Financial Aid
Financial Aid refers to funding sources to help you pay the costs of higher education. This includes scholarships, loans, grants, and college savings plans.
We encourage students to look into schools that offer the programs, degrees, and opportunities that are the best for for their goals. Don't let the price of a college or university deter you from looking into a school that is a good fit or has a great program. Having several college choices, and applying to more than one school, can help you see what options are open to you and what aid is available.
Need-Based Aid
Determined by the financial need of a student/family, as determined by the FAFSA or CSS Profile. We recommend that families complete the FAFSA regardless of perceived need. You can always decline offers. Money is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Need is usually determined by completing an application, either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the CSS Profile. The schools you are looking at will determine what application to use.
You can begin the FAFSA on Oct. 1 of your final year of high school.
Undocumented Oregon students may use the ORSAA (see below, under Oregon Aid)
Merit-Based Aid
These are usually competitive, so students generally need to exhibit qualities related to academics- certain course types (AP, Honors), GPA, test scores (SAT/ACT), community involvement, applicable activities demonstrating skills and abilities, personal responsibility (ie references and/or letters of recommendation) and essays may be a part of these applications.
Merit based aid may be based on talents such as athletics, music, dance, art, etc.
Sometimes merit-based aid takes into account factors that affect students, such as hardships, challenges, or other situations where students have had to overcome or demonstrate abilities in the face of difficulty.
Other Aid Factors
Some financial aid could be available based on your family's qualifications such as:
- family background
- amount of education parents completed
- military service
- job-related, religious, community service or other affiliations
- where you live, where you attend school
- your career plans
Make sure your financial aid search includes any applicable factors.
Scholarships & Grants
Money that is awarded that does NOT have to be paid back. Beware of scams that make promises or ask for payment. See below for some scholarship search resources.
Be sure to research scholarships that are offered by colleges and universities that you are applying to. Private schools may have a higher cost of attendance, but may also offer more in scholarships/aid than public schools.
Don't forget to apply for scholarships while you are attending college too!
Loans
Money borrowed by the student, or their parents, that must be paid back. May be issued by the government or may be private loans.
Savings Plans
529 Plans and Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) (must qualify "low income" for IDA accounts)
Federal Financial Aid
4-caster allows you to estimate your aid amount before your application
Commonly used terms to note (click the links for definitions):
"EFC" - Estimated Family Contribution.
"COA" - Cost of Attendance.
"SAR" - Student Aid Report
Remember- You must apply for federal financial aid EVERY YEAR during college!
Oregon Financial Aid
The Office of Student Access and Completion, OSAC, is dedicated to helping Oregon students as they pursue higher education.
Assists with cost of Oregon Community Colleges
Need-based Grant
One application for $18 million in scholarships for Oregon Students
Other Aid Resources
Check eligibility requirements carefully. KVCS serves students across several counties and school districts, so you may or may not be eligible for some local opportunities. You may find more local scholarship opportunities on other area high schools' websites if you reside in those districts.