Accepting your award letter
So I've received my Financial Aid Award. What do I do now?
- If your award is at an "Estimated" status or selected for verification, you must return all specified documentation or additional information to the Office of Financial Aid at Pacific University. You will receive a letter from Pacific University indicating the specific reason your award has been estimated and the required information necessary. Please submit all documentation just as soon as possible.
- If you are awarded a Federal Stafford Loan, you need to complete "entrance counseling" and sign a master promissory note before we can credit the loan to your student account.
- To complete entrance counseling go to http://mappingyourfuture.org/se You will be prompted through a brief tutorial, and then a quiz regarding your rights and responsibilities as a borrower. We will be notified electronically once you have successfully satisfied the new borrower entrance counseling requirements.
- Sign your master promissory note
Stafford Loans are sponsored by the federal government through banks, credit unions, or other lenders who participate in the FFEL program. Pacific University has researched and prepared a list of established lenders who we recommend based on their services and borrower benefits. Regardless of the lender/loan you choose, Pacific will determine loan eligibility and handle the processing of your loan application. There is not a credit check associated with Stafford loan eligibility.
New and returning Undergrad students:Lender List
Parent PLUS loans and Private Alternative Loans are also available for students. These loans are through application with lenders and subject to credit checks. For plus and private loan eligibility, contact the Office of Financial Aid.
- Do you have a pin for electronic signature?
If not, or if you have lost your pin www.pin.ed.gov
Your electronic pin allows you to sign your FAFSA application and promissory note. It is secure and confidential. Parents will also need a pin to sign their portion of the FAFSA.
- If you are awarded a Perkins Loan, we will send a paper promissory note at a later date. You must sign the promissory note and return it to the Pacific University Office of Financial Aid before the funds may be credited to your student Account. A separate entrance counseling session must be completed for the Perkins loan program at http://mappingyourfuture.org/pe
- Your Financial Aid Award Letter assumes you will be registered full-time (at least 12 credits for Undergraduate Students). If you will not be registered full-time, you must inform the financial aid office immediately.
- Parent PLUS Loans or Private Alternative Loans are also available to assist students and families with meeting the costs associated with higher education. If you find you need additional funds you can apply for a PLUS loan or private alternative loan for an amount up to your remaining cost of attendance.
- If you receive any additional scholarships from other resources, you need to inform the Financial Aid Office immediately since these scholarships may affect your current award. If we have to remove anything from an award due to an outside scholarship, we always remove loans and work study awards before taking away gift aid. Keep in mind federal need based awards may not exceed the established need and total awards may not exceed the Cost of Attendance.
- After you register for courses, you will receive an invoice from the Business Office. The Business Office will show pending aid itemized on your invoice once it is awarded by the Office of Financial Aid. Financial aid funds will automatically disburse to a student's account on the first day when the semester's classes are scheduled to begin, provided the entrance counseling has been completed and all master promissory notes have been signed. The funds will first pay any outstanding tuition, fees, or room & board charges. Any refunds will be available to students at the Business Office. You may contact the Business Office if you would like your refund check to be mailed. Otherwise, refund checks will be printed and available for students at the Student Accounts Office in Marsh Hall.
Business Office: 503.352.2128 or toll-free 1.877.PAC.UNIV ext 2128 - Due to federal privacy laws, once you are enrolled at Pacific University, we can talk to no one but the student about their financial aid unless the student grants us permission to do so. If you the student would like us to speak with your spouse, parents, scholarship donors, or other individuals please complete the Financial Aid Talk Form, and return it to the Office of Financial Aid.
- Correspondence and Award Notification Materials are frequently mailed to a current student's campus University Center Mailbox or email account. Please check your campus mail or email account regularly for important financial aid notification.