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How to apply for financial aid

Smiling graduate of Mt. Hood Community College

 

Apply for financial aid your senior year of high school and every year you are in college.

You will need to fill out one or more applications to receive financial aid. Complete applications as soon as possible after they open to get the most aid.

Figure out which financial aid applications you need to complete

FAFSA

What it is: Free Application for Federal Student Aid

Who completes it: U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and eligible noncitizens

Types of aid: Grants (including Pell, Oregon Opportunity and Oregon Promise), scholarships, loans, work-study from federal and state governments and colleges

Opens: December 1

Apply

ORSAA

What it is: Oregon Student Aid Application

Who completes it: Eligible undocumented students in Oregon

Types of aid: Grants from the state government including the Oregon Opportunity Grant and the Oregon Promise grant

Opens: December 1

Apply

Oregon Promise Application

What it is: Application to cover most of the tuition cost of community college in Oregon

Who completes it: Eligible students planning to attend an Oregon community college, including undocumented students

Type of aid: Oregon Promise grant

Opens: September

Due: June 1 for most students (Deadline Chart in English and Spanish)

Apply

OSAC Scholarship Application

What it is: One application for over 600 scholarships for Oregon students

Who completes it: All Oregon students, including undocumented students

Type of aid: Scholarships

Opens: November 1

Due: February 15 (early bird); March 3 (final)

Apply

CSS Profile

What it is: An additional financial aid form required by some colleges (in Oregon, Reed College)

Who completes it: Students who apply to colleges who require it

Types of aid: Grants and scholarships from the college

Opens: October 1

Apply

Other grants and scholarships

What it is: State, regional, national, and college-specific financial aid

Who completes it: All students, including undocumented students

Types of aid: Grants and scholarships

Apply for grants

Apply for scholarships

Be prepared before you apply

Make a list of the information you will need for each application and gather it before you apply.

What you need to apply

FAFSA Students Parent(s)*
FSA ID
Birth date
Social Security number, if applicable
Driver's license number, if applicable  
Alien registration number, if applicable  
Federal tax returns and W-2s, may be able to transfer directly from IRS
Records from untaxed income, for example: child support, pensions
Bank account and small business/family farm records

 *Determine which parent(s) information to include. Independent students do not need this information from parent/guardian(s).

ORSAA Students Parent(s)*
E-mail
Birth date
Social Security number, if applicable  
Driver's license number, if applicable  
DACA registration number, if applicable  
Federal tax returns and W-2s
Records from untaxed income, for example: child support, pensions
Bank account and small business/family farm records

 *Determine which parent(s) information to include. Independent students do not need this information from parent/guardian(s).

Oregon Promise Students
User name for app.oregonstudentaid.gov
Password
Permanent e-mail address, not school e-mail
Full legal name
Birth date
Social Security number, if applicable
Address
GPA/Transcripts

You must also complete the FAFSA or ORSAA by your deadline for the grant.

OSAC Scholarship Application Students
User name for app.oregonstudentaid.gov
Password
Permanent e-mail address, not school e-mail
Full legal name
Birth date
Social Security number, if applicable
Address
GPA/Transcripts
Activities, volunteer work, paid work history
Essays

If you are applying for any need-based scholarships, you must submit the FAFSA or ORSAA by March 1.

Schedule time to apply

Ask for help if you need it! Your high school or college may host financial aid workshops during or after school. You can also ask for help from your high school counselor or someone in the college financial aid office.

Get help with the FAFSA.

The Office of Federal Student Aid manages the FAFSA.

Get help with the ORSAA.

The Office of Student Access & Completion (OSAC) manages the ORSAA.

Follow up after you apply

Confirm your application(s) are complete and the information is correct.

If you filled out the FAFSA:

You will receive a FAFSA Summary Submission via e-mail that summarizes what you submitted. If any of the information is incorrect or incomplete, make changes as soon as possible. If you don’t have any changes, keep it for your records.

If you filled out the ORSAA:

You can sign in online to review your information and make sure it is complete and correct. If you need to correct information or add a college, download the PDF of your application, edit and re-submit. Make sure your status says “Satisfied” at the end.

Be prepared for verification

Verification means the college must confirm the information you provided on your financial aid form is accurate. The college(s) will contact you with instructions. Stay organized throughout the verification process.

If you filled out the FAFSA:

Your FAFSA Student Summary says if you have been selected for federal verification. This means you’ll need to complete additional forms for every college you’ve applied to. Even if you aren’t selected for federal verification, college(s) can select you for institutional verification.

If you filled out the ORSAA:

There is no formal verification process. However, college(s) can select you for institutional verification.

Make a copy of our Google Docs template and keep track of scholarships that you want to apply to.

If you get selected for verification, make a copy of our Google Docs template to keep track of your paperwork.