Financial Aid

Your education is an important investment made by both you and your family. The goal of the Office of Financial Aid is to make Ottawa University affordable for you if you wish to benefit from the rich educational experience we offer. An OU education combines academics with extra-curricular activities and global learning opportunities that will propel you in your career and allow you to challenge yourself and others. Graduates of Ottawa University are expected to be leaders and make a difference. Financial aid helps make your Ottawa education a reality.

Institutional financial aid at Ottawa University is designed to reward academic preparation for college, honor certain affiliations that have been vital to the University, recognize unique abilities in a number of extra-curricular and co-curricular areas and address the financial need of the student and family. Institutional financial aid is awarded in a fair and consistent manner, based on the University's awarding policy.

Ottawa University participates in a variety of financial aid programs, including generous scholarship programs, federal grants and loans to assist students in obtaining the necessary funds to go to attend college. Generally speaking, there are four primary types of financial assistance available:

• Grants, including the Federal PELL Grant program awarded on an annual basis.
• Loans are available to students through both federal and private-lending programs.
• Institutional scholarships awarded by individual colleges and universities. 
• Additional Sources of Aid such as veteran's benefits, employer reimbursement and local scholarship programs.

We encourage you to make an appointment with Financial Services by completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which can be done online. Students are encouraged to apply early for aid as some programs are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. Detailed information concerning financial aid programs, forms and the process for application are provided in the links below.

Applying For Financial Aid

Completing the Ottawa University Application for Admission and submitting necessary official transcripts and standardized test scores are requirements to qualify for institutional financial aid. Upon admission to the University, students are automatically considered for OU scholarships.

Students should also complete the FAFSA to determine eligibility for federal and state funding. When completing the FAFSA, please be sure to include Ottawa University's school code - 001937 - so that we may receive your information and process your aid promptly. Submitting the FAFSA by March 15 will ensure consideration for all forms of financial aid at Ottawa University. You may contact the OU Office of Financial Aid for assistance in completing the FAFSA.

The OU Office of Financial Aid will send your financial aid award letter when all materials, including the FAFSA, are received. The award letter lists all financial aid you are eligible to receive, including scholarships, grants, work-study programs, and/or loans. The award letter is subject to change if your financial aid eligibility changes. Some financial aid awards require you to complete additional paperwork and submit it to the OU Office of Financial Aid.

2009-10 Academic Year Costs