Federal Student Aid

The federal government– specifically, the U.S. Department of Education – helps many students pay for college. Federal student aid is available through grants, work-study, and loans.

To apply for federal student aid, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as the FAFSA.

Here is a video with step by step instructions on completing the FAFSA.

When should I apply for Federal Student Aid?

If you plan to attend college from July 1, 2022 through June 20, 2023, you’ll be able to submit a 2022-2023 FAFSA form beginning on October 1, 2021. You’ll be required to report income and tax information from 2020.

Scholarships

Video here on receiving scholarships to help pay for college (English).

Video here on receiving scholarships to help pay for college (Spanish).

State Financial Aid

Oregon’s largest state-funded grant, the Oregon Opportunity Grant, is a need-based program for college students. The grants, from the State of Oregon, are for qualified students and do not have to be repaid. Learn more here.

Oregon Promise

Oregon Promise is a state grant that covers most tuition at any Oregon community college for recent high school graduates and GED recipients. Learn all the details here.

*DEADLINE NOTE: The deadline is 5:00pm (PST or PDT). If a deadline falls on a weekend of holiday, it will automatically be extended to 5:00pm (PST or PDT) on the following business day

How…do I apply for Oregon Promise?

1. Go to OregonStudentAid.gov

2. Create an account in the OSAC Student Portal

3. Complete the Oregon Promise Application

4. File your FAFSA or ORSAA and list at least one Oregon Community college

How…much money can I receive under the Oregon Promise Grant? This video explains what to expect.

Oregon Student Access Commission (OSAC) Scholarships: learn more here.

Timeline

1. Early fall: Begin searching and selecting scholarship opportunities in the OSAC Scholarship Catalog. Return often, as new scholarships are always being added.

2. October: File your FAFSA or ORSAA as soon as possible after October 1. Doing so will ensure you are considered for all scholarships that consider financial need.

3. November – February: Start your OSAC scholarship application and submit from November through March 1. You can save and come back to your application before you submit.

   • First-time applicants: create an OSAC account and start the OSAC Scholarship Application.

   • Returning applicants: refresh and update your application from last year.

   • High school juniors may start a “test application”, but cannot submit until their year of graduation.

4. February 15*: Early Bird deadline. Complete applications (including transcripts) submitted by this date will be entered into a drawing for one of several $1,000 Early Bird scholarship awards.

5. March 1*: Final deadline for all materials to be submitted to OSAC.

   • Steps to take after you submit your application

6. April – August: Track your application status and scholarship awards in the OSAC Student Portal.

   • Steps to take if you are awarded a scholarship

Private Scholarships

There are many sources of private scholarships; foundations, companies, unions, religious and civic organizations and colleges and universities, as this video details.

What is the Oregon College Savings Plan?

The Oregon College Savings Plan is a state-sponsored 529 plan that comes with special tax advantages and can be opened by just about anyone — parents, family, friends, even future students. The money saved in the Oregon College Savings Plan grows tax-free and can be used for qualified expenses like tuition, books, room and board, computers, and more.