Incoming Freshman

If you’re reading this page, you’re probably: (1) a high school student checking out colleges; (2) a high school student who has applied for admission to EOU and plans to start classes Fall term; or (3) a parent with lots of questions.  We’ll try to answer some of the most common application processing questions below:

We Did the FAFSA on the Web – When Will I Receive a Financial Aid Offer?

If you have submitted your FAFSA on the Web and you put EOU’s school code on the FAFSA, EOU will receive an electronic application record.  We begin to load records into our financial aid database in late February each year.   

Our goal is to send out the first group of college financing offers by the 3rd week of March.

I Received My Financial Aid Offer – Do I Need to Do Anything Else?

Yes!  EOU sends paper scholarship award letters and college financing offers to incoming freshmen.  If you have decided to attend EOU, you must return any scholarship award letters to our office.  If your financial aid offer has grants offered, they have been automatically accepted for you.  If you want loans, you must accept those through the online student portal, Webster.

I Accepted my College Financing Offer – I’m Ready to Get Money Right?

Not necessarily!  We send out college financing offer to all students as we get applications into our system.  In some cases, we do not have to do anything else.  In other cases, we have to review the student’s application and required verification documents before the offer become final.  We will communicate with you if we need additional documents or we have questions about your FAFSA.  If you have an address change, make sure you update that change with EOU.

Financial Aid Will Be Disbursed To My Account – What Does That Mean?

Right before Fall term begins, the Financial Aid Office disburses aid (accepted financial aid offers) to students’ accounts.  Every student has a billing account.  This account represents charges for things like tuition, fees, housing, parking, and other university charges.  Your student account is managed by the Student Financial Services Office.  Once your financial aid is disbursed, funds are applied to your student account.  If your financial aid disbursement totals more than your account charges for the term, you will have a credit balance. You can get your refund by direct deposit by enrolling in E-refund through your online student portal, Webster. If you do not enroll in E-refund, your refund check will be mailed to you within 14 days.

If you have questions about payment plans or other things related to your Student Account, see the Student Financial Services Office website.

Do You Have Additional Questions?

If you have specific questions that we have not addressed on our website, please call us or email us.  If you are coming to campus for a visit, come in and meet our staff!  We want you to be ready to start Fall classes without being worried about your financial aid. 

Parent Access To Student Information

Many parents want to have access to their student’s financial aid, billing information, and grade reports.  Once a student matriculates (is admitted and enrolled) the student’s records are protected under the Federal Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA). The Financial Aid Office (and other offices at EOU) cannot discuss a student’s records with a parent until the student completes and turns in a Student Consent To Release Information Form.  Students can find this form on our forms page.

Hey Parents!  Want More Information About Financial Aid?  Check Out the Link Below!

Parent’s Guide to Financial Aid

Federal Direct Lending

EOU participates in the Federal Direct Loan Program.  Students who accept Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Loans need to do two things:  (1) complete a Federal Direct Loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) and (2) complete entrance counseling.  These must be done before loans will disburse to a student’s EOU account.  To complete entrance counseling and/or a MPN go to https://studentloans.gov.

Parents who want to borrow in the Federal Direct Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) Program must complete an EOU PLUS Loan Acceptance Form (see the Forms & Publications link on the right side of this page) and a Federal Direct PLUS Loan Master Promissory Note. To apply for a PLUS loan go to https://studentloans.gov.