Types of Aid

At Truman, we offer a variety of financial aid opportunities that can be tailored to fit your needs. And we have one of the most generous scholarship programs of any college or university. In fact, almost 60% of our seniors graduate without any federal student loan debt because of the many ways we help you fund your education.

Scholarships
Scholarships do not have to be repaid and are awarded to students based on academic performance and/or achievements and talents. Many scholarships are awarded through Truman, and students can also explore scholarships awarded through outside agencies.

Grants
These need-based awards do not have to be repaid. Grant awards can include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Access Missouri Grant, and Truman Access Grant. Eligibility is determined from the results of the FAFSA. These programs are available for undergraduate students only.

Work-Study/Student Employment
The Federal Work-Study program allows eligible students to earn money working on campus. Participants receive a monthly paycheck that can be used toward educational expenses. On-campus jobs are posted on TruPositions, Truman’s centralized student employment website.

If a Federal Work-Study (FWS) student chooses not to set up payroll direct deposit, a US Bank pre-paid debit card is sent to them. View the Third-Party Servicer contract PDF. Disclosure requirements:

• US Bank Focus Card Pre-Acquisition Disclosure
• Number of enrolled FWS students with a pre-paid debit card: 51
• Mean of the actual costs these FWS student account holders incurred the last award year: $7.05
• Median of the actual costs these FWS student account holders incurred the last award year: $4.00
• Total consideration for the last award year:
  

  	Truman Paid/Received	US Bank Paid/Received
  Monetary	$0	$0
  Non-monetary	N/A	N/A

Federal Direct Subsidized & Unsubsidized Loans

• Subsidized: Eligibility for subsidized loans is need-based. The federal government pays the interest that accrues while you are in school.  Repayment begins six months after you leave school or drop below half-time. Subsidized loans are only available for undergraduate students seeking their first bachelor’s degree.
• Unsubsidized: Eligibility for unsubsidized loans is not need-based. You are responsible for paying the interest that accrues. Interest may be paid while you are in school or can be capitalized. Repayment begins six months after you leave school or drop below half-time.
  

PLUS Loans
For PLUS loans, the lender is the U.S. Department of Education rather than a bank or other financial institution. PLUS loans allow parents of undergraduate students to borrow up to the full cost of their student’s tuition and educational expenses, less any aid the student may have received. PLUS loans are not based on need. There is a quick credit check for the parent. If the parent is found to have derogatory credit, the student will gain eligibility for up to an additional $4,000 in Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans.

Private Loans
These are credit-based loans offered to students or parents by banks/private lenders. Terms are typically less favorable than federal student loan options, and the student will usually need a co-signer.