre Award

Evans Family Endowed Music Scholarship

Gilman Plunkett Memorial Music Scholarship

John Humbird Dickey Memorial Scholarship

Lloyd and Patricia Brown Memorial Scholarship

Mail Tribune Scholarship

E. Mulling Art Scholarship

E. Mulling Music Scholarship

E. Mulling Theatre Scholarship

Leon C. Mulling Music Scholarship

Leon C. Mulling Theatre Scholarship

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Bartell Award in Theatre

Robert A. and Joan Johnson Music Scholarship

Robert Ruhl Learning Fellowship

Rogue Valley Symphony Scholarship

Sam and Helen Bernstein Scholarship

Theatre Arts Departmental Scholarships

"Watch Dog" Scholarship in Journalism

Department of Geography

Claude and Gwen Curran Geography Scholarship

Department of Geology

Freeport Exploration Award

Department of Health and Physical Education

Health and PE Emeritus Scholarship

Department of History

Anna B. Fisher History Scholarship

Betty Harbert Memorial History Scholarship

Karen Gernant Endowed Asian History Scholarship

Department of Military Science

National Guard Tuition Assistance Program

National Guard Tuition Waiver Program

Department of Physics

Gordon Wolfe Physics Department Endowed Book Fund

Department of Political Science

Nancy Peterson Memorial Scholarship

Department of Psychology

Ellyn Bye Scholarship

Jack D. Thorsen Memorial Scholarship

Martin J. and Ella Elle Memorial Scholarship

Stuart E. Atkinson Memorial Award

School of Sciences

Clifford B. Cordy Scholarship

Dr. James L. Welch Memorial Scholarship

Dr. Richard Montgomery Honorary Scholarship

Eugene and Ida Bowman Scholarship

Harry S. Kieval Mathematics Scholarship

James and Georgia McFarland Scholarship

Mathematics Faculty Scholarship

Rogue Valley Physician's Service Endowed Scholarship

School of Social Science

William J. Gaboury Memorial Scholarship

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Bill and Florence Schneider Award for Excellence in Sociology and Anthropology

Interdepartmental and All-University Scholarships

Alumni Association Graduate Scholarship

Alumni Association Undergraduate Scholarship

American Association of University Women Scholarships

American Business Women's Association Scholarship

Avista "Minds in Motion" Scholarship

Bear Creek Corporation Scholarship

Ben Evans Trust Scholarship

Chapter BN PEO Sisterhood Scholarship

Chapter CG PEO Sisterhood Scholarship

Chapter CP PEO Sisterhood Scholarship

Chapter EE PEO Sisterhood Memorial Scholarship

Chapter EE PEO Sisterhood Nancy Seely Scholarship

Chapter FC PEO Sisterhood Roberta Foxley Graduate Scholarship

Clifford and Phyllis Chaney Scholarships

David Guerra Memorial Scholarship

Dean Mary Christlieb Scholarship

Diversity Scholarship

Give Me a Break Scholarship

Harlan and Marie Bosworth Memorial Award

International Programs

Bob Bennett International Scholarship

International Cultural Service Program

International Exchange Fee Remission

International Student Fee Remission

Nicholas Copernicus University Exchange

Richard Leakey Scholarship Fund

John and Marjory Culver Memorial Scholarship

Ken Hooper Family Scholarship

Laurels Scholarship Program

Leon C. Mulling Scholarship

Lester and Vivian Adams Memorial Scholarship

Lon Collier Memorial Fund Award

Margaret Fuller Scholarship

Marie and Harlan Bosworth Memorial Award

Marion Ady Memorial Scholarship

Mary Snider Greenman Scholarship

Nicki Brewold Memorial Scholarship

Orrock Presidential Scholarship

Pete and Nina Belcastro Memorial Scholarship

Presidential Scholarship Program

RAIFA Educational Scholarship

RCC/SOU Matriculation Award

Reuben Fogelson Scholarship in Memory of Jeffrey Paul Schwartz

Robert A. and Joan Johnson Newman Club Scholarship

Robert W. and Betty F. Root Scholarship

Rogue Federal Credit Union/Jim and Harriet Johnston Scholarship

Rogue Valley Masters Swimming Scholarship

Rural American Scholarship Fund

Russell Silbiger Scholarship

Ruth Kneass Memorial Scholarship

Salkow Scholarship

Sallie Rose Sandler Scholarship

Selby/Waitt Memorial Scholarship

Senior Programs Scholarship

Soroptimist International of Ashland Scholarship

Soroptimist International of Ashland Women's Opportunity Award

SOU Academic Excellence Scholarship

Sports Lottery Graduate Scholarship

Steve and Dinah Nicholson Scholarship in Management

U.S. Bank Four-Year Scholarship

Weinhold Commercial Real Estate Scholarship

Western Undergraduate Exchange Program

William B. and Patricia D. Smullin Scholarship

You Can Do It Scholarship

Zonta Club of Medford Elsie Butler Scholarship

Zonta Club of Medford Josephine Kirtley Scholarship

Nursing Program Scholarships

Clara Worch Memorial Scholarship

Cloma Zupan Lewis Memorial Scholarship

Coldery Fleharty Memorial Scholarship

Ethel Agnew Scholarship

James J. Mullaney Scholarship

Ling VanDelden Memorial Scholarship

Lloyd Bishop Memorial Scholarship

Patricia B. Smith Scholarship

Sr. Dona Taylor Scholarship

Warren and Emily Bishop Scholarship