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Money Matters

Financial Literacy

At SUNY Oswego, we aim to empower students with essential financial knowledge and skills that foster lifelong financial well-being.

Through innovative educational initiatives and personalized guidance, we equip students with the confidence and competence to make informed financial decisions, navigate complex economic landscapes, and cultivate responsible financial habits. By promoting financial literacy, we prepare our students for future success, enabling them to achieve their academic, personal, and professional goals with fiscal resilience.

Tuition & Cost of Attendance

SUNY Oswego offers numerous scholarships, grants, and loans to help reduce costs associated with attending college. Office of Financial Aid staff can provide assistance, explain the various options, and help determine which ones might be best for you

Explore Types of Aid


Money Instructor

Money Instructor’s YouTube channel offers videos on personal finance, money management, investing and career development to enhance financial literacy. 

Visit Money Instructor


Nerd Wallet

NerdWallet offers financial advice and tools to compare credit cards, loans, banking options, investments, and insurance so you can make informed decisions.

Visit Nerd Wallet 


CashCourse

SUNY Oswego partners with CashCourse to offer students ad-free, unbiased, online financial courses, tools, articles, and resources. Free registration is required.

Register for Cashcourse


Banking Basics

This downloadable PDF introduces the banking system, covering check clearing, currency circulation, payment methods, electronic banking, and more. 

Get the Banking Basics PDF


NYS Aid Estimator

Estimate your New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) award as a qualified full-time undergraduate student here. (This is not the TAP award application.) 

Estimate Your NYS TAP Award


Federal Aid Estimator

Get an early estimate of how much federal student aid you may be eligible to receive before filling out the FAFSA application. (This is not an aid application.) 

Estimate Your Federal Aid

Level Up Your Financial Literacy 
Explore by Class Year

First-Year Students

Understanding the SUNY Oswego Billing Process

• Understanding Your Bill | SUNY Oswego Student Accounts Office

Understanding the Financial Aid Process

• Apply for Aid | SUNY Oswego Financial Aid Office

Student Employment Opportunities at Oswego

• Student Employment | SUNY Oswego Student Employment Coordinator

Spending Habits & Financial Goals

• 8 Ways to Take Control of Your Spending ↗ Forbes

• Setting Financial Goals Worksheet ↗ Educator FI

• How to Set Financial Goals ↗ US Bank Wealth Management

Sophomores

Basic Budgeting

• How to Make a Budget ↗ FSA (Youtube)

• Make a Budget Worksheet ↗ Consumer.gov (PDF)

• How to Make a Budget and Stick to It ↗ U.S. News Money

• How to Budget ↗ Nerd Wallet

Saving Money

• Time for Payback  ↗

• How to Save Money ↗ Nerd Wallet

• How to Save Money ↗ Fortune

Information on Taxes

• Understanding Taxes ↗ IRS Teacher Downloads (PDF)

• How to File Taxes ↗ Money Instructor (Youtube)

• How to File Your Taxes Step-by-Step ↗ IRS

Needs vs. Wants/ Mid-point Check-In on Your Finances

• How to Separate Wants and Needs ↗ The Balance

• Needs vs. Wants ↗ Columbia College (Youtube)

• Finding the Balance Between Needs vs. Wants ↗ Forbes

Juniors

What is Credit?

What is Credit? ↗ Experian

• What is Credit? ↗ Nerd Wallet

• What is Credit? ↗ Money Instructor (Youtube)

Managing Personal Bills and Debt

• Managing Debt ↗ Consumer.gov

• Tips for Managing Debt ↗ Wells Fargo

• Three Steps to Managing & Getting Out of Debt ↗ State Department of Financial Protection & Innovation, CA

Investments vs Gambling

• Gambling vs. Investing  ↗ InvestRight

Identity Theft

• Identity Theft ↗ Texas Attorney General

• What to Know About Identity Theft ↗ Federal Trade Commission

• How to Prevent Identity Theft ↗ Nerd Wallet

• Prevent Identity Theft ↗ Journey to College

• IdentityTheft.gov ↗

Seniors & Beyond

Future Employment Benefits

• Ultimate Guide to Employee Benefits ↗ Forbes

• NYS Employee Benefit Programs ↗ NYS Office of Employee Relations

• US Department of Labor Employee Benefits ↗ 

Graduate School Financial Aid Discussion

• Financial Aid for Graduate School ↗ Nerd Wallet

Housing Options/Final Check-in on Your Finances

• College Housing Survival Guide ↗ Affordable Colleges Online

• Types of College Housing ↗ Collegeboxes

Exit Counseling for Federal Loans

• StudentAid.gov ↗

Borrow Before You Buy 

You can save money on course materials and entertainment by borrowing from Penfield Library instead of buying. Lab spaces and equipment checkouts offer technology resources when you need them.

Making Money at School

A limited number of students are eligible for the Federal Work Study (FWS) award. To help pay for the costs of graduate school, grad students may apply for graduate assistantships across campus.

Federal Work Study & Student Employment

Emergency Funding & Resources

Student Emergency Fund

A resource for students facing unexpected hardship, this fund can help with basic necessities such as groceries, car repairs or medical bills.

Student Emergency Fund

Oz Concerns Navigator

The Oz Concerns Navigator is a portal designed to help students find campus-based support in a variety of situations, including financial concerns.

Oz Concerns Navigator

Financial Literacy
Money Matters

Office of Financial Aid
231 Sheldon Hall

Contact­
Phone: 315-312-2248
Email: [email protected]
Meet Our Peer Mentors

Hours­
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Phone hours: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Monday - Friday