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.

Oregon Promise Grant

The state is continuing the Oregon Promise program - offering new high school graduates and GED recipients an opportunity to have some or all of their community college tuition covered. Grants are for students entering a community college in Oregon in Fall 2021. You may qualify if you:

  • Graduate from an Oregon high school or complete the GED in Spring/Summer 2019
  • Have a 2.5 cumulative GPA or higher
  • Have been an Oregon resident for at least 12 months prior to enrolling in community college

Steps to take:

  • Apply for the Oregon Promise between October, 2021 and April 1, 2022, including: Complete the Oregon Promise application Oregon Promise App.
  • 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 (Fall 2021) - and accept all state and federal grants. Oregon Promise Information

FAFSA

FAFSA Basics

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.