Types of Aid

Financial aid, often based on financial need, that does not need to be repaid.

(Unless, for example, you withdraw from school and owe a refund.)

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is usually awarded only to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or a professional degree. Amounts can change yearly. For the 2025–26 award year, the maximum award is $7,395 The amount you get, though, will depend on

• your financial need,
• your cost of attendance,
• your status as a full-time or part-time student, and
• your plans to attend school for a full academic year or less.

You MAY NOT receive Federal Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time.

For less than full-time enrollment, awards will be prorated based on enrollment intensity as follows:

Western Oregon University offers a bachelor’s degree in education; therefore, post-baccalaureate students are ineligible to receive a Federal Pell Grant.

Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG)

The Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG) is Oregon’s largest state-funded need-based grant program for students planning to go to college. Opportunity Grants are funded primarily by Oregon taxpayers. Nearly 40,000 students receive Opportunity Grants each year. You must submit the FAFSA/ORSAA to be considered for the OOG. Amounts and cutoff dates are determined by the Oregon Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC). OSAC’s cutoff for the FAFSA/ORSAA application is April 15, 2025 for the 2025-2026 award year.

Oregon Opportunity Grant Award Amounts – 2025-2026

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is awarded to students with the greatest financial need and who meet WOU’s priority deadline. Students must be Pell Grant eligible to qualify for this grant. To get an FSEOG, you must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) so we can determine your financial need. The FSEOG does not need to be repaid.

Federal TEACH Grant

The Federal TEACH Grant is available to WOU education and pre-education majors. The grant amount is up to $4000* annually and is not based on financial need.

• 2025-2026 TEACH Grant funding amount is pending federal determination.
• For any 2024-25 TEACH Grant first disbursed on or after Oct. 1, 2023, and before Oct. 1, 2024, the maximum award of $4,000 is reduced by 5.7% ($228), resulting in a maximum award of $3,772.

For less than full-time enrollment, awards will be prorated as follows:

• 3/4 Time Enrollment = 75% of Award

• 1/2 Time Enrollment = 50% of Award

• 1/4 Time Enrollment = 25% of Award

Students who receive a federal TEACH Grant must complete a service obligation by serving as a highly-qualified teacher in a designated high-need field at a low-income school for four years within eight years of completing a TEACH Grant eligible program. Failure to complete teaching service will result in the TEACH Grant being converted to an unsubsidized Stafford loan with retroactive interest.

• Complete a valid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

• Information about the TEACH Grant is available from the US Department of Education.

• Students must complete an online Agreement to Serve (ATS) and TEACH Grant Counseling with the US Department of Education each year they receive a TEACH Grant award.

• The Directory of Low Income Schools is available here. 

• The list of “high need” fields by state is available here. 

• Students who are graduating or leaving their TEACH Grant program must complete the TEACH Grant exit counseling.

*Please note – awards first disbursed on or after March 1, 2013 are subject to a reduction due to cuts in federal financial aid as a result of the “sequester.” Awards first made on or after this date will not be eligible for the full $4,000 award without congressional action.

Special Rule in the Higher Education Act (HEA), formerly called “Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grants (IASG)” and “Children of Fallen Heroes (CFH) Scholarships.”

For students whose parent or guardian died in the line of duty while either serving on active duty as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces on or after Sept. 11, 2001, or actively serving as and performing the duties of a public safety officer.

Must be ineligible for a Federal Pell Grant due only to having less financial need than is required to receive Pell funds. Must have been less than 33 years old as of the January 1 prior to the award year for which the applicant is applying (e.g., For the 2024–25 award year, a student must be younger than 33 years old as of Jan. 1, 2024, to be eligible.).

Students who received a grant under Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant or Children of Fallen Heroes Scholarship criteria during the 2023-24 academic year but don’t meet eligibility under the Special Rule may still receive a maximum Pell Grant under legacy eligibility. For more information click here.

Loans are funds which will need to be repaid and include Federal Direct Loans, Federal Consolidation Loans, and Private Loans. For more information see our Manage Your Federal Student Loans page.

Scholarships are gifts. They don’t need to be repaid. There are thousands of them, offered by schools, employers, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, communities, religious groups, and professional and social organizations.

Visit our scholarships page for more information on WOU scholarships, external scholarships, and helpful resources.

Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program

The Federal Work Study Program is available to eligible undergraduate and graduate students. This program provides funds for employing students who qualify for part-time jobs either on-campus, or off-campus in community service positions. The amount that you earn is limited to the amount that appears on your award letter. However, once you have earned the amount noted on your award letter, you may petition the Financial Aid Office to increase your work study funds.

You will receive an hourly wage based on the type of work you do, your skills, and your experience. You can work a maximum of 20 hours per week except during vacation periods when up to 40 hours per week is allowed. You will be paid monthly based on the number of hours you worked in the pay period. It is your responsibility to locate a job.*

You may view current job postings by clicking here. For assistance with the availability of job openings contact the Center for Professional Pathways (1st floor of the Werner University Center, WUC 119). Paychecks are disbursed at the end of the month from the Payroll Office and are based on the number of hours worked during the pay period.

*You are not guaranteed a job or that you will earn the total work-study amount listed on your award letter.

Community Service Work Study Program

Federal Work Study can be used in such community service areas as health care, child care, literacy training, education, welfare, public safety, crime prevention and control, rural development, and community improvement. Using work-study in this way allows students to work in direct service roles with their local community and still earn money.

If you are eligible for Federal Work-Study, we encourage you to look at the opportunities available to you, or develop your own job. If you know of a community or social agency that may want to participate in the off-campus federal work study program, contact the Center for Professional Pathways at 503-838-8432.

There are times when grants and federal loans are not enough to cover the cost of attending school. If that happens, students and parents have options for private loans. Students who become ineligible for federal aid may also pursue private alternative loans. The rates private lenders offer are not as competitive as federal loans, and we strongly encourage students to pursue federal loans before private loans.

You can find information about Private Education Loan Lenders on the ELM Select website. The lenders listed here are simply lenders who have loaned to WOU students in the last few years. Western Oregon University does not endorse any one lender. The information at this link is simply informational. The student has the right to whatever lender they want, should they pursue a private alternative loan.