School Grants in Oregon

If you are a student attending college in Oregon, then there are many grants and other academic funding opportunities available for you which are discussed below.

In the state of Oregon, there are the following grants and other student financial aid programs available: Oregon Opportunity Grant; OSAC Scholarships; ASPIRE; The Ford Family Foundation; Oregon Barber & Hairdressers Grant Program; Byrd Scholarship; Chafee ET Grant; Child Care Grant; JOBS Plus; OYCC; Public Safety Officer; Rural Health; Tribal Residency; and Troops to Teachers (Oregon Student Assistance Commission, 2010).

The Oregon Opportunity Grant, established in 1971, is Oregon’s largest state-funded need-based grant for postsecondary education providing more than 38,000 students with grants last year in 2008-2009 (Oregon Student Assistance Commission, 2010). The grant money from the Oregon Opportunity Grant is funded by two federal programs: the Federal Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) and Federal Special Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (SLEAP). To apply to the Oregon Opportunity Grant, you should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The website for the FAFSA application is found at: www.fafsa.ed.gov. The importance of a student filling out the FAFSA form is that it not only is needed for the Oregon Opportunity Grant, but it ensures student access to both federal programs (Federal Pell Grants, Federal Perkins Loans, Federal Stafford Loans) and to the grants and scholarships administered by the Oregon Student Assistance Commission (OSAC). Students in Oregon should complete their FAFSA form by August 15, 2009 to receive a grant for Fall 2009 by Dec. 15th and to continue to receive their awards through the 2009-2010 academic year.

To be eligible to receive an Oregon Opportunity Grant, students must: 1) be an undergraduate student enrolled at least half time (6 units per quarter) at a college or university in Oregon; 2) be financially needy based on household size and family income and assets according to the income eligibility information and guidelines found on the OSAC website; and 3) be an Oregon resident and U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen. Note that members of Native American tribes with traditional ties to Oregon may be considered residents. See the following website for information on “Out-of-state Tribal Residency” and a complete list of recognized tribes: www.getcollegefunds.org/tribal_residency.html.

Another grant offered in Oregon is the Oregon Student Child Care Grant. Applications for the 2010-2011 academic year should be submitted by May 31, 2010. The Oregon Student Child Care Grant program allows students who attend college to have good child care while they are completing their academic education. First preference for this grant is given to prior year recipients, and second preference is given to new applicants who have financial need and who are closest to completing their academic goals.

In conclusion, the various grants and programs offered to Oregon students can be found at the website of the Oregon Student Assistance Commission at http://www.getcollegefunds.org/.

References

Oregon Student Assistance Commission. (2010). Get college funds. Retrieved March 4, 2010 from, http://www.getcollegefunds.org/

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