Paying for College
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Program Details
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The Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG) (formerly called the State Need Grant) is Oregon’s largest state-funded need-based grant program for students planning to go to college. The program was established in 1971 by the Oregon Legislature to assist Oregon’s neediest students in attaining a postsecondary education.
Opportunity Grants are funded primarily by the state of Oregon and may also include grant money from two federal programs: the Federal Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) and Federal Special Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (SLEAP). More than 38,000 students received OOG awards in 2008-09. |
How to Apply for the Oregon Opportunity Grant:
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Oregon students apply for the Opportunity Grant by completing the
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is also the application for most federal student aid programs.
All high school and postsecondary students should complete a FAFSA each year to ensure their access both to federal programs (e.g., Federal Pell Grants, Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Stafford Loans) and to the grants and scholarships that OSAC administers.
This link goes to the U.S. Department of Education's free online FAFSA website:
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http://www.fafsa.gov
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Eligibility
- Be an undergraduate student enrolled at least half time (i.e., at least 6 credit-hours) at a participating Oregon institution
- Be financially needy (based on the difference between cost of attendance and the student's financial resources). COA minus [applicable student share + EFC + Pell Grant + estimated tax credit amout]
- Be an Oregon resident and U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen (members of Native American tribes with traditional ties to Oregon may be considered residents. Click the link below for "Out-ofstate Tribal Residency" for more information and a complete list of recognized tribes.)
Application Deadlines for 2010-11
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Due to a combination of cuts in state General Fund and lottery revenues and an increase in applicant demand, the Oregon Student Assistance Commission (OSAC) has set very early deadlines for the 2010-11 academic year. We anticipate making a second round of awards in late fall, after schools report total disbursements of fall funds. Here are the initial application deadlines, by school type, for the 2010-11 award year:
Community College -- January 21, 2010
Oregon University System - January 29, 2010
Private Nonprofit 4-year Colleges and Universities -- February 24, 2010
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Additional Funds for Oregon Opportunity Grant Restore 2009-10 Spring Term Reductions
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The Legislative Assembly approved up to $9.7 million in additional funds for Opportunity Grants for the 2009-10 academic year. All financial aid offices have already been notified of this change, so there is no action students need to take.
All students who submitted valid FAFSAs on or before August 15 and received a grant payment for Fall 2009 by December 15 will continue to receive their awards throughout this academic year.
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Oregon Opportunity Grant Award Estimator:
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To apply for the Oregon Opportunity Grant, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov.
Click here to go to the Oregon Opportunity Grant Award Estimator. |
For more information, check these links:
Domestic Partnerships in Oregon
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In February 2008, domestic partnerships officially became recognized by the State of Oregon. Registered domestic partners are same-sex couples who have filed an official Declaration of Domestic Partnership with a county clerk in Oregon. The Oregon Family Fairness Act of 2007 requires all rights and privileges extended to members of a married family also be recognized for domestic partnerships. The Act extends new rights, benefits and obligations to individuals in officially registered Oregon Domestic Partnerships.
In relation to student financial assistance for postsecondary education, however, the provisions of the Act apply only to state-funded student financial aid programs only, not to federal aid programs. The Oregon Student Assistance Commission (OSAC) will administer the Oregon Opportunity Grant program in a manner that ensures students who are in official Domestic Partnerships are treated the same as married students in determining their eligibility for a grant. In addition, a student whose parent is in a Registered Domestic Partnerships will be treated the same as a student with married parents.
If you or your parent(s) are in a Registered Domestic Partnership at the time you file your 2009-10 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and you are eligible for an Oregon Opportunity Grant, you should complete the Oregon Opportunity Grant Domestic Partnership Reporting Form (see below) to ensure compliance under this act. OSAC will use the information provided to determine your new award amount and will automatically contact the student's financial aid office to update award packages.
Forms:
2010-11 Oregon Opportunity Grant Domestic Partnership Reporting Form
2009-10 Oregon Opportunity Grant Domestic Partnership Reporting Form
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