Tuition and Fees | Entry-level Professional Degrees | DAOM Program | DACM Degree Completion
Scholarship Opportunities | Additional Info and Resources | Policies
OCOM’s Office of Financial Aid is committed to assisting you with financing your education.
Several types of financial aid are available at OCOM, including loans, work-study and scholarships. Learn more about these programs in the Types of Aid section. For students not receiving financial aid, a monthly payment option may be available; contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more details, 503-253-3443.
Download our Financial Aid Overview.
This page will help guide you through the financial aid process and answer most questions that you may have regarding how to apply, when to apply, and when funds may be available for you. In addition, the Office of Financial Aid is here to help you with any additional questions you may have: 503-253-3443 x108.
Find the information you're looking for:
Entry-level Professional Degrees (DACM/MACM, MAc): Applying for Financial Aid, Types of Aid, Steps to Receive Aid, Loan Repayment.
Download: Federal Financial Aid for Entry-level Professional Degrees
Doctoral Degree (DAOM): Applying for Financial Aid, Types of Aid, Steps to Receive Aid, Loan Repayment.
Download: Federal Financial Aid for DAOM Studies (DAOM)
DACM Completion Track
Download: DACM Estimated Costs/Private Student Loan Information
Additional Information: Code of Conduct, Policies, Resources, Loan Calculators
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
OCOM School Code: B 07625
Entry-level Professional Degrees
(DACM/MACM, MAc)
Applying for Financial Aid
To receive financial aid, you must apply each year. In addition to the federal and OCOM applications, you may also be required to submit separate forms for scholarship and loans. Remember that you must submit all completed applications and, if requested, all supplemental information before you will receive your financial aid funds.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
You initiate a financial aid review each year by submitting the federal application called the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is submitted to the federal government each calendar year, after it opens in October.
The FAFSA is a free application submitted to the federal government to determine your eligibility for federal financial aid programs, including federal student loans. The FAFSA will collect information about you, your family, and your financial situation to determine the amount of financial aid that can be awarded to you.
The FAFSA opens the October prior to the award year. The FAFSA can be completed electronically (fastest) or via paper. To complete the FAFSA, you will need your Social Security Number, driver’s license, income tax returns from the prior-prior year*, bank statements, and any other information you may have regarding income and investments.
*Prior-prior year would be 2020 tax returns for a 2022-2023 FAFSA application.
Use the links on this page to access the FAFSA website for more details on how to apply, documents you will need, and follow-up steps.
[Caution: Another, similar web address takes you to a business site that charges a significant fee for completing the free application.]
Watch your mail for notices from the federal government or OCOM regarding your financial aid applications. You will be contacted if any additional information is needed to supplement your financial aid applications. Be sure to respond promptly to any information requests to avoid delays in processing your applications.
Aid Offers — In Spring, OCOM's Office of Financial Aid reviews all of the aid applications and begins to package financial aid for the next academic year. An aid offer will be sent to you in Spring via DocuSign detailing the amount and types of aid that are available to you. You must sign the aid offer, noting any amounts that you wish to accept, decline, or reduce.
Loan Requests — Students who accept federal student loans must also complete a loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) if they are receiving loans for the first time through OCOM. The Office of Financial Aid will notify you if an MPN is needed.
During the summer months, the Office of Financial Aid will process loan requests for the next academic year. If OCOM scholarships are offered, the applications will be reviewed and scholarships will be awarded during the summer as well.
Loan Proceeds — At the beginning of each quarter (or later, depending on when funds are received from your lender), your loan proceeds will be processed. After verifying that you are still enrolled and eligible for the loan, the funds will first be used to pay for any outstanding tuition, fees, and, if applicable, pre-ordered textbooks for the quarter. Once these amounts are fully paid, any credit balance will be available to you. You will receive any excess funds through a check from the Accounting Office.
Types of Financial Aid: Loans, Work-study, Scholarships
Loans — Most financial aid offered through OCOM is provided in the form of loans. However, limited funds are also available through our work-study program or through scholarships.
Borrowing is a necessity for many students, and the Office of Financial Aid encourages and supports you in borrowing wisely.
- Borrow only the amount you absolutely need.
- If uncertain about future expenses, borrow only what you need now. You can apply for additional eligible funds if and when they are needed.
- Keep track each year of how much you have borrowed and what your monthly loan payments will be to avoid surprises when you graduate.
- Remember, loans must be repaid.
Most students can meet their needs using loans through one of the federal programs described below. If you have questions about private loans, contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information, including how private loans may impact your other financial aid.
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan: Unsubsidized loans for the current academic year offer a fixed interest rate of 6.54%. You will receive a six-month grace period after you graduate (or otherwise drop below half-time enrollment) before you must begin repayment.
- Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loan: Grad PLUS loans are unsubsidized. Grad PLUS loans for the current academic year offer a fixed interest rate of 7.54%. You can defer (postpone) payments on your loan as long as you are enrolled at least half-time. You will also receive a 30-day grace period after you graduate (or otherwise drop below half-time enrollment).
Federal rules dictate the amount you are allowed to receive under the federal student loan programs. In addition, if you receive any federal aid, federal rules state that your total aid, including private loans, cannot exceed your total OCOM cost of attendance. Remember that most students’ loan needs can be met through one or both of the federal loan programs.
Loan Types
Direct Unsubsidized
Annual Limit (9-month): $20,500
Annual Limit (12-month): $27,334
Aggregate Limit (including undergraduate loans): $138,500 *Maximum of $65,500 in subsidized Stafford loans
Direct Graduate PLUS
Annual Limit (9-month): No limit *Maximum of annual cost of attendance less all other aid
Annual Limit (12-month): No limit *Maximum of annual cost of attendance less all other aid
Aggregate Limit (including undergraduate loans): No limit
Federal Work-Study Awards are available to some eligible students. Under the Federal Work-Study program, you will be paid bi-monthly for hours worked in such a position. Your Work-Study funds may be applied to your tuition costs, if these are not covered through some other means, or you may use them for other educational costs such as books and living expenses.
A Work-Study award is the maximum amount that you are permitted to earn during the year; you are not guaranteed to receive this amount. It is your responsibility to secure a position with hours that fit into your class schedule, and to work the hours necessary to receive your full Work-Study award.
If you would like to be considered for an award, you must indicate your interest in Work-Study when you complete the FAFSA.
Steps to Receive Financial Aid
Your financial aid offer will let you know the maximum amount of federal student loans for which you are eligible. It is then up to you to decide whether you want to accept the maximum amount, accept a lesser amount, or decline one or more of the loans. After you determine any loan amounts that you wish to accept, note the changes (if any) on the aid offer before you sign and return it to OCOM's Office of Financial Aid.
The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a loan agreement between you and the Federal Government. By signing the MPN, you are agreeing to repay your loans under the terms of that MPN. The first time that you take out a loan at OCOM under any of the federal loan programs, you will be required to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN). The MPN will then be used as your promissory note for all future loans through that loan program while you are enrolled at OCOM. You will need to complete a MPN for each loan program. To complete you MPN online, visit: www.studentloans.gov
Federal loan programs vary from one program to the next, and come with a number of student rights as well as many responsibilities. To ensure you understand your loan obligations, federal rules require you to participate in two counseling sessions regarding loans.
Entrance Counseling is required before you receive your first Direct Unsubsidized or Grad PLUS loan at OCOM. In your Entrance Counseling session, you will learn about the types of loans that are available, the terms and conditions for the loans, and your responsibilities related to the loans. This information is provided to ensure you fully understand your loan obligation before you are committed to receiving the loan funds. Complete your Entrance Counseling.
Loan Repayment
Exit Counseling is required before you graduate or otherwise leave OCOM. In your Exit Counseling session, you will prepare for repaying your student loans and consider debt management strategies. This information is provided to ensure you understand your repayment options and prepares you for the payments that will be required on your loans. Complete your Exit Counseling.
Student loans must be repaid — In most cases, you will not be required to make payments for as long as you are enrolled at least half-time. You may also be asked about your preferences for paying interest on your unsubsidized federal loans while you are in school.
Interest capitalization — Interest can add up quickly on student loans. All of the interest that accrues on your unsubsidized loans while you are in school can generally be capitalized (added to your principal loan balance) and interest will then be charged on that new, higher loan balance. Any payments that you are able to make to pay that interest before it is capitalized, whether you can pay all of it or just a portion, will reduce your overall loan costs.
Repayment plans — Federal student loans offer several different structures of repayment plans.
When you are evaluating repayment plans, consider:
- The monthly payment amount,
- How long it will take to repay the loan, and
- The total amount of interest that you will pay.
Low payment amounts are very tempting; remember that they can cost you a lot in the long run. In general, select the plan with the highest payment amount that you can reasonably afford to minimize your loan costs while keeping the payment manageable. Remember that you can always make additional payments when you have extra cash.
Learn about available repayment options.
OCOM School Code: B 07625
Doctoral Studies (DAOM)
Applying for Financial Aid
To receive financial aid, you must apply each year. In addition to the federal application, you may also be required to submit separate forms for scholarship and loans. Remember that you must submit all completed applications and, if requested, all supplemental information before you will receive your financial aid funds.
Financial Aid Applications
You initiate a financial aid review each year by submitting the federal application called the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is submitted to the federal government each calendar year, after it opens in October.
The FAFSA is a free application submitted to the federal government to determine your eligibility for federal financial aid programs, including federal student loans. The FAFSA will collect information about you, your family, and your financial situation to determine the amount of financial aid that can be awarded to you.
The FAFSA opens the October prior to the award year. The FAFSA can be completed electronically (fastest) or via paper. To complete the FAFSA, you will need your Social Security Number, driver’s license, income tax returns from the prior-prior year*, bank statements, and any other information you may have regarding income and investments.
*Prior-prior year would be 2020 tax returns for a 2022-2023 FAFSA application.
Use the links on this page to access the FAFSA website for more details on how to apply, documents you will need, and follow-up steps.
[Caution: Another, similar web address takes you to a business site that charges a significant fee for completing the free application.]
Watch your mail for notices from the federal government or OCOM regarding your financial aid applications. You will be contacted if any additional information is needed to supplement your financial aid applications. Be sure to respond promptly to any information requests to avoid delays in processing your applications.
Aid Offers — In Spring, OCOM's Office of Financial Aid reviews all of the aid applications and begins to package financial aid for the next academic year. An aid offer will be sent to you in Spring via DocuSign detailing the amount and types of aid that are available to you. You must sign the aid offer, noting any amounts that you wish to accept, decline, or reduce.
Loan Requests — Students who accept federal student loans must also complete a loan Master Promissory Note (MPN) if they are receiving loans for the first time through OCOM. The Office of Financial Aid will notify you if an MPN is needed.
During the summer months, the Office of Financial Aid will process loan requests for the next academic year. If OCOM scholarships are offered, the applications will be reviewed and scholarships will be awarded during the summer as well.
Loan Proceeds — At the beginning of each payment period, your loan proceeds will be processed. After verifying that you are still enrolled and eligible for the loan, the funds will first be used to pay for any outstanding tuition, fees, and, if applicable, pre-ordered textbooks for the quarter. Once these amounts are fully paid, any credit balance will be available to you. You will receive any excess funds through a check from the Accounting Office.
Types of Financial Aid: Loans and Scholarships
Most financial aid offered through OCOM is provided in the form of loans. However, limited funds are also available through our scholarships.
While we recognize that borrowing is a necessity for many students, we encourage you to borrow cautiously and wisely.
- Borrow only the amount you absolutely need.
- If uncertain about future expenses, borrow only what you need now. You can apply for additional eligible funds if and when they are needed.
- Keep track each year of how much you have borrowed and what your monthly loan payments will be to avoid surprises when you graduate.
Remember that loans must be repaid.
Most students can meet their needs using loans through one of the federal programs described below. If you have questions about private loans, contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information, including how private loans may impact your other financial aid.
- Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan: Unsubsidized loans for the current academic year offer a fixed interest rate of 6.54 percent. You will receive a six-month grace period after you graduate (or otherwise drop below half-time enrollment) before you must begin repayment.
- Federal Direct Graduate PLUS Loans: Grad PLUS loans are unsubsidized. Grad PLUS loans for the current academic year offer a fixed interest rate of 7.54 percent. You can defer (postpone) payments on your Grad PLUS loans as long as you are enrolled at least half-time. You will also receive a 30-day grace period after you graduate (or otherwise drop below half-time enrollment).
Federal rules dictate the amount you are allowed to receive under the federal student loan programs. In addition, if you receive any federal aid, federal rules state that your total aid, including private loans, cannot exceed your total OCOM budget. Remember that most students’ loan needs can be met through one or both of the federal loan programs.
Loan Types (DAOM)
Direct Unsubsidized
Annual Limit (10-month): $20,500
Aggregate Limit (including undergraduate loans): $138,500 *Maximum of $65,500 in subsidized Stafford loans)
Grad PLUS
Annual Limit (10-month): No limit *Maximum of annual cost of attendance less all other aid
Aggregate Limit (including undergraduate loans): No limit
Steps to Receive Financial Aid
Your financial aid offer will let you know the maximum amount of federal student loans for which you are eligible. It is then up to you to decide whether you want to accept the maximum amount, accept a lesser amount, or decline one or more of the loans. After you determine any loan amounts that you wish to accept, note the changes (if any) on the offer before you sign and return it to OCOM's Office of Financial Aid.
The Master Promissory Note (MPN) is a loan agreement between you and the Federal Government. By signing the MPN, you are agreeing to repay your loans under the terms of that MPN. The first time that you take out a loan at OCOM under any of the federal loan programs, you will be required to complete a Master Promissory Note (MPN). The MPN will then be used as your promissory note for all future loans through that loan program while you are enrolled at OCOM. You will need to complete a MPN for each loan program. To complete your MPN online, visit: www.studentloans.gov
Federal loan programs vary from one program to the next, and come with a number of student rights as well as many responsibilities. To ensure you understand your loan obligations, federal rules require you to participate in two counseling sessions regarding loans.
Entrance Counseling is required before you receive your first Direct Unsubsidized or Grad PLUS loan at OCOM. In your Entrance Counseling session, you will learn about the types of loans that are available, the terms and conditions for the loans, and your responsibilities related to the loans. This information is provided to ensure you fully understand your loan obligation before you are committed to receiving the loan funds. Complete your Entrance Counseling.
Loan Repayment
Exit Counseling is required before you graduate or otherwise leave OCOM. In your Exit Counseling session, you will prepare for repaying your student loans and consider debt management strategies. This information is provided to ensure you understand your repayment options and prepares you for the payments that will be required on your loans. Complete your Exit Counseling.
Student loans must be repaid — In most cases, you will not be required to make payments for as long as you are enrolled at least half-time. You may also be asked about your preferences for paying interest on your unsubsidized federal loans while you are in school.
Interest capitalization — Interest can add up quickly on student loans. All of the interest that accrues on your unsubsidized loans while you are in school can generally be capitalized (added to your principal loan balance, and interest will then be charged on that new, higher loan balance. Any payments that you are able to make to pay that interest before it is capitalized, whether you can pay all of it or just a portion, will reduce your overall loan costs.
Repayment plans — Federal student loans offer several different structures of repayment plans. When you are evaluating repayment plans, consider:
- The monthly payment amount,
- How long it will take to repay the loan, and
- The total amount of interest that you will pay.
Low payment amounts are very tempting, but remember that they can cost you a lot in the long run. In general, select the plan with the highest payment amount that you can reasonably afford in order to minimize your loan costs while keeping the payment manageable. Remember that you can always make additional payments when you have extra cash.
Learn about available repayment options.
OCOM School Code: B 07625
DACM Degree Completion Track
Since it is not currently accredited, federal financial aid is not available for the DACM completion track. Students in this track are eligible to apply for private student loans to fund their direct and/or indirect costs.
Quick tips for successfully managing your loans:
-
Notify your lender of all address, phone, and email changes.
-
Open all mail (postal or email) from your lender.
-
Make all payments on time.
-
Make additional payments when you can, whether it's a little each month or a lump-sum payment. Even an extra $10 or $20 each month will cut your total interest costs.
-
If you have difficulty making your loan payments, contact your loan servicer immediately.
Remember, nobody wants you to default on your loans. OCOM's This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. is here to help if you find yourself struggling to manage your loans.
Additional Information
Code of Conduct
Download the Code of Conduct (PDF): Policy Statement Regarding Relationships with Student Loan Lenders
Financial Aid Policies
Policies for entry-level and postgraduate students
Resources
The following links offer you a wealth of resources regarding the application process, student loans, debt management and related financial aid resources.
Financial Aid Applications
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
Managing Student Loans
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
Education-related Tax Information
Debt Management
Compare Costs
College Affordability and Transparency Center
2022-2023 Forms
Entry-level Programs Disbursement Schedule
Cost of Attendance Increase Request Form
Direct Loan Increase Request Form
Selective-Capstone Cost of Attendance Increase Request Form
Loan Calculators
Your student loan lender’s website will usually offer the best loan repayment calculators corresponding to their repayment plans. These websites offer generic calculators on repayment, calculating interest and general loan management:
BankRate.com (loans)
BankRate.com (credit cards)
Scholarships
Find out about available scholarship opportunities that help to offset the cost of your education. Questions regarding eligibility, application deadlines and other scholarship opportunities should be directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Director of Financial Aid, at 503-253-3443 x108.
Contact the Office of Financial Aid
Determining how to pay for school can be confusing, but don’t let it interfere with your commitment to getting a quality education. Let us help to answer any of your financial aid questions. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Katrina Hitzeman, Director of Financial Aid
Office of Financial Aid - Oregon College of Oriental Medicine
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
503-253-3443 x108
