Financial Aid & Scholarships

GRANTS

Grants are a type of Financial Aid that is given to students that they do not need to pay back. Grants can come from the Federal and/or State government or directly from the college or university and are typically awarded based on financial need.

ScholarshipsScholarships are another form of aid that students do not need to pay back. These can be awarded directly from the college or university 

• Merit Scholarships- Merit Scholarships are awarded based on your merit. This comes from your GPA/Test Scores, your Leadership, and your Achievements.
• Need Scholarships- These scholarships take into consideration your financial need. In addition to looking at your academic achievements, scholarships will look at your FAFSA/ORSSA information.
• Talent Scholarships- Just like they sound, these scholarships are awarded based on talent. Athletic and Music scholarships are typically what you would consider talent based scholarships.

LoansLoans are a type of financial aid that must be paid back, typically with interest.

Federal Loans: Qualify by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students are not required to make payments while enrolled FULL TIME. These loans will be part of the financial aid packages you receive from schools should you qualify. The first payment is due 6 months after graduating or dropping below a full time schedule.

• Subsidized Loans- While enrolled in school, the federal government will cover the amount of interest accrued.
• Unsubsidized Loans- While enrolled in school, interest will be accruing and added to your balance upon graduation.
• Parent Loans- Parents may qualify for federal loans to pay for a students schooling. Payments begin 6 months after the first disbursement 

Personal Loans: Additional student loans can be applied for through local banks or private companies. These are the last option to look at when considering paying for higher education.

FAFSA/ORSAA

To be eligible for most types of financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA). These applications compile financial information and other details about students and families, which the US Department of Education and the State of Oregon use to determine financial need and eligibility for various financial aid opportunities.

• Who files the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, (FAFSA)? United States citizens and eligible noncitizens.
• Who files the Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA)? Oregon residents who are undocumented, or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
• Not sure which one to file? Take the quiz.

The CSS Profile

The CSS Profile is an additional online application that collects information used by nearly 400 colleges and scholarship programs to award non-federal aid. Visit their site to see which colleges ask for the CSS profile.

Check Canvas for currently scheduled events, workshops, presentations, and other helpful resources regarding FAFSA & ORSAA

Office of Student Access and Completion, or OSAC, awards grants and scholarships of more than $118 million to thousands of Oregon students each year. Prominent grant programs include the Oregon Opportunity Grant, the Oregon Promise Grant, the Chafee Education and Training Grant, and the Oregon Student Child Care Grant. These can be accessed by completing the FAFSA or ORSAA. Find more at Oregon Student Aid.

We encourage all students to apply for Oregon Promise. This state-funded program may pay for community college tuition for two years at Oregon community colleges; Applicants must file a FAFSA and achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.0 by graduation. 

Institutional Aid

Institutional aid through colleges: Many universities have generous grant and scholarship programs. Check individual college and university websites for specific details and deadlines for applications.

Westview Scholarship Resources

Students may view the WHS scholarship list post in Canvas on the College Career page.

In the spring, Seniors will find the Westview Scholarship Form here for all of the WHS specific scholarships.

Additional Scholarship Resources

FastWeb, Unigo, Scholarsapp, Going Merry and more compile extensive lists of scholarships and are free of charge. Oregon Student Access and Completion (OSAC) found at this link https://oregonstudentaid.gov/