Jefferson High School

Federal Pell Grants usually awarded only to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need and have not earned a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree.

A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid, except under certain circumstances. Find out why you might have to repay all or part of a federal grant.

You may not receive Federal Pell Grant funds from more than one school at a time.

Start by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form. Schools use the information on the FAFSA® form to determine your eligibility for a Pell Grant, and if so, how much you’re eligible to receive. You will have to fill out the FAFSA form every year you’re in school to stay eligible for federal student aid, including Pell Grant awards.

Award amounts can change yearly. Currently, the maximum Federal Pell Grant award is $7,395 for the 2025–26 award year.

The amount you receive depends on your:

• Student Aid Index (based on your FAFSA form)

• Cost of attendance (determined by your school for your specific program)

• Status as a full-time or part-time student

• Plans to attend school for a full academic year or less

Please note that you can receive the Federal Pell Grant for no more than 12 terms full-time terms or the equivalent (roughly six years). You’ll receive a notice if you’re getting close to your limit. If you have any questions, contact your financial aid office.

The Oregon Promise is a state grant that helps cover tuition costs at any Oregon community college for recent high school graduates and GED® test graduates. Students must apply during their senior year or immediately after GED® test completion.

• Full-time, full-year students, 2024-25: $2,124 to $4,422 

• Submit the Oregon Promise application at OregonStudentAid Student Portal (only takes about 15 min!)

• Submit the FAFSA or ORSAA for the year that you will start college

  • List at least one Oregon community college on the FAFSA or ORSAA

• Submit the Oregon Promise Grant application AND the FAFSA or ORSAA by the appropriate deadline, and list at least one Oregon community college on the FAFSA or ORSAA.

• Be a recent Oregon high school graduate or GED® test graduate.

• Attend an Oregon community college by your required start term, based on your graduation date.

• Have a 2.0 cumulative high school GPA or higher, or a 145 grade on all GED® tests.

• Be an Oregon resident for at least 12 months prior to college attendance.

  • For dependent students, your parent(s) must also live in Oregon.

• Have no more than 90 college credits completed or attempted.

• Students may be subject to eligibility requirements based on their Student Aid Index (SAI). SAI eligibility requirements are subject to change based on available funding.

  • For Class of 2025 students, there is a final SAI limit of 17,000. Students at or above the limit are not eligible for the grant.

  • In July 2024, the limit was adjusted from 22,000 to 25,000 to award more students after the application window closed. Unfortunately, there are not enough funds to award all Class of 2024 students.

Award amounts will vary depending on where you attend school and degree you are pursuing. Awards will be reduced by state and federal grants, such as the Pell Grant, the Oregon Opportunity Grant, the Oregon Promise Grant, etc. Awards will also be reduced by publicly funded state and federal scholarships. Grants cannot exceed the actual cost of attendance. 

Eligibility Requirements

• You must be an enrolled member of one of the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon:

  • Burns Paiute Tribe

  • Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians

  • Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde

  • Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians

  • Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation

  • Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs

  • Coquille Indian Tribe

  • Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians

  • Klamath Tribe

• You must be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a student at an Oregon college or university. Eligible schools can include:

  • Oregon community colleges

  • Oregon public universities

  • Oregon-based private non-profit colleges and universities

• You must be enrolled at least half-time 

• You must maintain good standing in a degree-seeking program

• Submit the FAFSA or ORSAA when it opens on October 1

• Complete the Oregon Tribal Student Grant application, including requested documentation and the Tribal Enrollment Verification Form

• Chafee Training and Education Grant (for current and former foster care youth)
• Deceased or Disabled Officer Grant (for children of parents killed or disabled in the line of duty)
• Oregon Barber and Hairdresser Grant
• and more!