Portland State University Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships - Portland, Oregon

Internet Guy

I want to open this by saying Henry was a lifesaver, extremely helpful, understanding, and patient with me. I really can’t overstate how thankful I am for the help because the “Financial Wellness Coaches” from the tandem office can’t answer any questions about financial aid.

Now I want to reiterate many other folks experience, with a description of my own up until this point. There is a reason they have a low rating.

The office is very hard to get a hold of. It’s difficult to schedule an appointment as it’s almost always booked a few weeks out.

PSU also made the last day for payments before incurring a late fee for fall quarter a Sunday (when they are not open all weekend) and close at 3 on Friday. Students paying thousands of dollars to juggle a full course load and often one or more jobs, should not have to feel cast aside when looking for help.

Ann Cudd, our school president, makes $610,000/year base salary, with a $96,000 housing allowance, and $12,000 a year toward vehicle costs. I’m no accountant, but I think I just found the money for another dozen financial aid reps. Just for clarity, $610,000/year is over $50,000/month.

There should be a surplus of financial aid help, why do we have all these executives like President making unfathomable money when we could have actually useful frontline jobs like financial aid experts? You don’t need a figurehead for an educational institution, you need departments heads and experts to make decisions. They know what’s actually happening.

Good luck all who interact with this office, I wish you the best with your schooling and endeavors.

Ana Shanks

I waited for 30 mins to figure out some forms to submit, however, after asking my question the person just repeated what was already stated in my financial aid portal (which I wanted to know more about) then hung up on me. I did not get any help out of the call. when trying to schedule in-person meetings to solve my situation, it was canceled three-times with not cause almost always the very next day.

Xitlali Hernandez

I was calling to make a quick payment like I usually have done for the past 2 years. I spoke with someone from Financial Aid her name is Grace or Gracie. She was telling me that the amount I was paying was basically for nothing. And I explained to her that I had done $20 payments before with no issue. That I don’t have all the amount to pay for today. She had an attitude and hung up on me. I’ve never had an issue with anyone but she was something. Definitely needs to be trained again or spoken too because that attitude was nasty. Thanks🤍

SEYNA WYNN

They are scammers!! They charged me for nothing! I’ve never stepped foot on campus, I was accepted but never really fully admitted! They charged me $50 for random fees that was supposed to be waived( I got waved fees for my circumstances), and they send me a bill for $500 dollars! I am a low income student I don’t have money! They charged me a random charge for something I do not know about and they are charging me interest and all these extra fees!!! DO NOT GO HERE! Scammers

Madelyne Reed

Went in because financial aid told me I needed to talk to them about something. They did not answer their phone, so I drove all the way down there with my one-year-old. In reality I didn't need to talk to them at all. These people who claim to be coaches don't do anything, she literally gave me a link. I'm losing housing and my ability to attend summer term and graduate on time because of something the school did that I was unaware since attending. Something I've never encountered in my 3/4 years of attending college. The coach was completely insensitive. She didn't seem to care about anything. "Is that all we can help you with today?" And I replied if that's all you can offer and she said "Okay well I hope you have a good day." Like what?! I just wasted gas to be given a LINK to a website? THANKS PSU THANK YOU! Absolutely do not care about their students and prove it.

Christy Garvey

The PSU FinAID office was so helpful today when I called. I love that there wasn't annoying hold music and instead there was just silence while I waited, and a voice checking-in periodically. The guy who helped me really stayed on the line with me to answer all my questions and went at a slow enough pace for me to think and he actually got to my real concern and got me an answer. I just transferred from a school in NY, and let me tell you, at other schools, they rush you off the phone as soon as they have answered. After calling the NY school I'd always be left anxious and still in need of help. I feel so thankful today that I called PSU and the slower pace and no annoying hold music meant that I got off the phone feeling good and all my questions answered!! Thank you!!

mira

Very inexperienced students working the front desk. It feels almost impossible to get help from someone that knows what they’re talking about. With each person I speak with it feels like I’m hearing a different answer. Don’t bother calling the office, they most likely won’t give you any help.

Vivian Hall

Talk about rude! I was told by my academic advisor to speak with them about how to find funds so I could finish my degree (I'm only 29 credits away). Not only were they rude but, they were accusatory and demeaning. When I called, the lady I spoke made it obvious she did not pay attention to my account and tried to tell me I recieved funding for terms I was never there. When I called her out on it, suddenly, she couldn't log onto to the site to see the correct amount of funds I had recieved/time. What a joke. I love this school but, certainly not the financial aid department.