Other Ways to Cover Costs

There are many other ways to cover costs beyond grants, scholarships, and loans. There are college savings plans, veteran benefits, retention programs, employer benefits, student employment, crowd-sourcing, and more. We’ve put together a list of the top ways to cover college costs. We encourage you to apply for financial aid and apply for scholarships first and then explore other ways to cover costs.

Free & Discounted Tuition Programs and Nonresident Tuition Exemptions

PSU offers several free and discounted tuition programs.

Find out if you’re eligible for free or discounted tuition at PSU >>

Student Employment

More than 2,000 PSU students have campus jobs and many more students work for local employers. There are a variety of opportunities to earn money to help pay for school, get work experience, and build skills to help you in your career while you’re studying at PSU. Search for Work Study jobs and other job opportunities. Graduate students can also earn positions as Graduate Assistants.

Learn More About Student Employment >>

College Savings Plans

There are a number of ways to save money for college:

529 College Savings Plan: A 529 college savings plan is a state-sponsored investment plan that enables you to save money for a beneficiary and pay for education expenses. You can withdraw funds tax-free to cover nearly any type of college expense. 529 plans may offer additional state or federal tax benefits.
Individual Development Accounts (IDAs): IDAs are matched savings accounts that build the financial management skills of qualifying Oregonians with lower incomes while they save towards a defined goal. IDAs build pathways of opportunity and create models of economic success in Oregon communities.

Learn More About the Oregon IDA Initiative >>

Veteran Benefits

PSU can help you receive your full education benefits in a clear and efficient way. Connect with our Veteran Certification Office located within the Office of the Registrar to process and certify your benefits, including the GI Bill. You should start submitting your forms at least one month before registering for classes at Portland State.

Learn More About Veteran Certification >>

Employer Benefits

Many companies offer benefits that cover education costs, so it’s worth your time to ask if your employer will cover tuition and other educational costs. For example, PSU has partnered with Amazon through their Career Choice program to cover some tuition costs. Eligible PSU employees (or qualified family members) can also receive a tuition discount to attend any of the Oregon Public Universities. Contact your employer to determine if you are eligible for or if they offer education benefits.

Crowd-Sourcing

Students are coming up with new and innovative ways to cover college costs every day, including using crowd-sourcing sites like GoFundMe and Indiegogo. While this can be effective for some students, we encourage you to prioritize your time by applying for financial aid and scholarships and the other options listed above before putting time and energy into developing a crowd-sourcing campaign.

Students in park blocks chatting while working on laptop

Next Step: Accept Your Aid

You will receive an email notification that your financial aid award offer has been posted.

Accept Your Aid

Have Questions?

Contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships to get answers to your questions.

Connect with us via Chat, email, phone, or make an appointment (in-person or virtual).

Contact Us

Connect with the Financial Wellness Center

To get help with your student account, understanding your costs, or creating a budget to plan how you’ll pay, visit the Financial Wellness Center.

Drop in to the FWC