Information for Additional Learning Opportunities

Continuing education refers to additional formal learning activities generally not focused on a college degree outcome. These activities can be offered in an on-campus setting, online or through in-house custom programming, and allows you to refocus or advance your professional or educational careers.

A number of banks and lending institutions offer private loan funding to assist students with the cost of education. OU will certify a private loan from any private lender. Many private loan options are available and students can choose to apply for a private loan with any banking institution of their choice. Read more about federal and private loan options.

Private Aid Information

Helpful links
OU’s Professional and Continuing Education (PACE)

Choosing to study abroad is one of life’s most enriching experiences. The knowledge you gain will expand your horizons and lead to a culturally-rich education. An added bonus? You may be eligible for financial assistance to help pay for your experience.

To ensure full consideration for financial aid eligibility, you should complete a FAFSA for the academic year in which the study abroad program takes place. All students returning from a study abroad program are responsible for ensuring their coursework is graded no later than 60 days from the date the program ended. Failure to show graded work on the Oakland University transcript may result in cancellation of financial assistance disbursed for the study abroad program or delay disbursement of financial assistance for the term(s) following the program.

Students interested in participating in the study away program may also qualify for financial aid to help pay for your experience.

If you have questions, contact a financial aid adviser at (248) 370-2550 or come to North Foundation Hall, Room 120. We are available to help with all your study abroad and study away financial questions.

Fall and Winter Semester Study Abroad
A Financial Aid Study Abroad Acknowledgement and Cost Worksheet completed by the study abroad coordinator must be submitted to Student Financial Services.

Summer Semester Study Abroad
If you’re participating in a study abroad program during the summer semester, you must complete a Summer Financial Aid Request, preceding the summer study abroad program. You must also attach a financial aid Study Abroad Acknowledgement and Cost Worksheet completed by the study abroad coordinator to the summer financial aid request form and submit all documents together.

Note: Financial assistance may be processed for OU study abroad programs only. If you are enrolled in a study abroad program through another university/college, financial aid is not available through OU.

Each summer OU offers more than 1,000 courses in the classroom, online and abroad to keep you advancing toward your degree, complete a required course or expand your knowledge with an elective — without the hustle and stress of typical semesters.

Your financial aid may be able to extend through the summer to help pay for your summer classes.

The most important thing you can do to secure summer aid is to complete a FAFSA. We must have a 2024-2025 FAFSA on file before June 30, 2025 or two weeks before your last summer 2025 session ends, whichever is earlier.

Eligibility

Most financial aid is awarded for the fall and winter semesters; aid for summer is limited and eligibility depends on what was received in the previous fall and winter. 

• If you’re eligible to use an OU scholarship or grant, you’ll be notified via your OU email (including instructions on how to request your award).
• If you're eligible for the Federal Pell Grant, it will automatically be awarded to you for the summer semester. The amount of your federal Pell Grant will be adjusted based on your actual registered credit hours. Federal Pell Grants offered for the summer will be available to view on the Award Overview tab on MySail by March 1.
• If you wish to receive a Federal Direct Subsidized and/or Unsubsidized Loan, you should review the enrollment status information below and if remaining loan eligibility exists, complete a Summer Financial Aid Request. If you are experiencing difficulty accessing the Summer Financial Aid Request form, please log out of all programs except your Oakland University email and try again. Please review the Maximum Loan Eligibility Chart before you complete your request.
• If you meet the requirements for the Federal TEACH Grant and would like to be considered for summer financial aid, please complete a Summer Financial Aid Request.
• Federal Direct Parent PLUS and Graduate PLUS loans, and private aid are additional non need-based resources which require a separate application. Learn more about Federal Student Loans received for fall, winter and summer semesters, including annual and aggregate loan limits. 

Students must be admitted into an eligible degree program, post-master’s and certificate program, or a degree preparation program to be considered for financial aid. Endorsements, professional development, non-degree, continuing education, credit by exam (competency credit), audited courses, guest students, etc. do not qualify for federal aid but might qualify for private aid.

Enrollment Status Information

Full-time
Undergraduate*: 12+ credits
Graduate: 8+ credits

Three-quarter time
Undergraduate*: 9-11 credits
Graduate: 6-7 credits

Half-time
Undergraduate*: 6-8 credits
Graduate: 4-5 credits

Less than half-time**
Undergraduate*: 1-5 credits
Graduate: 1-3 credits

*Includes first and second undergraduate degrees, teacher certification and undergraduate/graduate non-degree preparatory course work.

**Limited financial aid available to students enrolled less than half-time as most financial aid requires full-time or half-time enrollment.