George Fox University | Offices and Services | Undergraduate

Undergraduate Financial Aid

If you are planning to attend George Fox University and want to be considered for financial aid, you need only to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. The information from the FAFSA and from the admission process are the sole determiners of the amount and type of aid. The availability of funds is also considered.

Roughly 40% of our enterring Freshmen for the 2006-07 year had parent income below $60,000. Because we consider need as well as merit, we attempt to develop a financial aid package that makes a degree from George Fox University possible for a vareity of students.

The FAFSA cannot be completed or sent in before Jan. 1. We encourage you to complete your FAFSA as soon as possible after that date.

If you previously attended a college other than George Fox AND are transferring midyear, you must let Student Financial Services know where you attended. This information must be given to us even if you did not receive financial aid.

Our Title IV code number is 003194.

Apply for federal, state, and institutional aid using FAFSA On The Web! Click here for more information http://fafsa.ed.gov

Each family should expect to make every reasonable financial adjustment to provide as much support as possible for college expenses. Financial aid to supplement the family's efforts will be offered under three basic conditions:

1. in consideration of the student's/family's financial need as demonstrated by a uniform method of analysis;
2. in consideration of a student's academic potential, personal interests and abilities, and promise for future leadership; and
3. availability of college funds.

With few exceptions, you must be enrolled full time (at least 12 credits per semester) to receive financial aid. You must also meet eligibility requirements of the programs from which you receive assistance. Such requirements include maintaining satisfactory academic progress toward a degree, maintaining a minimum grade point average, having financial need, and other specific conditions of federal, state, or college regulations.

Awards Based Upon Financial Need
Financial need is determined by a uniform method of analysis of information your family provides on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The need analysis helps the university determine the contribution your family is expected to make. The difference between this family expectation and the cost of attendance at the university is the "need" that financial aid attempts to fill.

Financial assistance awarded by George Fox University takes the form of grants, loans, and employment. "Need-based" financial assistance comes from the state or federal government and from the university. Students awarded federal and state aid are subject to the laws regulating those programs.

For instance, all federal and state assistance requires signed statements from the recipient attesting that the funds will be used only for educational purposes, that the student is not in default on any government loan nor owing a refund on any government grant, and that the student has registered with the Selective Service or that he or she is not required to do so.

The total financial aid package - including all grants, scholarships and loans - may not exceed the amount of need when federal program funds are included.

Virtually every student in the university who can demonstrate need is awarded funds (grants, loans, and/or employment) to assist in meeting the cost of attendance.

Many awards for potential academic and other performance abilities, and for personal qualities and affiliations, may be given without first considering the financial need of recipients, although many of these awards may also be higher if the need of the student is also demonstrated. Many scholarships and grants are available to students who have proven ability in college. Others, such as the honors scholarships, are awarded to both new and returning students.

Federal and State Grant Programs
The Federal Pell Grant and the Oregon Opportunity Grant programs award funds to students on the basis of eligibility standards set by federal and state regulations. The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant is funded by the federal government and awarded to students according to eligibility standards set by both the government and the university. Funds from these programs are available only to students who can demonstrate relatively high need. The Academic Competitive Grant and the SMART Grant are federal grant programs that combine need with academic merit. There are very specific requirements for each of these programs. These are listed below:

Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant:

The Federal Perkins Loan is awarded by Student Financial Services based on demonstrated need and availability of funds. Because of the limited funds, this is usually awarded only to first-year students who have limited Stafford Loan capabilities. The university participates in the Direct Loan Program for the Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan, the Federal Unsubsidized Stafford, and the Federal Parents Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS).

Eligibility for the Subsidized Stafford and the Unsubsidized Stafford is determined by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as well as by student status. Parents wishing to borrow through the PLUS program may request an application through Student Financial Services. When other funds are not available, loans place the responsibility for financing higher education on the student or parent.

Families are encouraged to be cautious when applying for loans but to consider the value of receiving financial assistance when needed and of paying some of the cost of education later when they are better able to do so. The University expects loans to be a significant part of the usual financial aid award, but the family must decide whether the loans are necessary based upon their financial situation. To access more information about loans, please click here.

On-campus employment constitutes a significant resource for students who have documented financial need. Student employment is offered by Student Financial Services based on need and availability of funds. Most student employment is subsidized by the Federal College Work-Study Program. If eligible, a student must submit an employment application supplied by the Office of Human Resources. The university is required to spend some of its federal subsidy for off-campus community service positions. This is coordinated through Human Resources and selected academic departments.

The university awards funds to needy students to supplement funds provided by the federal and state programs. If eligible on the basis of financial need, a student with insufficient state or federal funds may receive a George Fox grant.

Academic Scholarships
Please click here for the GFU Merit Award Program for 2008-09

Forensics, Music, and Drama Scholarships
A limited number of awards are made each year to talented, needy students who show promise of achievement in forensics, drama, and music. To be eligible, applicants must have satisfactory academic records and unusual proficiency in one or more of the above fields. Auditions or personal interviews are usually required of applicants.

The George Fox University Science Scholarship is a renewable award of up to $3,500 for science majors who have a predicted GPA of 3.50 based upon high school GPA and Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or American College Testing (ACT) Program test scores. Candidates are recommended by the admission office and approved by the science department. Students must apply by February 1. The application process includes SAT scores, seven-semester transcript, and a letter of recommendation from a high school science teacher. Continuation requires a 3.40 GPA.

Multicultural Grants
The Multicultural Student Achievement Award is a renewable award of $2,500 available to students who have a minimum entrance GPA of 3.4. Retention of this award requires a cumulative George Fox GPA of 2.75. The Multicultural Student Award of $1,000 is available to students with an entrance GPA of 3.0. Retention of this award requires a cumulative George Fox GPA of 2.5.

Special Grants
A limited number of grants are offered to encourage and enable special groups of needy students to attend George Fox University. Grants of $1,500 each are awarded to dependents of active ministers and missionaries. Any entering freshman student with need from California and a high school GPA of at least 3.0 may receive a grant of $1,400.

Any student with need from a Friends or Evangelical Church of North America church with a high school GPA of 3.0 or a combined SAT score above 1000 may receive a grant of $1,400.

Continuation of the California Student Grant or the Friends/ECNA Student Grant requires a cumulative college GPA of at least 3.0.

Church/University Fellowship Awards
The university has established Church/University Fellowship Awards to assist churches in encouraging their young people to attend George Fox University on a full-time basis. The church may make a gift of any amount to the university for credit to a specific student's account. The university will then match up to $500 of the gift for any such students, and up to $600 for juniors and seniors who are preparing for Christian service. Gifts may be made for any number of students from a church. The gifts must be an official act of the church rather than from individual church members. The Fall deadline is August 1st, see the application for more information. Applications will be supplied upon request.

Family Discounts
Tuition discounts equal to approximately 5 percent of tuition will be granted to second and additional family members when more than one member of the same family is enrolled at the university as traditional undergraduates at the same time.

Other Scholarships and Grants
The George Fox catalog contains a listing of designated and endowed scholarships given by friends of the university. Since most of these scholarships are awarded by the academic departments and the Scholarship Committee of the University, they are awarded to returning students only. To review information about campus and outside scholarships, go to the Scholarship Information page.