Financial Wellness

Financial Education Resources

Maximizing your Money

• SPU payment worksheets: We have payment worksheets available to help estimate your costs and financial aid: Payment worksheets and tutorials
• Loan exit counseling offers you valuable, personalized advice to help you repay your loan. View an introductory slide show.
• MoneyWise: SPU’s Online Financial Literacy Program
• CashCourse.org gives information at your own speed covering everything from budgeting basics and credit cards to investing and salaries. The MoneyWise program uses CashCourse resources geared to all four undergraduate levels.

Also check out:

• Credit Report Information — Where you can get a free credit report.
• ECMC: Financial Awareness Basics — About budgeting, credit cards, student loans, and other financial tools.
• Finaid Calculators — To estimate school costs, savings goals, and how much aid you'll need.
• Unbury.us — To calculate debt repayment and save on interest payments.
• myFICO: Credit Education — To better understand credit and how it works.
• myFICO: Protecting Against Identity Theft — If you’re serious about avoiding identity theft.
• FTC: Credit, Debit, and Charge Cards — Steering through tiny print, hard-to-believe offers, and pesky fees.
• FTC: Privacy & Identity — For protecting personal information.

Food Resources

On campus

• Falcon Funds and meal plans: Falcon Funds can be used to purchase food (tax free) at all campus dining locations. Additionally, SPU has developed a variety of meal plans for flexibility and convenience.
• Swipe Out Hunger: SPU is partnering with Sodexo to help students experiencing food insecurity. The Swipe Out Hunger program allows students to give and receive meals through campus dining. Students fill out an online form either for themselves or another student detailing their situation. If approved, the student will be awarded a Meal Grant in the amount of $57.50. Students can request the Meal Grant as often as needed throughout the academic year
• Community Kitchen: Learn and create healthy, nutritious meals on a budget. This program allows participants to share their passion for nutritious food in a community. Community Kitchen is held from October through June, on the evening of the third Wednesday of most months. Contact spukitchen@spu.edu for more details.
• Sharpen Ministry - Grab & Go Grocery serving transfer students as well as students who live off campus or in Campus Housing and Apartments (CHA).

Off campus

During times of regional crisis (economy, natural disasters, epidemic), please contact the food bank or warm food providers prior to accessing their services to ensure they have inventory to meet your needs. You may also call 211 for a comprehensive list of Seattle services.

• Basic food governmental support
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): SNAP provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families and individuals so they can purchase healthy food and move towards self-sufficiency.
  • Local food banks
    • Ballard Food Bank: Serves zip codes 98103, 98107, 98117 (Seattle addresses only), 98119, 98199; Hours: Monday, Thursday: 2-7 p.m.
    • Bethany Community Church:  Serves everyone. Visit in person; no fees.  Food Pantry: Monday. 6-7PM; Community meals every second and last Monday, 6-7 p.m.
    • Queen Anne Food Bank: Food Bank Thursday, 2-4 p.m.; Meals Monday-Friday, 8:30-11:30 a.m.
  • Warm meals
    • Ballard Sunday Dinner: Ballard First Lutheran Church serves hot dinners Sunday nights, 5-6 p.m.; free & open to all; Address: 2006 NW 65th St, Seattle 98107
    • Edible Hope Kitchen: The lower level of St. Luke's Church serves free hot breakfast on weekday mornings; M-F 7-10 a.m.; Address: 5710 22nd Ave NW

Housing Resources

• On campus: Details on residence hall and apartment options, including features, photos, floor plans, layouts, and rates
• Off campus: Call 211 to contact a call center for a listing of support services, such as food, housing, or mental health services.

Emergency financial assistance

Immediate need for assistance

• Students in Crisis Fund: Available to students with acute, immediate financial needs due to a family crisis event. Cost examples include but are not limited to travel costs, rent, utility bills, etc. Contact: Office of Student Life, studentlife@spu.edu, 206-281-2481.
• Benevolence Fund: Available to students for immediate, low-cost financial needs such as food, gas, or school supplies. Contact: Office of University Ministries, um@spu.edu, 206-281-2966.

Short-term need (one term to one year) for additional assistance

• Federal emergency grants (CARES Act): Limited federal emergency grant funding available to students who experienced additional expenses as a result of campus disruptions due to COVID-19. As of June 30, 2020, all funds have been distributed. Currently, there is not additional federal student CARES funding.
• SPU Cares Emergency Grant: Available to students or their family that have incurred a temporary loss of income or job loss due to the economic impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Contact Office of Student Financial Services to see if you qualify.
• Short-term financial aid appeals: For students or their families who are experiencing or experienced a short-term financial challenge. Typically these students need help for about one academic year as a result of a temporary loss of income, medical expenses, or other short-lived financial disruptions. Contact Office of Student Financial Services to see if you may qualify and to initiate the process.

Long-term need (a year or more) for additional assistance

• Financial aid appeals: These are helpful for students or their families who are experiencing or experienced a longer-term financial challenge, such as loss of income, medical expenses, job loss, or private K-12 education. Contact the Office of Student Financial Services to see if you may qualify and initiate the process.
• Outside scholarships: Visit the outside scholarship page to apply for additional aid programs that can help offset your education costs.

Affordable Computer Equipment

• Affordable Laptop Program for Students: Computer Information Systems (CIS) has a limited supply of refurbished laptops for students to purchase at a low cost. Please visit the program site for more information.