Oregon OSAC Scholarships

Scholarship Sponsored by Oregon Student Assistance Commission

Here’s a clear, teacher-friendly guide to OSAC scholarship rules and deadlines — read it once, follow the checklist, and you’ll know exactly where you stand.

Quick note about where the money can be used
- OSAC scholarships may only be applied at U.S. institutions that participate in Title IV federal student aid programs. (U.S. military academies are not eligible.)

Who is eligible? (The basics)
Unless an individual scholarship says something different, you must:
- Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen who is in the U.S. for more than a temporary purpose and intends to become a permanent resident.
- Be classified as an Oregon resident. Residency can be established in one of three ways:
- An independent student — or the parents of a dependent student — has continuously lived in Oregon for 12 months; or
- A student has been continuously enrolled in an Oregon high school or postsecondary institution (completing an academic year within any 12-month period); or
- An independent student — or the parent(s) of a dependent student — on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces has Oregon listed as their “home of record.”
- Note on tribal members: Students who are enrolled members of federally recognized Oregon tribes, or of tribes that historically had boundaries or lands within Oregon, count as Oregon residents for OSAC purposes regardless of their current state of residence. For the full list of eligible tribes, check the OSAC website.
- Be one of these student types: graduating high school student in the current academic year, GED® or home-schooled graduate, or a first-time college freshman, undergraduate, or graduate student.
- Not owe a refund on an educational grant and not be in default on any education loans.

Important dates and what to do when
- October: File your FAFSA or ORSAA (start this early — it’s required for many scholarships).
- November – March 1: OSAC scholarship application window. Start and submit your application any time in this period.
- First-time applicants: create an OSAC account and begin the application.
- Returning applicants: update last year’s application information.
- High school juniors: you may start a “test application,” but you cannot submit it until your graduation year.
- February 15: Early Bird deadline. If your completed application is submitted by this date, you’ll be entered into a drawing for one of several $1,000 Early Bird awards.
- March 1: Final deadline — all materials must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.

After you submit
- April – August: Watch your application status and any scholarship awards in the OSAC Student Portal.

Deadline extension rule
- If a deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, it is automatically extended to 11:59 p.m. (PT) of the next business day. All stated deadlines end at 11:59 p.m. (PT).

Quick action checklist
- File FAFSA/ORSAA in October.
- Create your OSAC account (or log in) in November.
- Finish and submit by Feb. 15 for Early Bird consideration — no later than March 1.
- Check the Student Portal regularly April–August for decisions.

If you want, tell me whether you’re a first-time applicant, returning applicant, or a high school junior, and I’ll give you a customized to-do plan.