Financial Aid

GENERAL FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION

“Financial Aid” means any help with paying for college. Financial aid can be loans, grants, scholarship or work study programs. The best source of need-based financial aid is the Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA). Below is some basic information about Financial Aid. If you do not have a Social Security number, you can fill out the ORSAA, which qualifies you for Oregon State financial aid and the Oregon Promise Scholarship / Grant. For information about financial aid opportunities for non-citizens, click this link.

Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA)

We encourage ALL students to fill out the Free Application for Federal Financial Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is the gateway for all need-based financial aid. Students work with their parents to fill in the FAFSA online. Based on the information you provide, students can be awarded any combination of grants, loans and work study. Filling the FAFSA does NOT obligate you to take any of the aid offered – you can always refuse, but you never know what you’ll get unless you file the FAFSA! Check out the FAFSA website here. You can take a look any time, but you can’t file the FAFSA until October 1st of the year before you plan to start college.

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Federal Subsidized Loan & Unsubsidized Loan Information 

OREGON PROMISE GRANT

The Oregon Promise is a state grant that helps cover tuition costs at any Oregon community college for recent high school graduates and GED® test graduates. Students must apply during their senior year or immediately after GED® test completion.

You may qualify if you:

-Submit the Oregon Promise Grant application AND the FAFSA or ORSAA by the appropriate deadline, and list at least one Oregon community college on the FAFSA or ORSAA.

-Be a recent Oregon high school graduate or GED® test graduate.

-Attend an Oregon community college by your required start term, based on your graduation date.

-Have a 2.0 cumulative high school GPA or higher, or a 145 grade on all GED® tests.

-Be an Oregon resident for at least 12 months prior to college attendance.

-For dependent students, your parent(s) must also live in Oregon.

-Have no more than 90 college credits completed or attempted.

Steps to take:

Apply for the Oregon Promise between the required application dates

Complete the Oregon Promise application 
Submit your high school transcript or GED scores
Complete the FAFSA or its approved alternative

Once approved, Enroll in an Oregon community college within six months of graduating high school or completing the GED - and accept all state and federal grants.