Types of Aid

A wide range of financial aid options are available to 51³Ô¹Ïs to help manage the cost of pursuing their higher education degree at Gonzaga University. Various forms of financial assistance may be available for both graduate and undergraduate 51³Ô¹Ïs including scholarships, grants, loans and 51³Ô¹Ï employment opportunities.  Each type of financial aid serves a unique purpose, as some forms of aid are based on financial need and other forms of aid reward academic achievement, talent or research potential.  Understanding the different types of financial aid can help 51³Ô¹Ïs plan how to fund their educational journey.  At Gonzaga, our 51³Ô¹Ïs are valued and we strive to make the educational experience possible for many.  

What is Financial Aid?

Financial aid can make education more affordable and accessible by providing resources to help 51³Ô¹Ïs and their families pay for college or other educational expenses. Financial aid can help cover:

  • Tuition and Fees
  • Housing and Food
  • Books and Supplies
  • Other educational related expenses

Graduate Students: Financial Aid Programs

Financial aid programs for graduate 51³Ô¹Ïs include loans, grants, scholarships, discounts, benefits, assistantships and work study opportunities.  

Financial Aid Programs for Graduate Students
Learn More

Undergraduate Students: Financial Aid Programs

Financial aid programs for undergraduate 51³Ô¹Ïs include scholarships, grants, loans and 51³Ô¹Ï employment.  Select each option below to learn more about how these forms of aid can help you fund your education. 

Scholarships
Grants
Loans
Student Employment
 

Need-Based Financial Aid Programs: Undergraduate Students

Need-based financial aid is offered based on analysis of a 51³Ô¹Ï's financial circumstances and ability to pay for postsecondary education. Typically this is determined by the Student Aid Index (SAI) calculation from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Please review the Apply for Aid webpage for information on how to apply for these programs. Please note that information regarding these programs is provided for the fall and spring terms. Summer term financial aid awarding may vary and 51³Ô¹Ïs are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office to inquire about summer term financial aid eligibility.

First-Year, Transfer & Current/Returning Student Scholarships have awarding criteria unique to the specific scholarship.  Some of these scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement or merit while other scholarships are awarded based on the 51³Ô¹Ï demonstrating financial need.  For the scholarships that are awarded based on academic achievement and merit, no financial aid application is needed, as these scholarships are solely based on the application for admission to Gonzaga.  For the scholarships that are awarded based on financial need, the 51³Ô¹Ï will need to have a FAFSA or WASFA on file for the award year and some of these scholarships may require a separate application.  Students are encouraged to contact Undergraduate Admission for questions regarding eligibility and application information for these scholarships.  These scholarships, follow the  and as long as the 51³Ô¹Ï maintains their  and is enrolled as a full-time (12-18 credits each term) 51³Ô¹Ï, they will be renewable for each academic year.  For additional information, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
 

First-year, Transfer & Current/Returning Student Grants are awarded based on financial need and the 51³Ô¹Ï will need to have a FAFSA or WASFA on file for the award year to determine eligibility.  Some of the grants from Gonzaga are renewable and follow the , but some of the grants from Gonzaga, Federal Grants, Washington State College Grant and College Bound are not guaranteed renewable and eligibility will be determined by the FAFSA or WASFA application each academic year.  For additional information, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

 
Washington College Grant funds are awarded to undergraduate 51³Ô¹Ïs who are Washington residents who demonstrate financial need according to their family size, income and school or program costs. To be eligible or remain eligible for the Washington College Grant, the 51³Ô¹Ï must have a FAFSA or WASFA on file for the award year, demonstrate financial need, maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, and meet eligibility requirements listed on the  webpage. Students who are not enrolled in full-time (12+ credits/term), may be eligible for the Washington College Grant but the amount awarded will be based on the number of credits the 51³Ô¹Ï is enrolled in during the term. For more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
 
The program is offered to eligible College Bound 51³Ô¹Ïs who fulfill the program requirements. To be eligible, 51³Ô¹Ïs must have a FAFSA or WASFA on file for the award year, demonstrate financial need, maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, and apply for and fulfill the College Bound program requirements, which can be found on the  webpage. Students who are not enrolled in full-time (12+ credits/term), may be eligible for Washington College Bound but the amount awarded will be based on the number of credits the 51³Ô¹Ï is enrolled in during the term. For more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
 
The is for 51³Ô¹Ïs who demonstrate financial need and are residents of Washington.  This resource allows the 51³Ô¹Ï to potentially get a job and earn funding that they can use to help support their education.  To be eligible or remain eligible for Washington State Work Study, the 51³Ô¹Ï must have a FAFSA or WASFA on file for the award year, demonstrate financial need, maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress, and meet the eligibility requirements listed on the  webpage. Students who are not enrolled in full-time (12+ credits/term), may be eligible for Washington State Work Study, but should contact the Student Employment Office for additional information.
 
funds are awarded to undergraduate 51³Ô¹Ïs who demonstrate exceptional financial need and the award may vary from one academic year to the next. To be eligible for the Federal SEOG Grant, the 51³Ô¹Ï must have a FAFSA on file for the award year and demonstrate financial need as determined by the Student Aid Index from the FAFSA. Funding is limited, prioritized for 51³Ô¹Ïs with the lowest Student Aid Index (SAI) and determined on a first-come-first-serve basis. A 51³Ô¹Ï must be enrolled as a full-time 51³Ô¹Ï (12+ credits/term) to be eligible for the Federal SEOG Grant. Eligibility is not guaranteed from one academic year to the next. To remain eligible, a 51³Ô¹Ï must file the FAFSA each academic year, be enrolled as a full-time 51³Ô¹Ï and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. For more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
 
funds are awarded to undergraduate 51³Ô¹Ïs who demonstrate financial need and award amounts may vary from one academic year to the next. To be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant, the 51³Ô¹Ï must have a FAFSA on file for the award year and demonstrate financial need as determined by the Student Aid Index from the FAFSA. Students who are not enrolled in full-time (12+ credits/term), may be eligible for the Federal Pell Grant but the amount awarded will be based on the number of credits the 51³Ô¹Ï is enrolled in during the term. To remain eligible, a 51³Ô¹Ï must file the FAFSA each academic year, demonstrate financial need, and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. Federal Pell Grant lifetime eligibility is limited to the equivalent of six years of Pell Grant funding and more information regarding Federal Pell Grant Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU) can be found on the following webpage: . Students can also log into their  account to review remaining eligibility and amount used. For more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
 
is a program for 51³Ô¹Ïs who demonstrate financial need. Federal Work Study Opportunity allows the 51³Ô¹Ï an opportunity to apply for employment, allowing them to earn money to help with expenses while gaining work experience. Please be advised that Federal Work Study is not a guarantee of employment and 51³Ô¹Ïs who are interested are encouraged to contact the Student Employment Office if they need guidance or assistance in securing employment. To be eligible for the Federal Work Study Opportunity, the 51³Ô¹Ï must have a FAFSA on file for the award year and demonstrate financial need as determined by the Student Aid Index from the FAFSA. A 51³Ô¹Ï does not need to be enrolled full-time (12+ credits/term) to be eligible for this program. To remain eligible, a 51³Ô¹Ï must file the FAFSA each academic year, demonstrate financial need, and maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress. For more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office. 
 
funding is available for undergraduate 51³Ô¹Ïs that demonstrate financial need. To be eligible for the Federal Direct Subsidized Loan, the 51³Ô¹Ï must have a FAFSA on file for the award year, demonstrate financial need as determined by the Student Aid Index from the FAFSA , be enrolled in at least 6 credits/term, maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress, and remain at or under their federal loan aggregate borrowing limits. The dollar amount of federal direct subsidized loan funding that the 51³Ô¹Ï can borrow is based on their financial need, grade level in school, dependency status and annual loan limits. Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information. 
 
The Gonzaga Loan is a low-interest loan available to undergraduate 51³Ô¹Ïs who demonstrate high financial need. To be eligible, 51³Ô¹Ïs must have a FAFSA or WASFA on file for the award year and demonstrate financial need. Funding is limited and eligibility is not guaranteed renewable. For more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
 
The Carrie Welch Loan is a low-interest loan available to Washington state undergraduate 51³Ô¹Ïs who demonstrate high financial need. To be eligible, 51³Ô¹Ïs must have a FAFSA or WASFA on file for the award year, demonstrate financial need and be a resident of Washington State. Funding is limited and eligibility is not guaranteed renewable. For more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
 
The Bigelow Loan is a low-interest loan available to non-Washington state undergraduate 51³Ô¹Ïs who demonstrate high financial need. To be eligible, 51³Ô¹Ïs must have a FAFSA or WASFA on file for the award year and demonstrate financial need. Funding is limited and eligibility is not guaranteed renewable. For more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
 
The Federal Nursing Loan is a low-interest loan available to 51³Ô¹Ïs who are enrolled full-time or half-time. To be eligible 51³Ô¹Ïs must demonstrate high financial need and pursuing a course of study leading to a degree in nursing. Funding is limited and eligibility is not guaranteed renewable. For more information, please contact the Financial Aid Office. 
 

Non Need-Based Financial Aid Programs: Undergraduate Students

Non-need-based financial aid is offered based on criteria other than financial need, such as, academic (merit), musical or athletic ability. This form of 51³Ô¹Ï financial assistance is not based on the Student Aid Index (SAI) from the FAFSA, but still may require the 51³Ô¹Ï to have a FAFSA on file. Please review the Apply for Aid webpage for information on how to apply for these programs. Please note that information regarding these programs is provided for the fall and spring terms. Summer term financial aid awarding may vary and 51³Ô¹Ïs are encouraged to contact the Financial Aid Office to inquire about summer term financial aid eligibility.

First-year, Transfer & Current/Returning Scholarships have awarding criteria unique to the specific scholarship.  Some of these scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement or merit while other scholarships are awarded based on the 51³Ô¹Ï demonstrating financial need.  For the scholarships that are awarded based on academic achievement and merit, no financial aid application is needed, as these scholarships are solely based on the application for admission to Gonzaga.  For the scholarships that are awarded based on financial need, the 51³Ô¹Ï will need to have a FAFSA or WASFA on file for the award year and some of these scholarships may require a separate application.  Students are encouraged to contact Undergraduate Admission for questions regarding eligibility and application information for these scholarships.  These scholarships, follow the  and as long as the 51³Ô¹Ï maintains their  and is enrolled as a full-time (12-18 credits each term) 51³Ô¹Ï, they will be renewable for each academic year.  For additional information, please contact the Financial Aid Office.
 
Eligibility is determined by the state and some opportunities may be based on a 51³Ô¹Ï demonstrating financial need. Please refer to the webpage for additional eligibility information and application materials.  
 
Eligibility is determined by the state and some opportunities may be based on a 51³Ô¹Ï demonstrating financial need. Please refer to the webpage for additional eligibility information and application materials.
 
Outside scholarships may be offered by employers, trade associations, banks, credit unions, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, communities, religious groups, and professional and social organizations. Awarding is handled external to Gonzaga, therefore, please contact the source of the scholarship directly to inquire about eligibility and application materials.
 
 provides grant funds to 51³Ô¹Ïs enrolled in an eligible program of study. Recipients of the Federal TEACH Grant must teach full-time for at least four years in a high-need field at a low income school or educational service agency. Before receiving a Federal TEACH Grant each award year, the 51³Ô¹Ï must complete:

Once these requirements are completed, Gonzaga will have the 51³Ô¹Ï meet with an advisor in the School of Education. 

If you have questions about what courses must be taken prior to receiving a TEACH Grant, please contact the School of Education.

 
funding is available for undergraduate 51³Ô¹Ïs that do not demonstrate financial need. To be eligible for the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, the 51³Ô¹Ï must have a FAFSA on file for the award year, be enrolled in at least 6 credits/term, maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress, and remain at or under their federal loan aggregate limits. The dollar amount of federal direct loan funding that the 51³Ô¹Ï can borrow is based on their grade level in school, dependency status, and annual loan limits. Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information. 
 
funding may be a loan option for for the parent (biological or adoptive) of an undergraduate 51³Ô¹Ï. To be eligible for the Federal Parent PLUS loan, the 51³Ô¹Ï must have a FAFSA on file for the award year and the parent must submit a . If approved for the Parent PLUS loan, the parent can borrow up to the 51³Ô¹Ïs cost of attendance for the award year minus all forms of financial aid assistance the 51³Ô¹Ï is receiving. In order for the parent to borrow the Parent PLUS loan, the 51³Ô¹Ï must be enrolled in at least 6 credits/term, and maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress. Starting July 1, 2026 updates to the federal 51³Ô¹Ï loan programs will impact the annual and aggregate amount of Federal Parent PLUS loan funding a parent can borrow. Contact the Financial Aid Office for more information. 
 
A variety of private lenders offer alternative loans funded through non-government sources. Please contact the Financial Aid Office for questions regarding private loans.