Federal Aid Programs
Federal Direct Loans are a primary source of funding for graduate and professional students. Offered through the U.S. Department of Education, these loan programs provide structured borrowing options to help you bridge the gap between your cost of attendance and other financial resources.
At UWS, eligible graduate and professional students may apply for the following federal Direct Loan programs: Direct Unsubsidized Loans. Explore options below to review eligibility requirements, borrowing limits, interest considerations, and repayment details.
You may also be eligible for additional federal benefits, such as education tax credits. Visit studentaid.gov to explore the full range of federal aid available to you.
Cost and Financial Aid Planning
Explore detailed information about tuition rates, program-specific fees, payment policies, and refund guidelines so you can better understand your financial commitment.
Tuition and Fees
View detailed information about tuition rates, fees by program, payment policies, refund guidelines, and cost of attendance to help you plan responsibly.
Cost Calculators
Use these resources to estimate your total investment, explore funding options, and build a financial plan that aligns with your goals.
Cost of Attendance
The cost of attendance (COA) is the total estimated expense for one academic year at University of Western States. It includes both direct costs paid to the university and estimated living expenses.
Components of the COA may include:
- Tuition and required fees
- Books and supplies
- Housing and food
- Transportation
- Personal expenses
- Loan fees (if applicable)
Your official cost of attendance is calculated by UWS and included in your financial aid offer once you are admitted and your FAFSA has been processed.
Determining Your Financial Aid Package
Your financial aid offer is determined using the information submitted through your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). That information is used to calculate your Student Aid Index (SAI), a federal formula-based number that helps assess your eligibility for need-based financial assistance.
UWS compares your SAI to the university’s cost of attendance (COA) to determine the types and amounts of aid for which you may qualify. Note: your financial aid package is limited to and cannot exceed the total cost of attendance.
After this review, the financial aid office prepares your official aid notification. Depending on your eligibility and enrollment status, your offer may include Federal Direct Loans, Federal Work-Study opportunities, or other approved funding sources.
Financial Aid Contact Support
Our Financial Aid Office is available to help you understand your options and plan for your educational investment.
Please call 971-449-9223 or email [email protected] if you have questions about eligibility, loans, scholarships, or your aid offer, our team is here to assist you.
FAQ
Students need to apply for need-based federal student aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually. Information submitted through the FAFSA is used to determine your Student Aid Index (SAI), which helps determine your eligibility for federal financial aid programs.
The Student Aid Index (SAI) is a federal formula-based number calculated from the information you provide on your FAFSA. It is used to determine your eligibility for federal, state, and institutional need-based financial aid. The calculation considers factors such as income, assets, and household size.
Your SAI is not a dollar amount of financial aid you will receive, nor is it the amount you are required to pay to UWS. Instead, it is an index number used when creating your financial aid offer. If additional funding is needed after aid is applied, you may explore federal student loans or other financing options.
Financial aid is available for the Clinical/Human Nutrition and Functional Medicine Graduate Certificate and the Applied Sport Psychology Graduate Certificate. However, it is not available for any other graduate certificate programs at this time.
Students need to apply for need-based federal student aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually. Information submitted through the FAFSA is used to determine your Student Aid Index (SAI), which helps determine your eligibility for federal financial aid programs.
When it comes to UWS undergraduate programs, financial aid information will vary from student to student. Please contact the financial aid office by email ([email protected]) or phone (971-449-9215) to discuss your individualized financial aid approach.
Please contact the UWS financial aid office for your financial aid status information.
If you are dropping one class, you may be eligible for a refund. Please see Policy 3021 Tuition and Fees Refund for more details. If you need to withdraw from the term, please fill out the Temporary Withdrawal Form.
First, complete a FAFSA at studentaid.gov as soon as possible. If you have already completed a FAFSA, be sure to include the UWS School Code: 012309.
Financial Aid Code of Conduct
UWS financial aid professionals help students pursue their educational goals and achieve success by providing information about and access to appropriate financial resources. To this end, financial aid staff members are guided by a set of principles that serve as a common foundation for an acceptable standard of conduct.
UWS financial aid staff shall:
- Maintain the highest level of professionalism
- Commit to the highest level of ethical behavior and refrain from conflicts of interest, including but not limited to:
- Contract arrangements with any lender providing financial benefit to the employee or to UWS
- Directing borrowers to particular lenders
- Refusing or intentionally delaying loan certification
- Call center or financial aid office staffing assistance
- Respect the dignity and protect the privacy of students
- Ensure the confidentiality of student records as required under FERPA
- Provide information about available and known financial aid resources based solely on factors pertinent to the student’s best interest
Further, UWS ensures that all financial aid professionals adhere to the following:
- May not accept gifts, meals, travel, or any other non-trivial items from student loan providers in connection with the institution’s loan business
- May not accept, from a lending institution, money, equipment, or printing services or anything of value that may provide or suggest an advantage or grant a preferred status
- May not serve as a member of a lending institution’s advisory board
Other UWS staff and officials in a position to make decisions about or advise students or alumni on student loans will likewise adhere to these obligations.