Applying for Financial Assistance

Room:  103 Horace Mann
Telephone:  620-235-4240 or 1-800-854-PITT (toll free)
Web site: http://www.pittstate.edu/office/financial_aid/
e-mail:  finad@pittstate.edu

   The Office of Student Financial Assistance assists a diverse student population in obtaining financial aid to support their educational endeavors. Financial aid is provided through a combina­tion of sources including scholarships, grants, loans, and part-time employment.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

   Any student admitted to or attending Pittsburg State University is encour­aged to apply early for financial aid. Entering students who wish to be considered for scholar­ships should file by February 1.

   The Free Application for Federal Student Aid must be used to help determine the student's financial aid eligibility. Information used determining eligibility includes family income, assets, number of family members, number in college, etc. The university will attempt to assist the student with the difference between the total expected family contribution and the cost of attending the university.  Students are encouraged to use FAFSA on the Web, the electronic application, to speed up processing: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Scholarship and Grants

     Each year scholarships are awarded to incoming fresh­men as well as to upperclassmen. Criteria employed by scholar­ship committees in making these awards are: past academic performance, leadership, character, and financial need. Some awards are based entirely on merit. The best way to find and apply for PSU Scholarships is through our on-line application at http://www.pittstate.edu/affordability/scholarships/.  If you do not wish to apply on-line, you may use the PDF Scholarship Application.  Students interested in athletic scholarships should contact the Athletic Director. Appli­cants for music scholarships should contact the chair­person of the Depart­ment of Music.

   The university participates in all federal aid programs including PELL Grants, Supplemental Education Opportu­nity

Grants, Academic Competitiveness Grants (ACG), National SMART (Science and Math Access to Retain Talent) Grants, Army ROTC Scholarships, the College Work Study Pro­gram, and the Federal Family Education Loan Pro­grams.

Loans

   The university participates in the following federal programs:  Perkins Loan, Stafford Loan, Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, PLUS Loan, and Nursing Student Loan.

Short-Term Loans

   Students who are in good standing and who have a temporary need for funds to pay school-related expenses may borrow a University Short Term Loan for a period not to exceed the end of the semester.

Federal Work-Study and Student Employment

   A part-time job can be a valuable and rewarding experi­ence. More than 900 PSU students work on campus. Some part-time jobs require students to demonstrate financial need (federal work-study), while others are open to all students (regular state employ­ment). Students work on the average of 15 hours per week. The university has an active referral system for part-time jobs. Listings are provided to the Student Employment Office, and referrals are made through the school year.