FAFSA/ORSAA & CSS Profile applications

EVERY senior should file either the FAFSA or ORSAA (not both - complete whichever you are eligible for), regardless of their family's economic situation, legal status, or certainty about their college or career plans!

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

Questions? Get Schooled offers comprehensive tutorials on how to complete the FAFSA.

The FAFSA application determines eligibility for:

Pell Grant (up to $7495)
SEOG Grant (up to $4000)
Federal student loans (up to $5500, first year)
Federal Work-study

The FAFSA is also used by the State of Oregon to determine eligibility for state based grants, and by Colleges/universities to determine financial aid offers.

The FAFSA application is not a loan application.

To apply:

October 1, the FAFSA application opens for the following school year. Students and parents will each submit their portion of the FAFSA application every October, for every year year the student is in college. Students should use their personal email address, NOT their PPS email.
It is wise to apply for the FAFSA as early as possible! Many state grants and scholarships require the FAFSA. While there is no deadline for the FAFSA application, other types of aid that require the FAFSA are first come first serve.
Eligibility: Citizens, permanent residents and eligible noncitizens, and are enrolling in an eligible degree or certificate program at an eligible college or career/trade school

Want to see a demonstration of what the FAFSA application is really like?

Check out the FAFSA Prototype. To access the 2026–27 FAFSA prototype, follow the steps below:

Visit fsapartners.ed.gov/fafsa-prototype/2627
Enter the access code: prototype2627

Mixed Status Families (student has a SSN, and parents do not)

Any student who is a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen should fill out the FAFSA. If a student is eligible for the FAFSA, and their parent does not have a social security number, the student should fill out the FAFSA and invite their parents to contribute to their FAFSA.

For more resources and information on the process for students in this situation, check out this FAFSA Hub for Mixed-Status Families.

*A social security number is not required for parent contributors to create an FSA ID (instead of parent SSN, there are alternate steps to complete for mixed-status families)

ORSAA: Oregon Student Aid Application

The ORSAA is an application through the State of Oregon that determines eligibility for state-supported grants and scholarships. The ORSAA is:

For students who are Oregon residents and are undocumented or have DACA status
Determines eligibility for certain need-based aid (grants, scholarships, tuition reduction)
Confidential (information not shared with other branches of government or other institutions)
Typically opens Oct 1 and remains open all school year (opening usually aligns with FAFSA)

Steps to apply:

Confirm your eligibility and create an account using this filter tool.
Complete the ORSAA.

**Students who are US citizens or are eligible non-citizens do NOT file the ORSAA. No student should file both the FAFSA and the ORSAA.

CSS Profile

Some colleges require students to also complete the CSS/Financial Aid Profile in addition to the FAFSA. Typically, students must complete this very detailed profile of their financial situation before the priority deadline for colleges.

NOTE: Early Decision/Early Action schools often require the CSS Profile at the same time as the application deadline, usually mid-November.

Students who are required to file the CSS Profile will may also need to create an IDOC Account. (Only create an IDOC account if you receive an email requiring you to do so). With IDOC, you submit your financial aid documents online and College Board provides them to all of your IDOC schools automatically. After you've been notified, you can log in to IDOC, view deadlines, upload required financial aid documents, and track submitted documents.

Questions? Get Schooled offers a great tutorial on the CSS Profile and How to Complete It.