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FAFSA and ORSAA Information
To be eligible for most types of financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA). These applications compile financial information and other details about students and families, which the US Department of Education and the State of Oregon use to determine financial need and eligibility for various financial aid opportunities. Both the FAFSA and ORSAA open on October 1 each year.
Who Submits the FAFSA?
United States citizens andshould
Who Submits the ORSAA?
Oregon residents who have undocumented status, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, and/or
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) should submit the ORSAA.
Do not complete the ORSAA if you are (1) a U.S. citizen, (2) a legal noncitizen with an Alien Registration number,
or (3) an international student who is in the United States with a valid visa.
Complete and
Unsure?
If you are unsure which form to complete, take this short quiz to find out which financial aid form you should complete -
3 reasons FAFSA completion is essential:
Here are three reasons why it’s so important (and easy) to complete the FAFSA:
1. You can access money that’s otherwise left on the table
Every year, millions of students who are eligible to receive aid don’t complete the FAFSA and money is left that could have helped them achieve their future goals.
By not filling it out, students are missing out on a pretty good deal. It’s a free application helping students reach their education goals that they may have never even considered possible otherwise.
2. It takes about an hour to complete
Despite what you may have heard, completing the FAFSA is not difficult. Even if it does take a while, possible hundreds or thousands of dollars towards an education will be well worth the time.
Pick an afternoon, watch one less Netflix episode and complete the FAFSA. You’ll never regret an hour of working towards your future!
3. It’s an investment in the future
Whether you’re a future student yourself, a parent of one or just want to see a bright future for our state, increasing FAFSA completion is an investment in your future and will create a variety of outcomes:
Families who may think they can’t afford college will have new opportunities, the state gets a better educated workforce and students can be hopeful they will achieve goals they never considered possible.
The FAFSA is more than just part of a checklist. It is about opening up a conversation that may never happen if a student wouldn’t have completed the FAFSA. It can truly be a generational game changer.