In order to be eligible to participate in the Oregon Promise program, a student must:
- Complete an Oregon Promise Grant Application
- Be a recent Oregon high school graduate or GED recipient
- Document a 2.5 cumulative high school GPA or higher; or a GED score of 145 or higher on each test
- Enroll at least half-time at an Oregon community college within 6 months of high school graduation or GED completion
- Be an Oregon resident for at least 12 months prior to enrolling in community college
- Have filed a FAFSA or ORSAA application and listed at least one Oregon community college
- Enroll in the Fall 2016 community college term within six months of high school completion
- Enroll in courses at an Oregon community college required for one year curriculum for students transferring to another postsecondary institution, an associate's degree, or a program in career and technical education
- Not have completed more than 90 credit hours or the curriculum/programs noted above
Award size will be based on standard enrollment ranges (half-award for 6-8 credits, three-quarters award for 9-11 credits, full award for 12-14 credits)
Students who attend at least half-time (six credits per term or more) and meet the other requirements are eligible for the Oregon Promise. The amount of money a student receives, however, will be based on the number of courses enrolled in for each term.
No. OSAC relies on school codes listed on the FAFSA and the ORSAA to identify which students plan to attend community college.
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.
No. Participation in Oregon Promise is limited to those who will begin community college in Fall 2016, no more than six months after high school completion or GED completion. If you have completed high school or your GED prior to March 1, 2016, you would not be eligible to participate in the Oregon Promise Grant.
Based on the projections that have been completed, the Higher Education Coordinating Commision does not anticipate limiting participation, or prioritizing participation in Oregon Promise beyond the eligibility requirements already established.
While students must file the FAFSA or the ORSAA to qualify for the program, their participation in the program will not be limited based on the income of the student or their parents.
Students should submit their Oregon Promise applications and ensure that their seventh-semester transcripts are provided to OSAC. OSAC will review those transcripts and will notify the student that they can provide their eighth-semester transcript when it becomes available in June 2016.
Yes. To be eligible, individuals must complete their high school or GED®program in Oregon and have resided in the state of Oregon for at least 12 months prior to enrollment at a community college.
U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens must complete the FAFSA to be considered for the Oregon Promise grant. Individuals who are not eligible for federal student aid must complete the state's approved alternate application, he Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA).
As long as you only choose schools in Oregon, with ORSAA as a prefix (e.g. ORSAA- PCC Portland Community College), you will not be charged.
Students must complete the Oregon Promise application, ensure that their seventh-semester transcripts have been provided (or their school has
verified their GPA is 2.50 or higher), or provided their GED Testing Service test scores, and file the FAFSA or ORSAA by the applicable deadline
in the following chart:
| Term you plan to start at an Oregon community college |
Winter 2017 Begins January 9, 2017 |
Spring 2017 Begins April 3, 2017 |
Fall 2017 Funding subject to legislative approval |
| Must graduate high school between the following dates |
July 1, 2016 to December 1, 2016 |
October 1, 2016 to March 1, 2017 |
March 1, 2017 to August 1, 2017 |
| Deadline for Application |
December 1, 2016 |
March 6, 2017 |
July 1, 2017
April 1:
|
| Deadline to verify your GPA** |
December 1, 2016 |
March 6, 2017 |
July 1, 2017 |
| Deadline for FAFSA or ORSAA |
File the 2016-17 FAFSA
December 9, 2016 |
File the 2016-17 FAFSA
March 13, 2017 |
File the 2017-18 FAFSA
September 5, 2017 |
*Students who submit their application by April 1 will be notified of Oregon Promise award by May 1
**Verify GPA through section 5 of the Oregon Promise application
OSAC will determine the actual completion date based on transcripts provided by the GED Testing Service.
There is nothing in statute that mandates that the GED must be awarded through the State of Oregon; however, the student must have been a resident of Oregon for the 12 months preceding enrollment in community college and must enroll in community college within six months of completing their GED testing.
Additionally, the GED test scores must demonstrate academic ability at least equivalent to a 2.5 high school GPA. If the GED was earned in a state other than Oregon, additional review will be required to verify it meets that academic standard.
The Higher Education Coordinating Commission has determined that a GED score of 145 will equate to a 2.5 cumulative GPA. Students who pass each of the four GED tests with a score of 145 or better will meet the Oregon Promise 2.5 cumulative GPA requirement.
No. Graduation or completion eligibility date pertains to a student’s first graduation or completion.
Yes. Students who plan to complete their GED test series in the spring or summer of 2016 should apply for the Oregon Promise before 5pm PST on March 1, 2016. Once their tests are complete, they can submit the GED Testing Service score details. Scores must be submitted by August 1, 2016.
Students who were formerly in the foster care system and meet the other requirements of the Oregon Promise are eligible to participate.
The Chafee Education and Training Grant in Oregon provides up to $3,500 annually ($5,000 for students over 21) for qualified foster youth to assist them in covering any portion of their total Cost of Attendance not covered by Federal or State Grants or tuition waivers. In 2015-2016, the average full-time Cost of Attendance at an Oregon community college is about $17,300, so even a student who received the maximum Pell Grant ($5,775), the maximum Oregon Opportunity Grant ($2,100), and the Oregon Promise Grant ($1,000) would still have more than $3,500 in remaining need.
Both programs can be accessed simultaneously.
If a student is eligible for the Tuition and Fee waiver, the waiver comes into effect if tuition and fee costs still remain after all grants and scholarships have been applied, including Oregon Promise. For students whose tuition and fees are fully covered by the Federal Pell Grant and the Oregon Opportunity Grant, there would be no waiver, and they could receive $1,000 under Oregon Promise for other educational expenses (if attending full-time, full year). For students who did not receive sufficient Federal Pell Grant or Oregon Opportunity Grant funds to cover their tuition only, the Oregon Promise would pick up most or all of their remaining tuition costs. In that case, the Tuition and Fee waiver could be applied to their student fees or any tuition costs that exceed the amount covered by the Oregon Promise.