Paying for College

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA is used to determine your eligibility for all federal and state aid programs. You need to file the FAFSA each year you are in college in order to be considered for aid. Filing is FREE.

• Eligibility: United States citizens and eligible noncitizens should submit the FAFSA.
• Opens: October first, students should complete it ASAP each year they will be in college.
• FSA ID: Students, parents, and borrowers are required to create and use an FSA ID (username and password) to complete the FAFSA. Your FSA ID is used to confirm your identity when accessing your financial aid information and electronically signing federal documents.
• Tax Information: Most people can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to directly link the FAFSA to your tax records with the IRS. This can eliminate the need to submit additional documentation to your college's financial aid office. 

Helpful Resources: 

• Website- OSAC FAFSA/ORSAA Website: Our website provides additional information about the FAFSA including resources for completing the FAFSA. 
• Filter Tool- Should I file a FAFSA or ORSAA? If you are unsure if you should complete a FAFSA or ORSAA take our short quiz to find out.
• Website- FAFSA Toolkit: Resources for the Federal Student Aid website.
• Website- Trainings from FAFSA: This website includes a list of trainings from FAFSA.

The Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA) is an alternative to the FAFSA for undocumented Oregon students including students who have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status or Temporary Protected Status (TPS). By submitting the ORSAA, eligible undocumented and DACA students in Oregon can get help paying for college through grants, scholarships, and tuition reduction.

• Eligibility: Oregon students who have undocumented status, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, and/or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) should submit the ORSAA.
• Opens: October 1, students are encouraged to complete their ORSAA as soon as possible and to contact OSAC if they run into any difficulties during the process.

Helpful Resources: 

• Website - OSAC FAFSA/ORSAA Webpage: Our website provides additional information about the ORSAA process. 
• Filter Tool - Should I file a FAFSA or ORSAA? If you are unsure if you should complete a FAFSA or ORSAA take our short quiz to find out.
• Document - ORSAA Tip Sheet in English and Espanol: This handout answers many common questions students, parents, and educators have about completing the ORSAA. 
• More Resources - Financial Aid and Scholarships for DACA/Undocumented Students: For more resources about the financial aid available for undocumented and DACA students, please review this page on our OSAC website.

Grants are money for students to pay for college. Grants are typically provided by the state (OSAC) or federal government. In most circumstances, grants generally do not have to be paid back.  For many grants, eligibility is based on your own and/or your family's financial need, which is determined by submitting the FAFSA or ORSAA. Some grants consider additional factors. Most grants have their own application and deadlines. 

• Oregon Opportunity Grant: Largest state-funded, need-based grant program in Oregon. OOG awards are for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. Approximately 40,000 Oregonians receive an OOG award each year. Learn more about the Opportunity Grant.
• Oregon Promise: Large program with specific eligibility requirements. Promise is for students who graduate an Oregon high school with a 2.0+ GPA and enroll in an Oregon community college within six months of their high school graduation. To see additional eligibility requirements visit the Oregon Promise website.
• Chafee Education & Training Grant: Chafee ETG is a grant for current/former foster youth. It's federally-funded but administered at the state-level. Foster youth status is verified by the Oregon DHS. See eligibility details.
• Oregon Student Child Care Grant: The Child Care grant is for students who are pursuing a college degree while raising children of their own. The grant helps pay for child care costs of dependents age 12 and under. The application is open from mid-January until May 31. Learn more.
• Oregon National Guard Tuition Assistance: ONGSTA is a program that provides funds for Oregon National Guard members to attend college. Currently drilling Air and Army Guard members are eligible. Learn more.
• Deceased or Disabled Public Safety Officers Grant: DDPSO is for children/dependents of public safety officers who were disabled or killed in the line of duty. Read the DDPSO page for full guidelines and instructions on how to apply.

Scholarships are money for students to pay for college. These are funded by individuals, schools, foundations, employers, membership organizations, and much more. Like grants, scholarships do not have to be paid back.

• OSAC Scholarship Application: The OSAC Scholarship application is one application for over 600 different scholarships that totals over $10 million in awards. The application opens November 1 and closes April 1. Learn more. 
• Institution Scholarships: Colleges, departments, and career schools often have scholarships available. Check the school website or their admissions office for more details.
• Private Scholarships: There are many local, regional, and national scholarships available. Make sure you talk to your HS ASPIRE Coordinator, college and career advisor, and/or counselor to find additional scholarships. In addition, talk to parents/grandparents about employer or affiliated organizations that they are members of offering dependent scholarship opportunities and look for scholarships from local community service or education-based non-profit organizations.

Resources

• Website: OSAC Scholarship Application. More than 600 scholarship opportunities for Oregon students.
• Website: JLV Counseling Scholarship Search. This site provides thousands of scholarships listed by deadline date and and categories. You are not required to enter any personal information to access the regularly updated scholarships.
• Website: Big Future – College Board Scholarship Search: Find matches from more than 6,000 programs totaling over $4 billion scholarship dollars yearly.

Student loans are moneys for college that must be paid back, often with interest. Student loans can come from the federal government, private banks, or other sources. Because they must be paid back, student loans should be taken out with a degree of caution.

Federal Student Loans: 

• Direct Subsidized Loan: These are loans made to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need to help cover the costs of higher education at a college or career school. The federal government will pay the interest on the loan while the student is enrolled in school as at least a half-time student, and when the student has authorization to defer loan payments. Learn more.
• Direct Unsubsidized Loan: These are loans made to eligible undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, but eligibility is not based on financial need. The student is responsible for the interest that accumulates on an unsubsidized loan while attending school, and during periods when they are authorized. Learn more.
• Federal PLUS Loan (Parent Loan): There are loans made to graduate or professional students and parents of dependent undergraduate students to help pay for education expenses not covered by other financial aid. Eligibility is not based on financial need, but a credit check is required. Learn more.