Cost and Financial Aid

MFA Program Costs for 2008-2009

Tuition for the academic year:
$12,764
Residency room fees and selected meals:
 $1,600 (estimate)
Books and supplies:
$700 (estimate)

Residency fees cover your room, lunches, and several dinners for the two 10-day residency periods, one in January and one in June. Students are responsible for transportation costs. A laptop computer would be very helpful during the residencies.

 

Writing Conference Costs for 2008-2009

Tuition, no academic credit:
 $1,200
Tuition, 4 academic credits:
 $1,872
Room and board fees:
 $800

 

Financial Aid

Students applying to the Master of Fine Arts in Writing program should fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and submit this form to the federal government as soon as possible. Be sure to have a copy sent to Pacific University (Federal School Code: 003212). Do not wait to be accepted into the MFA program to apply for financial aid, and do not wait until you have filed your income tax return with the IRS. You should either estimate your income—you will have a chance to correct errors later—or complete your tax return early. If you wait, it will delay processing. FAFSA forms are available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov, or by calling 1.800.4.FED.AID.  We strongly encourage completing your FAFSA online. This enables you to get your Student Aid Report (SAR) sooner than with the paper application, and the online form has built-in edits to catch simple errors.

 

Pacific’s Approach to Financial Aid

Financial aid packages are based on the following elements:

The financial aid package will be a combination of financial aid resources that should meet 100% of your cost of attendance. MFA students can borrow up to $20,500 per year in Stafford loans. If students have a need beyond the Stafford loans, there are lenders that offer Grad Plus or Private Loans up to the cost of attendance budget. Cost of attendance budgets include tuition, residency room  and board, room and board for home residence, books, laptop, transportation and miscellaneous expenses. Do not wait for your financial aid award letter to enroll in the MFA program. Award letters are sent after you are admitted and have completed your FAFSA.

 

Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP)

Starting this fall, Pacific University will participate in Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP). This program offers incoming MFA students subsidized and unsubsidized loans.  Students who demonstrate need are eligible to borrow subsidized Federal Stafford Loans; students who do not show need or who have remaining unmet need are eligible to borrow unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest while students are enrolled and for a six-month grace period afterward. Unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest when they are disbursed. The interest rate is a fixed 6.8%.

 

Alternative Loans

These are loans offered by lenders and institutions for educational expenses.  These loans are not guaranteed student loans – lenders and institutions have varying credit approval criteria that must be met by loan applicants. These loans have a variable interest rate.

 

Federal Graduate Plus Loans

These loans are also offered by lenders and institutions for educational expenses and have varying credit approval criteria that must be met by the loan applicants. These loans are a fixed 8.5%.

 

Useful Sites for Scholarships and Alternative Loans

 

Questions?