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

• Oregon resident 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. 
• Have financial need, based on the difference between cost of attendance, federal aid, and financial resources of the student and the student's family, if applicable.
• Have no defaults on federal student loans and owe no refunds on federal student grants.
• Complete any other requirements or requests from your college.

Note: If you are a first-time student, be sure you complete the application process for admission to at least one eligible Oregon public or private nonprofit college/university and submit a FAFSA/ORSAA. 

Any updates or changes made to your FAFSA/ORSAA may affect your Oregon Opportunity Grant eligibility and/or award amount.

Oregon Opportunity Grants are available to qualified students for up to four years (12 quarters or 8 semesters) of full-time enrollment.

Learn more about the eligibility details for OOG.

Submit the FAFSA or ORSAA

1. Submit the FAFSA or ORSAA as soon as possible after October 1 each year.
2. Watch for emails from the U.S. Department of Education and/or OSAC. Correct any FAFSA or ORSAA errors immediately.

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 authorizes 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 the 2022-23 academic year, submit your 2022-23 FAFSA or ORSAA.

Last Updated May 2022

Eligible students who have submitted a 2022-23 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.

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

Oregon Opportunity Grants are awarded first to students with the greatest financial need, based on their Expected Family Contribution. Award amounts are subject to change each year.

For 2022-23, the award amount is based on the student’s Estimated Family Contribution (EFC), the school they attend, and how many credits they enroll each term. 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). 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.

Your EFC is a number that is calculated according to financial and other information that your family submits on the FAFSA or ORSAA. Oregon residents who submit the FAFSA or ORSAA are automatically reviewed for OOG eligibility. Once you complete the FAFSA or ORSAA, you can find your EFC in your account:

• In your FAFSA account, find your EFC on the confirmation page. If you need help, contact Federal Student Aid online or call 1-800-433-3243.
• In your ORSAA account, select the blue down-arrow icon to download the PDF of your ORSAA. Your EFC is listed on the last page of the PDF. If you need help, contact ORSAAHelp@hecc.oregon.gov or 1-800-452-8807.

Your EFC is not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college nor is it the amount of financial aid you will receive. Learn more about the Expected Family Contribution calculation.

Check your email - OSAC notifies students via email if they have been awarded an Oregon Opportunity Grant, starting in mid-April. 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. 

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

• File your FAFSA or ORSAA for the next school year by May 1. 
• Continue to meet all eligibility criteria for both this year and next year.
• Meet Satisfactory Academic Progress 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.