Types of Aid

Grants

Pell Grants are available only to students with significant financial need who have not previously completed a baccalaureate degree. The maximum award (for full-time, full-year students with a zero Expected Family Contribution ) is $6,895 for the 2022-23 award year. Pell Lifetime Eligibility is capped at six years of full-time study.

Some students may also be eligible for the Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG), a state run aid program for Oregon residents without a baccalaureate degree. The maximum award (for full-time, full year students with a zero Expected Family Contribution) is $4,692 for the 2022-23 award year.

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) program has limited funds and only a small number of students receive awards. Birthingway awards Pell-eligible students with the highest need first. Awards are currently set at $600 per year.

Direct Loans

If, after grant and work-study awards have been made, you still have financial need and are attending at least half-time, you may be eligible for Direct Stafford subsidized loans. With a subsidized loan, interest is paid by the federal government while you are in school at least half-time, during the six-month grace period or in a deferment period. The annual award limit for subsidized loans varies between $3,500 and $5,500, depending on your year in school.

As of July 1, 2013, new borrowers are subject to new subsidized loan limits based on the number of years they borrow. Borrowers may only borrow subsidized loans for the first 150% of their program, as measured in years:

Program Name:Credential Type

Minimum Program Length

150%

Midwifery Program:Certificate

3 years

4.5 years

Midwifery Program:Bachelor Degree

4 years

6 years

A “new borrower” is defined as a student:

  • with no federal student loan balance as of July 1, 2013 OR
  • who had a federal student loan balance on July 1, 2013, but who paid the balance in full prior to receiving a subsequent subsidized loan disbursements after that date.

Federal loan balance applies to both FFEL and Direct student loans.

Please see the Department of Education’s Student Aid website for more information on the new subsidized loan limitations.

In addition to subsidized loans, Direct Stafford unsubsidized loans are available. Unsubsidized loans are non-need-based aid. With an unsubsidized loan, unlike a subsidized loan, interest will begin to accrue immediately and will continue to accrue even when you’re not in repayment.

Unsubsidized loans are limited to the difference between the Cost of Attendance and the amount of other aid received. The annual award limit for unsubsidized loans varies between $3,500 and $12,500, depending on your year in school, dependency status, and the amount of subsidized loan received. You must attend at least half-time to receive an unsubsidized loan.

Parent PLUS loans are available to credit-worthy parents of dependent students. Students must be attending at least half-time for the parent to receive the loan. To request a PLUS loan, please contact the Birthingway Financial Aid Officer for an application and more information.

Other aid options

In addition to the Federal Student Aid programs, Birthingway is listed as an eligible training provider with the Oregon Department of Workforce Development.

As a Title IV school, we are authorized to accept payment through Americorps.

Birthingway does not currently offer any institutional aid.

Birthingway does not currently offer any federal work-study placements.

Students who wish to borrow private or alternative educational loans should contact Birthingway’s Financial Aid Officer and read through our Title IV Loan Program Code of Conduct.

If you are in a Specialized Program or are a community student (any student not matriculated in the Midwifery or Lactation Consultation Program) and you are planning on paying for tuition and fees with external financial assistance, such as a scholarship, please complete the Community Student Financial Assistance form and submit with your registration.