Oregon Student Child Care Grant: support for college students with children

The Oregon Student Child Care Grant helps Oregon-resident undergraduates paying for child care while attending college. The child must be a child or legal dependent listed on the application and generally be 12 or younger; the page provides exceptions for older children with special needs. The care provider must meet state criteria.

The award is based on the lesser of actual eligible child-care costs or the local average cost per child, with a published maximum of $10,000 per academic year. It is not a flat payment and does not automatically cover every family expense. Students report the child’s age, provider, hours, and costs and should ask their school how funds are credited.

For 2026–27, the published application window ran from January through May 2026 and is now closed as of October. The page does not establish a next-cycle opening date until OSAC announces one. Students apply annually with FAFSA or ORSAA; the grant cannot be combined with ERDC subsidy for the same costs.

Students planning to reapply should keep receipts and provider information and watch for the next application window; do not assume it opens on the same date every year. Confirm ERDC coordination to avoid claiming two subsidies for the same cost and ask OSAC whether the provider is approved.

Before applying, confirm that the school and program participate, check cycle requirements and dates, keep a copy and submission receipt, and ask how the award coordinates with FAFSA and other benefits. Do not budget funds that have not been awarded.

When comparing options, identify whether the benefit is a scholarship, grant, tuition exemption, or loan: not all aid must be repaid or applies to the same charges. Ask the college for a written estimate after FAFSA and other awards, check renewal and academic-progress rules, and do not accept a loan thinking it is a scholarship.

Read the program profile and the federal FAFSA guide; confirm with the administrator how the aid coordinates.

Oregon Student Child Care Grant — Oregon Student Aid / HECC.

FAFSA / ORSAA — Oregon Student Aid / HECC.

Guide checked against official sources on October 13, 2026. Cycles, funding, and eligibility can change; confirm the cycle for your academic year with the administrator and your school financial-aid office.

Bottom line

Confirm eligibility, current terms, and application steps with the official source before relying on aid for college costs.

Editorial selection

Options to compare

These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.

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College scholarship and financial-aid program