Southwestern Oklahoma State University Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025
STUDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES
Financial aid at Southwestern Oklahoma State University includes employment, loans, scholarships, grants, awards, and other forms of financial assistance. The university distributes over $40,000,000 annually in federal and state financial aid including Federal Pell Grants, Federal SEOG grants, Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grants, Oklahoma Promise, Federal Work-Study employment, Federal Stafford Loans, and Federal Parent PLUS Loans. Information pertaining to these types of aid may be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Services in the Gen. Thomas P. Stafford Center, Room 224, or by calling (580) 774-3796. Students may apply for student employment through Handshake. The University offers work-study (federally assisted) and regular student employment. Financing a college education today can be challenging but does not have to be overwhelming. The university’s objective is to work with students and create a financial aid package that will help them attend Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Since educating a student is a family responsibility, the financial service resources in this catalog are not designed to replace family assistance, but to supplement it. In addition to such support, over 85 percent of Southwestern Oklahoma State University students receive some kind of financial assistance. Financial assistance consists of scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study opportunities. Scholarships are generally merit- based awards. They are awarded to a student on the basis of skill or accomplishment. Scholarships are generally not cash awards, but instead waivers applied toward tuition and room charges incurred at the university. Other financial service programs described are awarded to a student on the basis of financial need, taking into consideration the expected family contribution (EFC) and the cost of attending school. Grants, loans, and work- study programs fall into this category. Students who are convicted of possession or sale of illegal drugs while receiving federal financial assistance will lose eligibility for continued assistance.
FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION RECOMMENDED COMPLETION DATES
Many financial aid programs at Southwestern Oklahoma State University are administered on a first-come, first-served basis. For best consideration, students should strive to complete the appropriate paperwork by the following dates:
Documents for Regents’ Baccalaureate or Academic Scholarships ................................... March 1
Foundation Scholarship Application ................... March 1
Free Application for Federal Student Aid - Fall/Spring.............................................. March 1
SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS
Federal law requires that all students who receive financial aid must maintain the requirements of the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy of the University to continue receiving financial aid from the following programs: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Work Study, Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant, Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan, Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, Federal Parent PLUS Loan. State law now also requires that students meet the Federal SAP policy to receive the Oklahoma Promise. For a copy of the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy, contact the Office of Student Financial Services or see our web page at https://bulldog.swosu.edu/publications/policies/financial- aid/satisfactory-progress.php.
RETURN OF TITLE IV FUNDS
Federal law requires that students who receive financial aid and completely withdraw before the 60 percent point of a semester will be subject to pay back some of the financial aid that they received. Students who need to completely withdraw should consult with the Office of Student Financial Services before doing so to see what implications withdrawal will have.
HOW TO APPLY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Students should complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is available online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid. Once the federal processor has completed calculations, SWOSU will automatical ly receive the student’s data if we are listed as a school recipient. The Office of Student Financial Services will notify the student of his/her eligibility. It is important that the student respond in a timely manner to prevent any delay in completion of the financial aid process. Financial aid is not automatically renewed each year. Typically, a student is awarded financial aid for the fall/ spring semesters. A student needs to reapply after October 1 for financial aid consideration for the following fall/spring terms.
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