Financial Wellness Center

For many college students, money is an extremely important and sometimes stressful topic. We know that understanding how to manage money is an important part of student success. Through education, awareness, and mentoring, the Financial Wellness Center is designed to give all students the tools and resources needed to empower them to make healthy financial decisions. Meet one-on-one with a Financial Coach regarding your PSU student account, re-enrolling at PSU, resolving a debt owed to PSU, understanding the cost of your degree, creating a sustainable budget, repairing credit, or repaying student loans.

The FWC is now a part of the Financial Aid Office. We no longer offer student billing or payment plan support and we are not able to accommodate one on one appointments at this time.

At this time we are currently offering group education and presentations on financial literacy topics, FAFSA and Scholarships. Please send us an email at fwc@pdx.edu or complete our Presentation Request Form.

Location:
Fariborz Maseeh Hall (FMH)
First Floor, Suite 130
Open: Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm
Phone: 503-725-3440
Email: fwc@pdx.edu

OFFICE CLOSURE NOTICE

11/26: Close at 3:00 PM
11/27–11/28: University Holiday
12/12: Close at 2:00 PM
12/22–12/23: Closed (emails open 9am-5pm)
12/24: Counter closed; emails close at 3:00 PM
12/25–12/26: University Holiday
12/31: Counter and emails close at 3:00 PM
1/1–1/2: University Holiday

If you are inquiring about your Financial Aid offer, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 503-725-3461 or askfa@pdx.edu.

How Your Student Account Works

Financial Coaches

Grace graduated from PSU with her degree in Human Resource Management & Management and Leadership. She is currently working on her Masters of Education. She enjoys helping students navigate their financial needs while in school and plan for their post graduation future!

Meet With Grace

Megan (she/her) is a PSU graduate who started with PSU Student Financial Services as a student worker. She strives to create a positive experience for current, former and future students in meeting their financial needs. She’s passionate about art history, film, books and cold brew coffee.

Meet With Megan

Taylor (she/they) is a former financial counselor who worked in the medical field and has experience breaking down complex finance terms into digestible language. She has a passion for financial education that embraces the emotional side of money to provide shame-free guidance.

Meet With Taylor

If you are a third-party sponsored student (an employer, embassy, or Veterans Affairs pays your tuition and fees) and would like to make an appointment with our third-party Financial Coaches, email 3rdparty@pdx.edu to schedule an appointment.

FWC Tips & FAQs

View instructions on how to calculate tuition, enroll in the PSU Payment Plan, check attempted credits, and so much more. Visit the "Scholarships & Savings" section to see additional scholarship advice and tips on how to save money as a college student.

FWC FAQs

Online Personal Finance

Students have free access to CashCourse.org and can utilize their online personal finance tools to help build real-life-ready financial skills.

Here’s how to register for your free CashCourse account:

Go to CashCourse and select Students.
Under "Students" select "register for a free account."
A pop-up form will appear, fill out the form and select "Register."
Start using the CashCourse website!

Financial Wellness Center Group Presentations

You can make a request to have the Financial Wellness Center present to your group. If you have questions about presentations send us an email: fwc@pdx.edu.

Submit Presentation Request

Resources

The Financial Wellness Center is committed to connecting students and their families with resources for financial education. Below are links to PSU-specific services, as well as links to other outside resources.

PSU: CARE Team - Support for PSU students in distress financially, emotionally, or otherwise.
PSU: Financial Aid - Information and assistance regarding federal student aid.
PSU: Scholarships - Search & apply for PSU scholarships.
PSU: Student Legal Services - Free legal counseling for current PSU students.
PSU: Food Assistance - Information on food resources available to PSU students.
PSU: Committee for Improving Student Food Security (CISFS) - Working to improve food security.
PSU: Committee for Improving Student Food Security - The FWC's partner in providing sustainable food sources for PSU students and community members.
PSU Short Term Loan - For students that are registered for at least one credit for the current term and meet the eligibility requirements.

Credit Education

Credit Karma - How to build your credit.
Choosing a Credit Card - How to decide which one is right for you.
helpwithmybank.gov - Helpful Q&A

Debt Education

Federal Student Aid - Loan repayment plans.
Loan Simulator - Know what to expect in repayment amounts and time frames.
Public vs. Private Loans - What's the difference between them?
Student Loan Forgiveness - A list of forgiveness programs and options.
Student Loan Repayment Checklist - Stay on track to be on top of your debt.
Nerd Wallet - Getting and staying out of credit card debt.
Student Loan Hero - Information about managing and living with student loans.

Financial Wellness

The College Investor - Investing and personal finance management tips.
College Parents of America - Advice for the parents of college students.
TED Talk on Financial Literacy - Mellody Hobson on financial literacy.
America Saves - Tips for understanding and managing your financial situation.
Better Money Habits - Personal finance management information.
Cash Course - A free course in financial wellbeing.
Consumer Finance Test - Answer some simple questions to analyze your financial well-being.

Money-Saving Resources

Budget Bytes - Cheap and delicious meal recipes.
Portland on the Cheap - Have fun for less in Portland.
Two Cents - Tips and tricks for saving money.
Money Crashers - Everyday savings ideas.

Tax Resources

How to Access Your 1098-T
CASH Oregon
IRS eFile - Free IRS tax filing.
Tax Tips - Helpful tax information specifically for college students and their parents.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - Tax Time Savings Tips

College Cost Meter

Each year you’re enrolled at Portland State University, we’ll send you an email with information about your total federal student loan debt that you have borrowed so far, as well as the total amount of tuition and fees you have paid to Portland State. The communication will include:

Your Total Federal Student Loan Debt: Your aggregate student loan borrowing amounts will be included. This means all federal student loans that you have borrowed, even if you borrowed loans at another school will be included. This will not include private student loans or credit card debt and the interest rate shown in the email will be estimated. Log into your federal student loan dashboard at studentloans.gov to review your official federal student loan totals and interest rates
Your Total Tuition and Fees: The total amount in tuition and fees that you have paid to Portland State will be included. This will not include housing charges, transportation charges, or other non-tuition charges paid to the University.
Your Estimated Federal Student Loan Repayment: The repayment estimation is based on the Standard Repayment Plan, which is a 10 year repayment plan. Other repayment plans are available which take your income into account when calculating your monthly payment. Use the Federal Student Loan Repayment Estimator to calculate your monthly repayment for all nine repayment plans.
Student Loan Limits: This communication will include a calculation the percent of the aggregate student loan limit that you have borrowed so far. Review the Federal Student Loan Limits.

The Financial Wellness Center is an educational service only, no advice is provided.

The Financial Wellness Center is an educational service only. We do not provide professional investment, legal, or tax advice. The information provided is for general educational purposes only, and is not intended as a substitute for the advice of your investment, legal, and/or tax advisors or to be the basis of specific trading or investment activities. If you need investment, legal, and/or tax advice, please consult with one of these professionals directly.

The links to third-party financial resources are provided as a convenience for informational purposes only. Neither Portland State University or its Financial Wellness Center endorses or approves any of the products, services or opinions of the entities or individuals associated with these links. Portland State University and its Financial Wellness Center bear no responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of any external site associated with the links provided or any subsequent links.