FAQ

Last Updated August 2024

Eligible students who have submitted a 2024-25 FAFSA or ORSAA on or before the date above, with an SAI below the limit have been authorized 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 2024-25 academic year will be sent an email from Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOGAward@hecc.oregon.gov). Awarding will continue for the next few months until funds are exhausted, and the cutoff date could be extended. Submit your 2024-25 FAFSA or ORSAA ASAP to be considered. Award is for Fall 2024 through Spring 2025.

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. 

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 2024-25 academic year, submit your 2024-25 FAFSA or ORSAA now. 

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

2023-24: 8/31/2023

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. 6+ credit-hours) at a participating Oregon-based postsecondary institution.
  
  • For 2024-25, Fall Term is required to receive OOG during the year. OSAC may waive the Fall Term requirement if budget allows.
• 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 progress (SAP), as defined by their college.
• 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 submitted by the cutoff date. 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.
  • For 2024-25, FAFSA/ORSAA records with Professional Judgements from the college financial aid office will be allowed for eligibility and awarding consideration.

Note: First time students must 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/May) 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 Student Aid Index (SAI). 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 SAI limit will be or when funds will be exhausted.

For 2024-25, the award amount is based on the student’s Student Aid Index (SAI), the type of school they attend, and how many credits they enroll each term. The chart below is the maximum award amount for each SAI 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).

SAI Limit
The current SAI limit for the 2024-25 academic year is $8,000.

Cut-Off Date
The current FAFSA or ORSAA submit date for the 2024-25 academic year is August 1, 2024. This is not the final cutoff date. As OSAC awards more students, the cut-off date may be extended until funds are depleted. 

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 submitted your FAFSA/ORSAA early, you may not receive a grant if your SAI is above the SAI limit for the year.

No, Oregon Opportunity Grant funds are not available during Summer Term. They can only be used during Fall, Winter, and Spring Terms. In most years, students must attend at least half-time Fall Term in order to receive the grant in Winter/Spring Terms for the academic year. Only if there are sufficient funds to waive the enrollment requirement(s) can students enroll mid-year and still receive the Oregon Opportunity Grant. Typically, the decision is made at a per term level as expenditure data is available. For 2024-25, OSAC has not announced if students can miss Fall Term and receive the grant Winter Quarter or Spring Semester.

Students can utilize Oregon Opportunity Grant at any eligible Oregon-based two- and four-year colleges and universities. To receive the grant, students must be enrolled at least half-time at an eligible institution in either:

1. A program leading to a baccalaureate or associate degree; or
2. A program at least one academic year in length approved by the U.S. Department of Education for Title IV programs.

Your Student Aid Index (SAI) is a number that is calculated according to financial and other information that you (and your family, if applicable) submits on the FAFSA or ORSAA. You are required to complete either the FAFSA or the ORSAA to apply for Oregon Opportunity Grant. Once you complete the FAFSA or ORSAA, you can find your SAI in your account:

• In your FAFSA account, find your SAI on the 2024-25 FAFSA Submission Summary. If you need help, contact Federal Student Aid online or call 1-800-433-3243.
• In your ORSAA account, select the green down-arrow icon to download the PDF of your ORSAA (do not click “start/edit”). Your SAI is listed on the last page of the PDF. If you need help, contact ORSAAHelp@hecc.oregon.gov or 1-800-452-8807.

Learn more about the new Student Aid Index calculation. This new calculation replaces the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculation from prior FAFSA/ORSAA cycles.

If you are a first-time OOG recipient in 2023-24, 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 (2024-25) 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.

Due to changes from the FAFSA Simplification Act, students may have an SAI above the OOG SAI limit (8,000 for 2024-25) that is eligible for Pell Grant. Determining eligibility for Oregon Opportunity Grant is based on the need analysis calculation, not Pell Grant eligibility. For 2024-25 and beyond, SAI is not the only determining factor for Pell Grant. Learn more on the Federal Student Aid website or contact your college financial aid office.