On this page you’ll find information about:

• Student loans
• Federal work-study

Other aid: scholarships and grants page.  

Federal student loans 

OHSU offers a variety of federal student loans. Individual eligibility will vary depending on program, enrollment, awarding criteria and availability of funding.  Some of the more common federal student loans awarded by OHSU includes, but not limited to:

• Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford
• Federal Parent PLUS
• Federal Graduate PLUS
• Federal nursing loan for undergraduate students

Download 2024-2025 Student Financial Aid Explained – read page 31.

Alternative student loans

As a general rule, students should only consider a private education loan if they have maxed out all federal student aid and still have remaining eligibility. Students should also file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which may qualify them for grants, loans, work-study and other forms of student aid.

Fill out your FAFSA.

Federal work-study 

The federal work-study program is a federal employment program available for students who wish to work on campus.  Students interested in federal work-study should complete the federal work-study request form.

Federal work-study is claimed as it is earned. After you verify you are eligible for work-study, you must apply for employment by examining the listing of vacant positions posted on the bulletin board outside the financial aid office, student work-study positions listed on the OHSU HR website or by contacting departments for which you would like to work. There are several different types of positions available including community service positions. After determining the positions in which you are interested, you must obtain an employee referral form from the financial aid office.  

Reporting your work-study work hours

When you are hired, you will need to come to our office to receive the necessary hiring paperwork. Your employer will complete the referral form and other human resources documents and send them to the financial aid office, which will process the forms and forward them to human resources, payroll and business affairs. 

Students report hours worked through the automated time and attendance collection system, and payment is made bi-weekly through the university payroll office. Hiring procedures must be completed each academic year, even for continuing student employees.

Reporting work-study income

Federal work-study is employment, and earnings must be reported to the Internal Revenue Service in compliance with the same requirements as any job. At the end of each calendar year, you will be sent a W-2 form to be used when filing your tax return.  

When reapplying for financial aid for the following year, federal work-study income is excluded from the Expected Family Contribution calculation. It must be appropriately reported on the additional financial information of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (please see the appropriate section of the FAFSA or call the financial aid office for additional information).