Tuition Assistance & Discounts

Student Loan Forgiveness Program

Portland State University is a qualifying employer for public service loan forgiveness. Employees who have Federal Direct Loans and have made 120 payments on the Federal Direct Loans (after Oct. 1, 2007) may be eligible for the remaining loan balance to be forgiven. Only payments made under certain repayment plans can be counted toward the required 120 payments, and loans may not be in default to be forgiven.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program is administered by the Federal Student Aid office of the U.S. Department of Education.

PSU Human Resources Office will complete a section of the Employment Certification form to certify their employment with the university.

For additional information on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, see the Federal Student Aid Website.

In February 2022 SB 1572 passed. These changes affect part-time faculty employees/PSUFA members only.

1. For any term where an employee has taught 7 or more credits, payments made toward a federal student loan are now considered qualifying payments for PSLF. Importantly, this applies retroactively back to 2007, and each month that loans were in pandemic forbearance can also be counted toward forgiveness.
2. Full-time status can also be achieved by piecing together part-time employment from multiple qualifying employers.
3. Full-time is an average of 30 hours per week

For example, an employee who teaches four credits at Portland Community College in the fall, then eight credits at PSU in the winter, and 12 credits at PSU in the spring, has taught an average of eight credits per term. Payments made toward loans during those terms would count toward loan forgiveness.

A total of 120 qualifying payments is required to achieve loan forgiveness. Certify now to learn about progress toward eligibility for loan forgiveness.

Steps To Apply For Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)

Make Sure Loans Qualify For PSLF

Unless an employee has just a single direct loan, there are action items to be completed at this step. If an employee has  multiple direct loans, consolidation is recommended so that the most recent loan can be forgiven at the same time as the oldest loan.

Consolidate Loans

Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL), Perkins Loans, or any other loans without the word “Direct,” must be consolidated for this program.

Complete the PSLF form

Employees have two options for filling out the PSLF Form

Employees are strongly encouraged to read the "Become a Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Help Tool Ninja" before or as they fill out the form.

Option 1 (recommended)

1. Visit the PSLF Help Tool web page to get started - either login or create an account
2. Fill in and answer each section of the form.
3. Use askhrc@pdx.edu as the email address they can send the form for review and approval
4. After HR completes their portion of the PSLF form they will send an email stating the document was processed and a copy of the signed form will be attached to that email

Option 2

1. Print out and fill in a paper copy of the PSLF form
2. Upload the form on the PSU Human Resources website (link below)
   • In the dropdown menu click on Public Service Loan Forgiveness Form for your employment type
   • A PSU ID number is required for this upload process
3. Check for a confirmation email upon submission 
   • Employees in part-time faculty positions who work for other qualifying employers during the time also worked with PSU must reply to PSU’s HR upload confirmation email with the names of the other qualifying employers
4. After HR completes their portion of the PSLF form they will send an email stating the document was processed and a copy of the signed form will be attached to that email

Resources

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Help Tool

Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program FAQ

Submit a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Reconsideration Request

Tuition Assistance (Tuition Discount)

PSU employees in an eligible position may register for classes at discounted rates at any of the Oregon Public Universities. Employees in temporary classified positions, graduate assistants, or other student employees are not eligible for the tuition discount. To qualify for the discounted rate, a PSU employee must be appointed at least .5 FTE no later than the first day of classes of the term of enrollment.

Tuition Assistance (Employee Tuition Discount)

• Employees Pay 30% of the resident per credit hour regular undergraduate in-state tuition rate.
• For graduate courses, employees pay 30% of the undergraduate in-state tuition rate.
• This discount may be used at participating Oregon Public Universities.
• The maximum number of credits is 12 credits per quarter or semester. Any additional credit hours will be charged at the regular undergraduate or graduate tuition rate.
  • The following PSU programs are excluded from this discount:
  • School of Business ‐ OHSU/PSU Joint MBA in Healthcare courses/program
  • School of Business – Business Management Core/China Program
  • Systems Engineering courses/program
  • Oregon Masters of Software Engineering (OMSE) program
  • Criminology & Criminal Justice Online Program
  • All ESL courses/program (including IELP ‐ Intensive English Language Program)
  • All Education Abroad Programs
  • School of Public Health‐PhD Programs, single MPH, MD/MPH, MS & Graduate
  • Certificate in Biostatistics & Graduate Certificate in Public Health
• Other Universities may also have programs excluded from the discount.
• Employees are not assessed the following fees: application fee, building fees, incidental fees, and health services. Therefore they do not need to apply for a waiver for student health insurance. (For an application fee waiver, please complete a paper application or contact the department for a waiver code)
• All other fees will apply.

Tuition Assistance (Employee Tuition Discount) Form - Completed forms must be submitted at least 2 days before the start of classes, which is listed on the PSU academic calendar.  Please submit using our HR document uploader.

Transferring Tuition Assistance (Tuition Discount) 

• Eligible employees may transfer their Tuition Assistance to two family members per term. Family members include dependents, a domestic partner and/or the dependent(s) of a domestic partner. If the benefit is transferred to two individuals, one of them must be a dependent and use the benefit solely towards undergraduate classes at PSU. 
• If the Tuition Assistance is transferred to two family members as noted in this section above, the employee does not have the option to take a third benefit for themselves.
• Qualified family members include; spouse, domestic partner, and dependent children in accordance with IRS Code and domestic partner as defined per Section One of the PEBB Affidavit of Domestic Partnership.
• Students pay 30% of the resident per credit hour regular undergraduate in-state tuition rate.
• For graduate courses, employees pay 30% of the undergraduate in-state tuition rate.
• One (1) discount may be used at participating Oregon Public Universities.
• Family members are required to pay all mandatory fees.
• The maximum number of credits is 12 credits per quarter or semester, per benefit recipient. Any additional credit hours will be charged at the regular undergraduate or graduate tuition.

Tuition Assistance Approval Form - Transfer - Completed forms must be submitted at least 2 days before the start of classes, which is listed on the PSU academic calendar.  Please submit using our HR document uploader. 

Application and Submission Deadlines

• The employee is required to complete the Tuition Assistance form each term.
• Please do not submit a form more than a month in advance of the start of the term.
• Please do not submit multiple terms on one form as they will not be processed.
• Both employee tuition discount form and transfer tuition form is submitted to the employee's HR department.
• Employees transferring their discount to a domestic partner must submit a domestic partner affidavit with a tuition transfer form.
• The Universities reserve the right to deny Tuition Assistance rates for late submission of approval forms. Denials may be appealed to the University.

Deadlines:

• Portland State University Application Deadline: (No earlier than 30 days before the start of classes, and no later than 2 days before the start of classes.  The start of classes is based on the PSU academic calendar.) 
• Oregon State University Application Deadlines
• University of Oregon Application Deadlines

Employee Discounts

Employees of PSU are offered a variety of discounts from a variety of programs and companies. These discounts can change during the year, so make sure to check on the available discounts often.

Canopy EAP Discounts

Canopy offers outstanding access to deals and discounts in addition to their free webinars and training courses.

Campus Recreation

PSU Campus Rec has many options for employees including fitness and access to special events

Care.com

PSU employees can access free membership to care.com which can help with finding support for personal and family matters.

CEPE

Visit the Center for Executive and Professional Education for programs that can support career advancement.

Columbia Employee Store

Columbia Sportswear extends an invitation to PSU employees on a seasonal basis. This invitation allows PSU employees entry to the Columbia Employee Store during specific dates and includes a coupon for a percentage off. Keep an eye out in the HR News and Announcements section on our Home page for notifications of new Columbia Employee Store Invitation events.

Costco Membership offers and discounts.

Exclusive Teacher Promotion

National Membership Program Letter

University Place Hotel and Conference Center

University Place Flyer for Employees.pdf

The Walking Company Wellness Partner Program

Walking Company Wellness Partner Program flyer.pdf

Personal Technology Discounts

Many computer and software companies offer discounts to members of colleges and universities for their personal use. 

Transit and Parking

New Employee Transportation

Employee Transit

Carshare

PSU Bike Hub

Employee Parking

Wellness and Healthcare Discounts

Check out PEBB’s discounts on gym memberships and learn about other health and wellness programs available at little or no cost. Each medical plan vendor has programs and discounts specific to their plans. Visit the medical vendor websites below to learn more:

Kaiser Permanente

Moda Health

Providence Health Plan