Applying for Financial Aid
Making sense of the application process for financial aid.
Apply for admission to Pacific Lutheran University. An offer of financial aid will not be made until you have been admitted to PLU.
If you will be completing the FAFSA, obtain a Federal Student Aid (FSA) ID. This FSA ID (and the password you create with it) will be used as your electronic signature when completing your FASFA application. For a short tutorial on creating your ID and password, click here.
U. S. citizens and non-citizens with permanent resident status should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.studentaid.gov and enter the PLU school code: 003785. Washington residents who are undocumented should submit the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) at wsac.wa.gov. Students entering PLU in summer 2024 or fall 2024 should submit the 2024-25 FAFSA or WASFA. The FAFSA and WASFA have changed significantly for 2024-25; click here for more information.
Upon admission to PLU and receipt of your FAFSA or WASFA, Student Financial Services will generate your financial aid award offer and send it to you and your family by regular mail.
If accepting the Federal Direct Loan(s), go the U.S. Department of Education website at www.studentaid.gov and complete 1.) a Master Promissory Note, which is good for ten years, and 2.) Entrance Counseling. Both steps need to be completed only once, when you borrow this loan for the very first time. You are also encouraged to complete the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgment, as it provides you with your current Federal Direct Loan program debt, your expected monthly payment amount upon entering repayment, and the total amount necessary to repay your entire loan principal and accrued interest.
If offered and if interested in on-campus employment, accept your Federal Work-Study offer in Banner Self Service. Then, search for jobs and complete the I-9 and W-4 forms with Student Employment.
If offered and interested in working on and/or off campus, accept your state work-study offer in Banner Self Service. Then, search for jobs and complete the hiring process, which may be with your chosen on or off-campus employer.
If choosing to borrow the Federal Nursing Loan, first accept the loan in Banner Self Service. Then, complete the online Entrance Interview and Master Promissory Note with our loan servicer, ECSI, when notified by email. The email from ECSI will provide you with instructions for completing online processes necessary in order to receive your loan funds.
If enrolling at PLU for the first time, Pay your Enrollment Deposit, which secures your seat in the entering class and allows you to register for your first semester’s classes.
Registering for classes generates a bill for your next semester’s tuition and fees (and on-campus housing and meal charges if living on campus). Class registration for new students is completed with the Center for Student Success beginning in July. Continuing students receive an email with their registration appointment time.
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