Financial Aid Information for Dreamer Students

At the University of Oregon, the term “Dreamers” refers to Undocumented, DACA-mented, Tuition Equity, and students of mixed status families.

ORSAA

Since DACA and undocumented students are ineligible to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), we recommend they submit the Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA).

By submitting the ORSAA, DACA and undocumented Oregon residents may be eligible for state grant funding and can demonstrate financial need for scholarships like the Diversity Excellence Scholarship and other departmental scholarships.

DACA and undocumented students that are not Oregon residents can still submit the ORSAA to demonstrate financial need for scholarships that require it, such as the Diversity Excellence Scholarship and the Opportunity Through Excellence: Fund the Dream Scholarship, but will be ineligible for state grant funding.

Scholarships

DACA and undocumented incoming freshmen are automatically considered for the following institutional scholarships, based on their admission materials:

Summit Scholarship
Apex Scholarship
General University Scholarship

Students can also apply for the following institutional scholarships:

Diversity Excellence Scholarship
Stamps Scholarship

Presidential Scholarship

General University Scholarship (transfer and current UO students)

Opportunity through Excellence: Fund the Dream Scholarship Application for 2025-2026 will open Winter 2025

This is a one year award that ranges from $5,000 - $9,000. The scholarship is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. In order to be eligible, students must be:

  • Currently enrolled at UO, or apply for admission as an Incoming Graduate, Law or Transfer student for Fall 2025 (incoming freshmen are not eligible to apply)
  • A first generation college student
  • Able to show financial need
  • Ineligible for federal financial aid

To apply

  • Transfer students and incoming Graduate & Law students who are not already attending UO must apply for Admission no later than March 15, 2025.
  • Log in to the UO Scholarship Dashboard and complete the "General Application"
  • Then click on "Other Recommended Opportunities" and select "Opportunity Through Excellence Scholarship"
  • Scholarship application deadline is April 1, 2025.

Opportunity Through Excellence Scholarship

There are also several scholarship opportunities available through the OSAC Scholarship Application.

Tuition Equity

DACA and undocumented Oregon residents can be exempt from paying nonresident tuition and fees by completing and submitting the Tuition Equity Affidavit to the Office of Admissions.

Nonresidents of Oregon are ineligible for Tuition Equity and are subject to nonresident tuition and fees.

Mixed-Status Families

Students that are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens and whose parents do not have a social security number are still eligible to submit the FAFSA. When you encounter the FAFSA question asking for your parent’s Social Security Number (SSN), enter all zeroes (e.g. 000000000).

A student whose parent cannot obtain a Parent PLUS Loan due to not having a Social Security Number is allowed to borrow additional unsubsidized Stafford loan amounts. Please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships for instructions on how to proceed.