Awarding Timeline

Each financial aid year begins almost 10 months before the start of the academic year. January 1st is when the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available. Because some types of funding are limited, we recommend submitting your FAFSA as early as possible after January 1st. The FAFSA allows you to use estimated figures if you have not yet completed your tax forms.

After your FAFSA is submitted, the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships may start posting additional requirements to your student account (banweb.pdx.edu).

Many scholarship applications are also available even before the FAFSA, with some available as early as November 1st.

The awarding process begins in March each year with the Portland State University Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships mailing award notifications to students for the upcoming year. Once awarding begins, new awards are added every 7-10 days for the remainder of the school year.

Scholarship notifications usually occur in April and are added to a student’s award at that time.

Next Step: Become Familiar with your Student Account