Salem, OR - The Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) encourages all Oregonians pursuing postsecondary education in 2026-27 to apply for grants and scholarships through the state website, OregonStudentAid.gov. This month, the HECC Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) officially opened the OSAC Scholarship Application for the next academic year. The State of Oregon has made accessing scholarships easy for Oregon students with its central site for more than 600 scholarships. Through the application, students can apply for many awards at one time.  

Among the hundreds of OSAC scholarships, funds are available to support students pursuing a wide variety of postsecondary opportunities, whether they are planning on attending a community college, a university, or an eligible career training program, and whether they are seeking a certificate or degree. Private scholarship funds support students across the state—including graduating high school seniors, GED® completers, and adult learners—and students can apply whether they know their field of study or are just starting to consider their plans. Explore more than 600 scholarships, including newly added funds, in the full scholarship catalog here. Those who submit their scholarship application by the early bird deadline of February 17, 2026, will have the chance to win a $1,000 scholarship, and the final deadline is March 2, 2026. 

New and returning students are also encouraged to complete the key forms that determine eligibility for need-based aid: the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA), which are open for the 2026-27 academic year. Many scholarships, if they are need-based, also require FAFSA or ORSAA completion.

Complete the FAFSA/ORSAA and Program-specific Applications

In addition to private scholarships, visit OregonStudentAid.gov to learn about and apply for numerous state- and federally-funded grant programs, such as the Oregon Opportunity Grant (the state's largest need-based program), the Oregon Promise Grant, and more.

Completion of the FAFSA is required for federal aid such as the federal Pell Grant, and completion of the FAFSA or ORSAA is required to be considered for state grants and numerous private scholarships. There is not an explicit deadline to submit the 2026-27 FAFSA or ORSAA, but students are encouraged to submit one of these forms as soon as possible to be considered for grants.  

To be considered for available aid, students should complete the required applications for each program and the FAFSA or the ORSAA. Students should mark their calendars for upcoming applications and deadlines: 

• As soon as possible: complete the FAFSA or the ORSAA to be considered for the Oregon Opportunity Grant and more
• February 17: Early Bird OSAC Scholarship Deadline 
• March 2: OSAC Scholarship Application Final Deadline 
• June 1: Oregon Promise Application Deadline (find your Oregon Promise deadline according to your graduation date here) 
• Find grant applications and deadlines for other grant programs here, including grants for members of Oregon's nine federally recognized Tribes, National Guard members, student parents, former foster care youth, and others  

Join a webinar to get help with the application process: The HECC Office of Student Access and Completion offers a number of resources for students, families, educators, and community members to help with the financial aid process and with college and career planning. OSAC has webinars scheduled in January and February for FAFSA/ORSAA drop-in hours where anyone can show up virtually to get assistance from OSAC staff, and presentations about the OSAC Scholarship Application to help students have a strong application. Check out the full schedule on the OSAC website now. Under the Resources section of our website, you can also find videos on financial aid topics, request a live presentation, and download or order free publications about financial aid opportunities.

About OSAC Scholarships: OSAC awarded more than $14 million in privately funded scholarships in the last application cycle. OSAC administers these funds in partnership with private donors and partner organizations that establish the funds. More than 500 of the scholarships were established through the Oregon Community Foundation, and OSAC also works with numerous other partners. In addition to the continuing scholarships, several new scholarships have been added for the 2026-27 academic year. View the full catalog here.