FAQ

Last Updated December 2023

Eligible students who have submitted a 2023-24 FAFSA or ORSAA on or before the date above, with an EFC below the limit have been awarded the Oregon Opportunity Grant. If an updated FAFSA or ORSAA comes in that is ineligible, the award will be revoked. Students who are authorized for an award for the 2023-24 academic year will be sent an email from Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOGAward@hecc.oregon.gov). Awarding might continue for the next few months until funds are exhausted, and the cutoff date could be extended. Submit your 2023-24 FAFSA or ORSAA ASAP to be considered. Award is for Fall 2023 through Spring 2024.

NOTE: If you are selected for FAFSA verification, be sure to respond to your school’s requests for data and documents right away. Your school cannot award any financial aid until the verification process is complete. 

Any updates or changes made to your FAFSA or ORSAA may affect your Oregon Opportunity Grant eligibility and/or award amount. Students who submitted their 23-24 FAFSA/ORSAA by 8/31/23 and made updates/corrections to their application after 12/07/2023 that then met the criteria were not considered for an award due to funding and timeframe to authorize. 

OOG awards cannot be based on EFC adjustments made from professional judgment. 

1. Submit the FAFSA or ORSAA as soon as possible after the application opens on October 1 each year.  No other application is required.

2. Watch for emails from the U.S. Department of Education and/or OSAC. Correct any FAFSA or ORSAA errors immediately.

3. If awarded, you will receive an email from OOGAward@hecc.oregon.gov.

4. Review your award email, and the FAQs on this page for next steps and more details.

Submit the FAFSA or ORSAA as soon as possible after October 1 each year in order to be considered for the grant during the following academic year. OSAC awards Opportunity Grant awards until funds are exhausted for the year. Funds are limited, so OSAC cannot forecast when funds will run out or set a firm application deadline. OSAC recommends that students submit their FAFSA or ORSAA as soon as possible to have the best chance to receive funding. 

To apply for OOG for the 2023-24 academic year, submit your 2023-24 FAFSA or ORSAA now. 

Here are the past FAFSA/ORSAA cutoff dates for the Oregon Opportunity Grant:

2022-23: 7/31/2022

2021-22: 11/30/2021

2020-21: 9/30/2020

2019-20: 6/1/2019

2018-19: 4/30/2018

To be eligible for the Oregon Opportunity Grant, you must meet ALL of the following criteria:

• Oregon resident for at least 12 months prior to college attendance and a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen
  • For dependent students, your parent(s) must also live in Oregon
  • Out-of-state students who are members of Native American tribes with traditional ties to Oregon may be considered Oregon residents.
  • Undocumented students, including DACA students, may be eligible for an Oregon Opportunity Grant if they meet additional requirements. Learn more about financial aid for undocumented and DACA students.
• Undergraduate student with no prior baccalaureate degrees.
• Be enrolled at least half time (i.e., at least 6 credit-hours) at a participating Oregon-based postsecondary institution.
  • For 2023-24, students must be disbursed Fall Term (quarter or semester) or Winter Quarter to be eligible for Spring Quarter awards, based on budget.
• Have financial need based on the difference between cost of attendance and student's financial resources including federal aid and student's estimated family contribution.
• Have no federal student loans in default and not owe refunds on federal student grants. 
• Continuing students must maintain satisfactory academic process.
• Complete any other requirements or requests from your college.
• Submit a FAFSA or ORSAA as soon as possible after October 1 each year:
  • OSAC authorizes Opportunity Grant awards only for eligible applicants who have an error-free FAFSA or ORSAA. Errors on a FAFSA or ORSAA should be corrected as soon as possible to maintain grant eligibility. 
  • Any updates or changes made to a FAFSA or ORSAA may affect Oregon Opportunity Grant eligibility and/or award amount.
  • The Oregon Opportunity Grant award is based on the EFC from a valid FAFSA or ORSAA. FAFSA or ORSAA records with institutional Professional Judgment adjustments cannot be used to award the Oregon Opportunity Grant. 

Note: First time students should complete the application process for admission to at least one eligible Oregon public or private nonprofit college/university in addition to submitting a FAFSA or ORSAA. 

Conditions of the Award
Oregon Opportunity Grants are available to qualified students for up to four years (12 quarters or 8 semesters) of full-time enrollment, provided they maintain satisfactory academic progress, continue to meet eligibility and award requirements, and file a new FAFSA or ORSAA each year. Awards are prorated for half-time enrollment. Students enrolled in courses of study leading to degrees in theology, divinity, or religious education are not eligible.

Check your email. OSAC will notify you via email (the one used to submit your FAFSA/ORSAA) starting in Spring (typically around April) if you have been awarded an Oregon Opportunity Grant. In addition, OSAC notifies all eligible Oregon colleges and universities listed on your FAFSA or ORSAA that you have an Oregon Opportunity Grant award. They will include this information in your Financial Aid Award Letter.

Oregon Opportunity Grants are awarded first to students with the greatest financial need, based on their Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Award amounts are subject to change each year. OSAC begins awarding in the spring and continues to make awards until funds are exhausted. Because available funds vary year to year, OSAC cannot forecast what the maximum EFC limit will be or when funds will be exhausted.

For 2023-24, the award amount is based on the student’s Estimated Family Contribution (EFC), the type of school they attend, and how many credits they enroll each term (Fall, Winter, and Spring). The chart below is the maximum award amount for each EFC level and is based on full time and full-year enrollment (i.e. 12 credits or more each term, for all three quarters or two semesters).

EFC Limit
The current EFC limit for the 2023-24 academic year is $8,000.

Cut-Off Date
The current FAFSA or ORSAA submit date for the 2023-24 academic year is August 31, 2023. 

A portion of the award is released to a student’s account each semester or quarter. Awards are pro-rated for part-time or part-year enrollment. Students must be enrolled at least half time during a quarter or semester to receive OOG funds for that term.

NOTE: Even if you received the Oregon Opportunity Grant in prior years and filed your FAFSA early, you may not receive a grant if your EFC is above the EFC limit for the year.

If you are a first-time OOG recipient this academic year, you may be eligible for a guaranteed renewal of the grant for next academic year. To maintain your eligibility for a second year, you must meet all of the following requirements:

• Submit your FAFSA or ORSAA for the next academic year by May 1
• Continue to meet all eligibility criteria for both this year and next year
• Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements, as determined by your college
• Maintain at least half-time enrollment (6 or more credits) every term during the current academic year - i.e., be enrolled fall and spring semesters or fall, winter, and spring quarters

Students who do not meet all eligibility criteria for the Guaranteed 2nd-year Renewal may still be considered for the grant, along with new and other continuing applicants, if you meet all the eligibility criteria for the next academic year.