Oregon Opportunity Grant
Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG) is Oregon's largest state-funded, need-based grant program for college students. Approximately 40,000 students receive Opportunity Grants each year.
How do I apply?
- Fill out the FAFSA (or ORSAA) as soon as possible after the October 1 each year.
- Watch for emails from the U.S. Department of Education and OSAC, and correct any FAFSA (or ORSAA) errors immediately.
When do I apply?
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. For that reason, OSAC recommends that students apply as soon as possible to have the best chance to receive funding.
How do I know if I've been awarded?
Check your email - OSAC notifies students via email if they have been awarded an Oregon Opportunity Grant, starting in mid-April. In addition, the college or university you attend or plan to attend will include the Opportunity Grant in your Financial Aid Award Letter.
How much money will I receive?
Oregon Opportunity Grants are awarded first to students with the greatest financial need, based on their Expected Family Contribution. Learn more about how the award is calculated.
For 2018-19, the maximum award amount is $2,600 at an Oregon community colleges and $3,200 at an Oregon public university or an Oregon-based private nonprofit 4-year college or university. The current EFC limit for eligible students is $3,500. Students must be enrolled full-time, full-year (i.e., 12 credits or more per each term) to receive a maximum award. 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.
Will my OOG award be renewed for a second year?
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.
Eligibility Criteria
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. 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 certain 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. Students must be enrolled at least half time fall term to receive an OOG award. Students who are awarded a grant but delay enrollment until winter or spring may lose their eligibility for the year.
- 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.
Note: If you are a first-time student, be sure you complete the application process for admission to at least one Oregon public or private nonprofit college/university and apply for financial aid.
- Fill out the FAFSA (or ORSAA) as soon as possible after the October 1 each year.
- Watch for emails from the U.S. Department of Education and OSAC, and 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. For that reason, OSAC recommends that students apply as soon as possible to have the best chance to receive funding.
How do I know if I've been awarded?
Check your email - OSAC notifies students via email if they have been awarded an Oregon Opportunity Grant, starting in mid-April. In addition, the college or university you attend or plan to attend will include the Opportunity Grant in your Financial Aid Award Letter.
How much money will I receive?
Oregon Opportunity Grants are awarded first to students with the greatest financial need, based on their Expected Family Contribution. Learn more about how the award is calculated.
For 2018-19, the maximum award amount is $2,600 at an Oregon community colleges and $3,200 at an Oregon public university or an Oregon-based private nonprofit 4-year college or university. The current EFC limit for eligible students is $3,500. Students must be enrolled full-time, full-year (i.e., 12 credits or more per each term) to receive a maximum award. 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.
Will my OOG award be renewed for a second year?
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.
Eligibility Criteria
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. 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 certain 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. Students must be enrolled at least half time fall term to receive an OOG award. Students who are awarded a grant but delay enrollment until winter or spring may lose their eligibility for the year.
- 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.
Note: If you are a first-time student, be sure you complete the application process for admission to at least one Oregon public or private nonprofit college/university and apply for financial aid.
Check your email - OSAC notifies students via email if they have been awarded an Oregon Opportunity Grant, starting in mid-April. In addition, the college or university you attend or plan to attend will include the Opportunity Grant 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. Learn more about how the award is calculated.
For 2018-19, the maximum award amount is $2,600 at an Oregon community colleges and $3,200 at an Oregon public university or an Oregon-based private nonprofit 4-year college or university. The current EFC limit for eligible students is $3,500. Students must be enrolled full-time, full-year (i.e., 12 credits or more per each term) to receive a maximum award. 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.
Will my OOG award be renewed for a second year?
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.
Eligibility Criteria
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. 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 certain 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. Students must be enrolled at least half time fall term to receive an OOG award. Students who are awarded a grant but delay enrollment until winter or spring may lose their eligibility for the year.
- 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.
Note: If you are a first-time student, be sure you complete the application process for admission to at least one Oregon public or private nonprofit college/university and apply for financial aid.
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.
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. 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 certain 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. Students must be enrolled at least half time fall term to receive an OOG award. Students who are awarded a grant but delay enrollment until winter or spring may lose their eligibility for the year.
- 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.
Note: If you are a first-time student, be sure you complete the application process for admission to at least one Oregon public or private nonprofit college/university and apply for financial aid.
Contact
Public Programs
(541) 687-7400 PublicPrograms@hecc.oregon.gov