The Oregon Student Assistance Commission does not have a program for state college loans. The state also does not offer any additional benefits to students who take out federal student loans.
What Oregon does offer are college grants and scholarships.
Most are need-based, but there are some that are merit-based.
They can be searched and sorted by many different characteristics,for instance, by whether an essay is needed, or by academic majors, or high school affiliation, etc...
In addition to overseeing these scholarships, Oregon has a main grant program-
the Oregon Opportunity Grant
Eligibility guidelines are ranked by family income and household size- $22,900 for 2 people -> $46,400 for 8 people
Award amounts are determined by which higher education institution you attend and they range from $1,470-$4,956 per year.
The student must be an Oregon resident, enrolled at least half-time in an eligible school.
The FAFSA is used to determine eligibility so check your FAFSA deadline.
All Oregon Opportunity Grants were reduced for the spring term of the 2009-2010 school year. Fulltime students had their grants reduced by $120 and halftime students' grants were reduced by $60. This was the second year in a row that a reduction took place. All grants returned to normal for the fall 2010-2011 school year, but funding for the 2011-2012 grants ended early, because of a huge rise in the number of applicants. Students are encouraged to apply early for 2012-2013 funding.
The Oregon Student Assistance Commission manages over 340 grants/scholarships under one database, OSAC Scholarships
Scholarships include some for non-Oregon residents, Oregon residents who are going to out-of-state schools, and graduate students
There is a March 1 deadline for applications for the following school year.
The University of Oregon will be offering a new scholarship program, beginning with the 2012-2013 school year. Solari Scholarships will be worth $5,000 per year (renewable) and are open to Oregon high school grads accepted at the University of Oregon. Students must have gone to an Oregon high school for 4 years, and qualify for federal financial aid, but not cannot qualify for a Pell grant.
Oregon Rural Health Services Loan Repayment Program
offers loan repayment to physicians, dentists, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants
must practice in a qualifying (as determined by the Office of Rural Health) rural area for 3 years for physicians, dentists and pharmacists; 2 years for nurse practitioners and physician assistants
repay student loans up to $20,000 per year for 5 years for physicians, dentists and pharmacists; up to $25,000 per year for 4 years for nurse practitioners and physician assistants
The Oregon Student Assistance Commission college and student loan information is mostly limited to how to apply for free grants. Except for the Oregon Opportunity Grant, most of the college grants and scholarships they manage are privately funded. College loans for students are not part of Oregon's financial aid strategy.
Oregon Student Assistance Commission Suite 100 1500 Valley River Drive Eugene, OR 97401 Phone: (541) 687-7400 Toll-Free: (800) 452-8807 Fax: (541) 687-7414
The Oregon Student Assistance Commission college and student loan information is mostly limited to how to apply for free grants. Except for the Oregon Opportunity Grant, most of the college grants and scholarships they manage are privately funded. College loans for students are not part of Oregon's financial aid strategy.
