Oregon Promise Grant — OSAC

Oregon Promise is for recent high-school and GED® graduates who plan to start at an Oregon community college. Unlike an open grant for all current college students, it is a one-time application tied to the graduation cohort. For students graduating between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027, the application opens in mid-October 2026. The state assigns deadlines based on each student’s graduation date; do not borrow another student’s date without checking the official “Find Your Deadline” tool.

The file requires two steps: submit the Oregon Promise application through the OSAC portal and file FAFSA or ORSAA for the year you will begin college, listing at least one Oregon community college. General eligibility requires recent graduation from an Oregon high school or GED, a 2.0 cumulative high-school GPA or a score of 145 on each GED test, at least 12 months of Oregon residency before college attendance and, for dependent students, Oregon residency for their parent or parents. You must start in the required term and have no more than 90 attempted or completed college credits. For the cohort entering in 2026–27, the final SAI ceiling is 27,000; the state had not announced a threshold for later cohorts.

The scholarship is last-dollar tuition aid: Pell and Oregon Opportunity Grant are applied first, then Oregon Promise may cover eligible remaining tuition, up to the state average for 12 credits per term. The official 2026–27 full-time annual range is $2,280 to $4,716. It is not unrestricted cash for housing or transportation: books, fees, housing and other costs may remain. Students need at least six credits per term and the grant covers up to 12 credits each term; it does not pay for summer. Ask the college for a written calculation showing covered tuition, other grants deducted and the remaining balance.

Public student discussions help identify what to ask the aid office: how Oregon Promise combines with OOG, or what happens after a transfer. In an Oregon thread, students ask about using both awards and changing colleges; that conversation cannot predict an individual file. Ask the institution which term it certified, how many credits count, what remains in each program and whether a transfer changes eligibility or the required start term. Do not assume that a one-year award renews automatically.

For the next cohort, build a calendar backward from your graduation date: OSAC application, FAFSA/ORSAA, transcript or GPA confirmation, community-college admission and enrollment in the required term. The state says the application opens in mid-October 2026 for graduates from July 2026 through June 2027; use its tool for your exact deadline. Starting in 2027–28, a FAFSA-eligible student from a mixed-status family will not qualify for Oregon Promise if they file ORSAA instead of FAFSA. OSAC can be reached at HECC.OSAC@hecc.oregon.gov or (541) 687-7400, press 2.