University of Oklahoma Financial Aid Services

Parent Information

This webpage is for parents of new OU students. Review the links below for more information.

Using the Financial Aid Services Website ...More
Parents new to financial aid should first visit the Important Links listed on the left side of this page. These links will provide basic information on appling for college funding including information about scholarships, financial aid, and other resources. In addition, you will find step-by-step instructions on how to apply for financial aid. These steps should help make the process of applying for financial aid easer!

Student and Parent Responsibilities ...More
At The University of Oklahoma the student is primarily responsible for researching and pursuing as many financial aid opportunities as possible. Parental guidance is often needed for new college students.

Please use our website to find information and to access the financial aid resources that can help pay for college. Undergraduate students applying for financial aid often require parental assistance and financial information when completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA application includes specific questions to determine a students’ dependency status and whether parent financial information is required. When parent information is required on the FAFSA and is not included the application "rejects". The student may not be eligible for federal student aid (and most other types of aid requiring the FAFSA) unless this is corrected. Review the FAFSA instructions carefully when completing the application to determine whether parental information is required.

Typically, OU freshmen parents are extensively involved with the students’ financial aid application process. Use this opportunity to involve your student in the process by giving them a head start on college and personal financial planning.

As the student progresses through college, our students take on a greater responsibility for their financial aid and personal finances. Most importantly, be sure to guide your student through the financial aid application (FAFSA) process annually. You may even want to mark your calendar now, to apply for financial aid using the FAFSA each year between January 1 and March 1 for the following fall/spring semesters. Be sure to clearly communicate your expectations for completing the FAFSA on time.

Students who have been involved in the financial aid process and the decisions impacting their education often feel a greater commitment to their studies. Discussing personal money management with your student is a wise choice. For more information on personal finance for students visit OU’s Cash Course personal money management website! This site includes setting up a budget, debit and credit card information, protecting your credit, identity theft and ways to reduce spending and save while in college.

Ask the Sooners ...More
What if you have a ton of financial aid questions? OU Financial Aid Services has guided families through the financial aid process for many, many years.

Ask the Sooners is an extensive knowledge base of our most frequently asked questions about financial aid, billing and payment, online enrollment, transcripts, and other related issues. These questions and answers range from very simple to very specific. Most answers were developed from actual student and parent questions. OU students use Ask the Sooners daily to find financial aid answers quickly.

Ask the Sooners is easy to use. To use Ask the Sooners from this page, click on the arrow next to the Ask the Sooners search box to view the entire knowledge base. Another option is to type a keyword in the search. For example, if you want additional information about a Parent PLUS Loan, you may type the word PLUS in the Ask the Sooners search, then press enter. All the questions and answers currently available will be listed. Every effort is made to keep the financial aid information as current as possible. The Ask the Sooners knowledge base is available 24/7 and can save you a call.

Contacting Financial Aid Services ...More

Financial Aid advisors are available Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. excluding university holidays. Advising staff is limited between 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. daily.

Parents may call, visit or email our office. The best time to call is Tues.-Friday before 11:00 a.m. The busiest time on phones is from 11:20 a.m.-2:15 p.m. Appointments may be available for more complicated issues by scheduling in advance. Incoming freshman parents visiting OU during the enrollment cycle may visit with advisors on a first come first serve basis in our main advising area. Our office space is very limited. Please check the signs posted at our entrance for instructions before proceeding to an advisor.

Please note that once the student is admitted you must have the student's OU Sooner ID number when contacting us to make a status check. Financial Aid Services uses the Sooner ID number to identify the student's financial aid application in our system. Please obtain the Sooner ID from your student. The Sooner ID number is on their Admission letter and on the student OU ID card. Expect to be asked other identifiable questions when contacting us by phone and have a photo ID card for yourself when visiting our office.

Cell phone use within our office is strongly discouraged as it interferes with our advisor’s telephone headsets and is disruptive to other visitors. If you need to use your cell phone, please make your call outside our office advisement area. Thank you for your cooperation.

Parent PLUS Loan Information ...More

Parents may be interested in borrowing a loan to help meet the costs of attending college. Parents of dependent students may apply for a Federal Parent PLUS Loan. This loan may be used for tuition, fees, books, housing & food, and the student's personal expenses, such as laundry and miscellaneous expenses.

The PLUS Loan is not based on “financial need” so parents of any income level may apply. The PLUS Loan requires a credit check and repayment begins shortly after the loan is disbursed. The student must be making Satisfactory Academic Progress with Financial Aid Services. The Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) is required for OU to process the PLUS Loan.

Please visit the link OU Financial Aid Services Parent PLUS Loan webpage for more information and to begin the PLUS Application process. We strongly encourage you to fully review the PLUS information for complete details before applying for this loan. A student may be offered a Dependent Unsubsidized Stafford Loan if the Parent PLUS Loan is denied.