Financial Aid
Here to Help
Oregon Coast is committed to minimizing costs and maximizing value. Find out how our Financial Aid team can help you.
Are you looking for some financial assistance to help you through college? Many students are balancing work, family, and education. Success coaches are here to provide you with important information and help you navigate through the process of applying for financial aid and completing all the steps necessary to receive a financial aid offer letter. Questions? Email finaid@oregoncoast.edu or reach out to a success coach.
The Financial Aid Office also administers veterans education benefits. Learn more about using your veterans education benefits at OCCC.
Types of Financial Aid
Types of Financial Aid
Grants:
Federal Pell Grant: This grant provides funding to students who meet certain eligibility criteria based on federal guidelines. The amount awarded depends on the student’s Student Aid Index (SAI) and enrollment status.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG): This grant is for undergraduates with exceptional financial need. At OCCC, it is awarded to students with a -1500 SAI until funds run out.
Oregon Opportunity Grant: This state grant is for eligible Oregon residents enrolled at least half-time (6 credits or more). Awards are adjusted based on the student’s enrollment status.
Oregon Promise Grant: This state grant is for recent high school graduates and GED completers. There are rolling application deadlines throughout the year. For more information, visit the Office of Student Access and Completion website at oregonstudentaid.gov.
Other Federal Financial Aid:
Federal Work-Study (FWS): This program provides jobs for students with financial need to help pay for educational expenses. FWS is offered based on funding availability to students who indicate interest on their FAFSA, apply early, and demonstrate need. Students must be enrolled at least half-time (6 credits) in an eligible program.
Students not eligible for grants or scholarships, or who need additional funds, may be eligible for student loans.
Loans:
Federal Direct Loan Program: This program provides loans to students enrolled at least half-time (6 credits or more). Loans can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans are based on financial need, with the federal government paying the interest while the student is enrolled at least half-time. Unsubsidized loans are not based on need, and interest accrues from the time the loan is disbursed until it is paid in full. Borrowers can choose to pay the interest as it accrues or let it accumulate and be added to the principal.
Nursing Loan: Funded through a grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, this loan is available on a funds-available basis. For questions, contact OCCC’s Financial Aid Director.
Private Student Loans: These loans often have higher interest rates than federal loans. It’s recommended to explore federal or other lower-cost options first. OCCC will certify alternative private loans, but students should be aware of federal regulations and the potential for other financial aid options. OCCC does not endorse any specific lender. Students should research thoroughly to make informed decisions about their education.
Student loan amounts are limited by federal regulations. Students cannot borrow more than their cost of attendance minus any other financial aid and scholarships they receive.
Cohort Loan Default Rates:
Cohort Fiscal Year 2022 – 0.0%
Cohort Fiscal Year 2021 – 3.9%
For institutions who have 30 or more borrowers entering repayment in a fiscal year, the institution’s cohort default rate is the percentage of its borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loans and/or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans during that fiscal year and default within the cohort default period.
The phrase “cohort default period” refers to the three-year period that begins on October 1 of the fiscal year when the borrower enters repayment and ends on September 30 of the second fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the borrower entered repayment.
The financial Aid Process
The Financial Aid Process
Financial Aid Portal
Students utilizing federal financial aid (Pell grant and student loans) to help pay for their expenses must go through OCCC’s financial aid portal to complete all the requirements to receive a financial aid award/offer letter. This is a unique portal separate from Canvas and My.OregonCoast, although it is accessible through a student’s My.OregonCoast account by navigating to My Financial Aid within that portal.
Financial Aid Portal Access
When a student is admitted into a financial aid eligible program, they receive an email with the direct link to the portal and instructions for creating their account. Once a student has created an account, there are four milestones to complete a financial aid file for each award year. The four pages are Apply for Financial Aid, ISIR Status, Complete Required Docs, and Package Status. On the Apply for Financial Aid page, students are provided information about filing a FAFSA and are directed to do so before continuing. The ISIR Status page is where students elect to take out student loans or not, estimate their enrollment levels for the year, and can report any outside scholarships they are receiving. The Complete Required Docs page is where students will submit any verification requirements or complete any additional forms needed to be able to disburse their financial aid. On the Package Status page, students will be able to check on the status of their file. The page will show that their file is either in queue to be reviewed, has been accepted, or has been denied. If accepted, the student can also receive their award letter from the Package Status page. If denied, the page will briefly explain to the student what needs to be resolved so the file can be moved to an approved status.
Cost of Attendance/How Financial Aid Offer Amounts are Determined
Visit this page to review information about OCCC’s Cost of Attendance and how financial aid offer amounts are determined.
Requesting Changes to your Award
Financial aid awards are based on a particular year’s taxes and the applicant’s FAFSA. The U.S. Department of Education understands that students may have changes in their financial or family situations between the time of filing their taxes and the start of the academic year. For this reason, students with unique situations may request a “professional Judgment” that upon approval, could result in additional financial aid eligibility. Types of circumstances that warrant review are divided into two categories, special circumstances, and unusual circumstances. See examples below.
Special Circumstances
Financial Situations leading to changes to data elements in the cost of attendance or EFC calculation.
- Recent unemployment
- Being homeless
- Dislocated worker
- Changes to family income, assets, etc.
Unusual Circumstances
Conditions leading to changes in dependency status from dependent to independent.
- Human trafficking
- Refugee or asylee status
- Parental abandonment, incarceration, etc.
- Unable to contact parents
- Contact with parents poses risk
Unusual Circumstances do not include:
- Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency
- Parents refuse to contribute to the student’s education
- Parents will not provide information for the FAFSA or verification
- Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes
To request a change in your award due to special and/or unusual circumstances, reach out to the financial aid office as soon as possible. We will guide you on what steps to take and what documentation will be required. You can find the Award Revision Request, in “Financial Aid Forms,” below.
Financial Aid Verification Process
Verification is a part of the financial aid process where OCCC is required to confirm the accuracy of the information entered on your FAFSA. If your FAFSA is selected for Verification, you may need to submit documents relating to your federal tax information, legal identity, high school completion status, or other topics. Your Student Aid Report (SAR) will tell you if you’ve been selected for verification. As part of the verification process OCCC will request documents from you.
Notification about the documents you are required to provide and submit will be in OCCC’s Financial Aid Portal. Follow the steps in the portal to submit your documents. Submit all documents as soon as possible or your financial aid offer and the disbursement of your financial aid will be delayed. After you have submitted all documents, the Financial Aid Office will alert you to any needed changes to your FAFSA or any additional documents are needed. If there are additional documents needed, you will receive an email alerting you to this. If there are no changes to be made, you will receive a confirmation email when your file was approved. Once your file has been approved, your financial aid dwill be ready to disburse.
Financial Aid Disbursements
Financial aid funds pay the balance on your student account first. Any remaining funds result in a credit balance refund which will appear as a stipend on your ledger card viewable in the My Finances area of the My.OregonCoast portal. Stipends are issued to students via their BankMobile refund preference. Stipends are issued beginning week 3 of each term. Questions about BankMobile should be emailed to Student Accounts or may be asked by phone, 541-867-8551.
Book Advances & Book Vouchers
Book Advances/Book Vouchers
Oregon Coast Community College provides the opportunity for students receiving financial aid to charge their books are Your College Store. All items purchased with a book voucher will be charged directly to the student’s account and will be deducted from any financial aid refund. Students are responsible for any charges due to changes in their financial aid awards, changes in enrollment, or charges that exceeds their reimbursement.
Eligibility
To be eligible to receive a book voucher, students must:
Be an official OCCC student in a financial aid eligible degree or certificate program.
Have completed a FAFSA for the current academic year and have a confirmed financial aid offer/award.
To Receive a Book Voucher
Complete the Book Voucher Request form in the “Financial Aid Forms” section, below. Book vouchers will be limited to the amount of the financial aid offer/award less tuition and fees. Processing time can vary depending on when you make the request. The beginning of the term is very busy so patience is appreciates. Normal processing is within 24 hours. Once, processed, you will receive an email. Print the voucher and take it to the Bookstore.
Book Vouchers can be requested and used per the schedule below:
Term | Request as soon as: | Request not later than: | Use not later than: |
Summer | 1 week before start of book sales | Wednesday of week 2 | Thursday of week 2 |
Fall | 2 weeks before start of book sales | Wednesday of week 2 | Thursday of week 2 |
Winter | 1 week before start of book sales | Wednesday of week 2 | Thursday of week 2 |
Spring | 1 week before start of book sales | Wednesday of week 2 | Thursday of week 2 |
Financial Aid Forms
Financial Aid Forms
Award Revision Form
Students with unusual or special circumstances can request an award revision to their aid that better reflects their current circumstances. Examples of when this would be appropriate to request include, unstable housing, reduction or loss of income, and parental abandonment.
Book Voucher Request
Students with a confirmed financial aid award and whose aid is higher than tuition and fees, can request to charge their books to their student account so that their financial aid will pay for it. More information, above.
Consortium Agreement Form
If OCCC does not have the course you need for your degree, you can take the course at another college and have those credits count towards your level of enrolllment for financial aid purposes. You must be taking at least six credits at OCCC.
Emergency Loan Application
If you have aid coming in but have an urgent need prior to disbursement, you can request to borrow against your financial aid. You must have enough aid left over after the cost of tuition and fees to make this request.
Loan Revision Form
Use this form to add, increase, cancel, or reduce your loan amounts.
Satisfactory Academic Progress, (SAP) Appeal
Students whose financial aid has been suspended can appeal for reinstatement with this form. More information here.
Financial Aid Resources
Financial Aid Resources
Cost of Attendance/How Financial Aid Offer Amounts are Determined
Find information here about OCCC’s Cost of Attendance and how financial aid offer amounts are determined.
More resources
Additional online resources for college and financial aid information for high school students, parents, and adult students. All sites also available in Spanish.
Student Aid on the Web Covers all aspects of college planning and financial aid
Financial Aid Terms and Conditions of Award Agreement
Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress
FAFSA Financial Aid Estimator Estimates financial aid eligibility for high school students/parents
FAFSA Free Application for Federal Student Aid
Resources for Undocumented and DACA Students
Undocumented and DACA students can be eligible for Oregon Promise, Oregon Opportunity Grant, OSAC scholarships, and OCCC Foundation Scholarships. Students must complete the Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA). Visit the resources webpage for more info.
Other OCCC Resources
Success Coaches Information about OCCC’s Success Coaches including how to make an appointment with one.
Academic Calendar The academic calendar provides important dates and deadlines for current and prospective students at OCCC.
Student Resource Navigator Provides support and assistance to OCCC students to address non-academic issues that can prevent degree completion including but not limited to: food and housing insecurity, mental and emotional health, physical health, childcare issues, and flexible employment opportunities.
Student Employment Information about Federal Work Study (FWS) and General Student Employment (GSE) at Oregon Coast Community College.
About Us
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