Oregon National Guard State Tuition Assistance

To be eligible for ONGSTA, students must meet all of the criteria below:

• Submit ONGSTA application and FAFSA by appropriate deadline.
• Complete military basic training
• Be a member of the Oregon National Guard and not currently the subject of any adverse actions under the provisions of any Army, Air Force or National Guard Regulations
• Be currently drilling and attending all scheduled unit training assemblies and annual training periods
• Not have achieved a bachelor's degree or higher
• Not be in default on any federal Title IV loan or owe a refund on federal Title IV funds previously disbursed, unless the institution disbursing funds determines that the student has made satisfactory arrangements to repay and has regained federal eligibility
• Be enrolled and in good standing (maintaining a 2.0 GPA or meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress for Title IV funding requirements) at an eligible institution:
  
  • Associate degree granting program 
  • Undergraduate bachelor degree granting program
  • Undergraduate certificate program

Award Amount Calculation

The ONGSTA is calculated based on DoD FTA or MilTA funds being applied towards a student’s tuition balance first before calculating ONGSTA award funds. Tuition is based on the schools in-state tuition resident rate. Tuition rates for eligible private postsecondary institutions are listed below. 

Additionally, certain fees are funded by the ONGSTA program. The fee amounts are calculated on the average fees charged to all students depending on which type of school the student is attending.

The fee amounts for each type of school for the 2023-24 academic year were:

• Oregon Community Colleges: $377 per term
• Oregon Public Universities including OHSU: $742 per term
• Eligible Oregon Private Colleges: $580 per semester term, $387 per quarter term

A book allowance is provided. The rate of payment is based on a per-credit hour of up to $1,000 per academic year. For the 2023-24 academic year:

• $28 per credit hour at quarter term-based schools
• $42 per credit hour at semester term-based schools

For eligible Oregon-based private institutions, awards are calculated based on the average in-state tuition rate among the seven Oregon public universities and not to exceed $251 per credit (in 2023-24), minus any DoD Federal Tuition Assistance grants.

All U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs education benefits can be used concurrently with the ONGSTA program, and these benefits are not counted into the ONGSTA award calculation. However, the Post-9/11 GI Bill (Registered trade mark of the US Department of Veterans Affairs) is affected by ONGSTA funds. If you are using the Post 9/11-GI Bill, please contact your school's VA School Certifying Official for additional details

Fund Disbursement

After your application is processed and your school has notified OSAC on the amount of your award, ONGSTA funds are disbursed to your college or your university business office.

Neither OSAC nor the Oregon National Guard has control on the time it takes your school to apply your funds to your student account. Some Oregon schools apply ONGSTA funds to your account at the beginning of the term and others wait until course drop deadlines have passed. Additionally, some schools may be short-staffed or closed during certain holiday or break periods and may take longer to apply your ONGSTA funds. Please contact your school regarding receipt of your funds before you contact OSAC or the Oregon National Guard.

The maximum credit count is calculated by using your previous completed credit hours (transfer credits) in addition to the earned institutional credits. Only credits that apply towards your specific declared program will be counted towards the maximum allowable completed credit hour limit.

• 90 credits at Oregon community colleges
• 180 quarter credits (or equivalent semester credits) at an Oregon public university, Oregon Health and Science University, or an eligible private postsecondary institution

• Sign and return the financial aid award letter from your school, or accept your award online
• If you decide to change schools, or have an address, telephone number, or email update after completing the ONGSTA application, notify OSAC by visiting your Student Profile and updating your ONGSTA application
• Keep a copy of your application and any additional correspondence you receive
• If you do not receive your financial aid award letter in a timely manner, contact the financial aid office at your school
• If you receive correspondence from the Oregon National Guard, OSAC, or your school requesting additional information from you, please respond promptly

Once OSAC receives your ONGSTA application, there are three steps in the application approval process. Please understand that your application is not fully approved for the current academic term until all three steps are completed. If at any time during the process it is determined you do not meet any of the requirements, you will be ineligible to receive ONGSTA funding for that term.

Step 1: Application Review

OSAC reviews your application for completeness and verifies that a valid FAFSA for the current academic year is processed and received by OSAC. Additionally, OSAC, will initially determine if you have not completed a bachelor’s degree or higher. Once this information is validated, your application information is made available to the applicable branch of the Oregon National Guard.

Step 2: Military Eligibility Verification
Once the Oregon Army National Guard Education Office or the Air National Guard Force Development Office receives your application information, the applicable office will verify your military eligibility (outlined above under “Who is eligible?”) which includes verifying your FTA/MilTA requirements. When reviewing your FTA/MilTA information, the National Guard will also confirm that you have not completed a bachelor’s degree or higher. Once the National Guard completes their validation, your application information is made available to your school.

Step 3: Academic Eligibility Verification
When your school receives your application information, school administrators will verify your academic eligibility (also outlined above under “Who is eligible?”) and review your prior credit count to calculate the number of credits that can be applied to your degree program to determine ONGSTA eligibility. Additionally, the school will also check that you have not achieved a bachelor’s degree or higher. Once this information is validated, you are eligible to receive ONGSTA funding and the school will make your awarding information available to OSAC and on your student account.

• Scholarship Opportunity for Oregon National Guard and Reserve Members: The Darlene Hooley Scholarship

Students must complete both steps to apply for ONGSTA:

• Create an OSAC Student Portal account and submit the ONGSTA application
• Submit the FAFSA

Students must create a Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) account, and click on "Get Started."

To create the account, you must have your military Common Access Card (CAC), your CAC reader, and verify that your phone number and email are correct.

After creating the FTA account, complete the steps below:

• Create Educational Goal (school and degree program)
• Complete annual Virtual Training
• Request FTA for each course every term up to 60 days prior to course start date, but no less than 8 days prior

For additional FTA information, please contact the Oregon Army National Guard Education Office: ng.or.orarng.list.g1-education@army.mil / (971) 355-4281

For questions concerning Oregon Army National Guard military eligibility for ONGSTA, please contact the Oregon Army National Guard Education Office at ng.or.orarng.list.g1-education@army.mil / (971) 355-4281

Cadet Commanders must submit a memorandum to the National Guard Education Office, stating that you are officially enrolled as a cadet in good standing at your college. Failure to do so, may cause a delay or denial of ONGSTA.

For additional FTA information, please contact the Oregon Army National Guard Education Office: ng.or.orarng.list.g1-education@army.mil / (971) 355-4281

Contact your Wing Force Development Office for questions regarding your Oregon Air National Guard military eligibility requirements for ONGSTA:

• 142 FSS/Force Development Office: MSgt Paul Freimark, paul.freimark@us.af.mil / (503) 335-4050
• 173 FSF/Force Development Office: SMSgt Justin Wright, 541-885-6306 or TSgt Tiffany McCollam, (541) 885-6632 or 173FW.EducationTeam@us.af.mil 

Additional ONGSTA contact information: CMSgt Sarah Chiapetto, State A1 Senior Enlisted Leader, sarah.chiapetto@us.af.mil 

Students in an Active Guard Reserve (AGR) status for 90 days or more, must apply and accept Military Tuition Assistance (MilTA) as a requirement to receive ONGSTA. To validate MilTA eligibility and submit a request, contact your Wing's Force Development Office.