Financial Aid

Use the FAFSA/ORSAA Filter Tool to see which application you should submit. 

FSA ID- Create an FSA ID. Each student and parent (if the student is a dependent) must create a Federal Student Aid Identification (FSA ID) to securely log in and sign the FAFSA online. You can prepare for the FAFSA by creating your FSA ID before your application season opens.

FSA ID- Create an FSA ID. Each student and parent (if the student is a dependent) must create a Federal Student Aid Identification (FSA ID) to securely log in and sign the FAFSA online. You can prepare for the FAFSA by creating your FSA ID before your application season opens.

FAFSA-The FAFSA opens on October 1 each year. Students should complete the FAFSA as soon as possible after the application opens each year. Applying early ensures that students can access the most financial aid opportunities. 

Filing Tips

• Watch for emails from the US Department of Education. Within three days after completing the FAFSA, students will receive emails about the status of their FAFSA and Student Aid Report (SAR). After five days, log in to your FAFSA account to confirm that your application was submitted correctly.

• Fix FAFSA errors right away. If the SAR shows errors or any FAFSA information that needs to be corrected, resolve those errors right away. The most common errors are missing signatures and conflicts between a student's name and social security number. Students with FAFSA errors are typically not considered eligible for financial aid until the errors have been resolved. You can get help from your college’s financial aid office.

Use FAFSA resources when you have questions. Use the FAFSA Help Center to find answers to frequently asked questions and contact their team with specific questions. Their YouTube channel also has videos to help you through the filing process. You can also contact your college's financial aid office for assistance.

The ORSAA opens on (or after) October 1 each year. Eligible students should complete the ORSAA as soon as possible after the application opens each year. Applying early ensures that students can access the most financial aid opportunities available to them.

Add ORSAAHelp@hecc.oregon.gov to your email contacts to make sure that important messages don't go to your Spam/Junk folder.

ABOUT: The Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA) is an alternative to the FAFSA for undocumented Oregon students, including students who have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status or Temporary Protected Status (TPS). By filing the ORSAA, eligible undocumented and DACA students in Oregon can get help paying for college through grants, scholarships, and tuition reduction. After you file the ORSAA, be sure to contact the financial aid office at your college to find out how to apply for the school's additional financial aid opportunities. 

Do NOT complete the ORSAA if you are (1) a U.S. citizen, (2) a legal noncitizen with an Alien Registration number, or (3) an international student who is in the United States with a valid visa. You are not eligible to receive Oregon Opportunity Grants or Oregon Promise grants if you are an international student attending school in Oregon under one of the following visas: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, TN, TD, U, V, TROV, or NATO.

The 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. If you’re PELL Grant eligible from the FAFSA, you’ll most likely qualify for an Oregon Opportunity Grant from the Oregon Student Access Commission (OSAC). OSAC uses a formula that considers student, family, and government resources, as reported on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, to determine grant eligibility and the size of each student’s Opportunity Grant award.

These funds usually run out by the middle of February, so be sure to submit your FAFSA as early as possible!  Also, note that if you receive an Oregon Opportunity Grant you can only use the funds at an Oregon institution.

OSAC Website with more information

Oregon Promise is a state grant that helps cover tuition at any Oregon community college for recent high school graduates and GED® test graduates. Oregon Promise is administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission Office of Student Access and Completion. 

OSAC will notify students of their award via email, and the information will be available in the student’s profile on the OSAC Application Portal. OSAC will also notify schools’ financial aid offices via weekly award lists. Schools include this award information in students’ financial aid award letters

 Oregon Promise Q & A 

Fact Sheet (PDF)

Application Deadline Tool

OSAC Website with more information

Financial Aid letters come in many shapes and sizes.  When comparing them side by side, we suggest making them look the same.  This “Financial Aid Shopping Sheet (PDF) ” is a tool the US Department of Education came up to help make award letters look more uniform.  Your institution may already use this form, but if not we recommend transferring the information to this format so it’s easier to read. 

How to read your Financial Aid Letter

Compare your financial aid letters side-by-side with this online tool- Compare Your Financial Aid Awards

FAFSA Resources:

What is the FAFSA?

EFC Calculator – use this tool to gain insight into your student’s financial aid eligibility.

Completing the FAFSA (please note, they reference using your 2018 taxes. For the 2021/22 FAFSA you’ll need to use your 2019 taxes!)

FAFSA Walkthrough from Khan Academy

Federal Student Aid YouTube Channel

Chat with a Live Agent at Federal Student Aid

Federal Financial Aid & Undocumented Students Q&A (PDF)

Financial Aid Resources: 

How Financial Aid Works

ECMC Opportunities Booklet: an EXCELLENT resource on all things Financial Aid.

Federal Student Aid website: find detailed information about the FAFSA, the FSA ID, the IRS Data Retrieval Tool, student dependency status, reporting parent information, and what happens after the FAFSA is submitted.

ECMC – a great resource for financial aid guidance and college planning.

Net Price Calculator - Forecast what your college will cost.  Each school should have its own Net Price Calculator on its website as well. 

College Score Card – Research the school’s cost, graduation rates, average student debt, and salaries after graduation.

Understanding your Finacial Aid Award Letter

Comparing Award Letters Worksheet

Student Loans:

Types of Student Loans

Federal Student Aid website

Private Loans – Private loans should be the last financing option to be considered and used. Private student loans are nonfederal loans made by a lender, such as a bank, credit union, state agency, or a school. They do not typically offer many of the benefits of federal student loans, such as fixed interest rates and income-based repayment plans.

Student Loan Calculators:

Another great resource for information on loans, including more calculators: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/loans

How much should I borrow? Borrow only what you need and consider the earnings potential in your chosen profession to determine how easily you can repay your debt. You can find career salary estimates at the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/ooh. Your student loan payments should be only a small percentage of your salary after you graduate.

General guidelines:

• Parents should fund their retirement BEFORE they fund their child’s education.

• A student should not borrow more than the average first year salary of the profession they plan to have after graduation.

Information from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: CFPB Warns Student Loan Servicing Problems Can Jeopardize Long-Term Financial Security for Older Borrowers (view the full Snapshot published by the CFPB Jan 2017(PDF): “Unlike their younger counterparts, who generally are expected to experience income growth over their lives, older consumers typically experience a decrease in income as they age.” For other concerns, read the Snapshot.

• Tips for student loan borrowers

• Tips for older student loan borrowers (parents & grandparents)

College Budget:

Estimate your College Costs

Other resources for DACA students:

DACA Scholar – download the app!

The Dream Scholarship

Oregon DACA Coalition