Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 348 § 348.205 — Oregon

Oregon Opportunity Grant program; rules. (1) The Oregon Opportunity Grant program is established within the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. (2) Under the program, the commission shall award grants to qualified students for the purpose of assisting those students with the cost of education as determined under subsection (3) or (4) of this section. (3) The commission shall determine the cost of education of a qualified student based on the type of eligible post-secondary institution the student is attending. The cost of education equals: (a) For a student attending a community college, the average cost of education of attending a community college in this state; (b) For a student attending a public university listed in ORS 352.002, the average cost of education of attending a public university; (c) For a student attending a two-year Oregon-based, generally accredited, not-for-profit institution of higher education, the average cost of education of attending a community college in this state; and (d) For a student attending the Oregon Health and Science University or a four-year Oregon-based, generally accredited, not-for-profit institution of higher education, the average cost of education of attending a public university listed in ORS 352.002. (4) The commission may determine the cost of education of a qualified student enrolled at an eligible post-secondary institution in an eligible program that does not lead to a degree. (5) The commission shall determine the amount of a grant awarded under this section based on: (a) The type of eligible post-secondary institution the student is attending; (b) The enrollment level of the student; (c) An analysis of the student’s financial need; and (d) Any other factor the commission deems necessary and appropriate to determine the amount of the grant. (6) The commission may not reduce a grant awarded to a student based on amounts available to the student by virtue of being the designated beneficiary of a college savings network account established under ORS 178.300 to 178.360. (7) Subject to subsection (8) of this section, if the commission determines that there are insufficient moneys to award grants to all qualified students, the commission: (a) May establish procedures that prioritize awarding Oregon Opportunity Grants to qualified students with the greatest financial need or whose circumstances would enhance the promotion of equity guidelines published by the commission. (b) May not reduce the amount of grants awarded to students with greater financial need, as determined by the commission, in a greater proportion than the amount of grants awarded to students with less financial need is reduced. (8) The commission shall adopt rules that implement the Oregon Opportunity Grant program. The rules adopted by the commission shall: (a) Specify the manner by which the commission determines the amount of grants awarded to qualified students. (b) Prioritize current foster children and former foster children for receiving Oregon Opportunity Grants when the Oregon Opportunity Grant program does not have sufficient funding to serve all eligible Oregon students. As used in this paragraph, “former foster child” has the meaning given that term in ORS 350.300. (c) Determine how the commission shall award qualified students in eligible programs that do not lead to a degree. Rules adopted under this paragraph must define which programs or types of programs that do not lead to a degree are eligible, and must determine the methods the commission shall use to calculate award amounts for both credit and noncredit programs made eligible by the commission. [1971 c.735 §1; 1999 c.1070 §8; 2001 c.321 §8; 2007 c.802 §3; 2011 c.637 §144; 2011 c.642 §4; 2013 c.747 §86; 2013 c.768 §30; 2015 c.624 §1; 2017 c.66 §10; 2024 c.95 §15; 2025 c.383 §1] Note: The amendments to 348.205 by section 1, chapter 383, Oregon Laws 2025, first apply to the 2026-2027 academic year. See section 5, chapter 383, Oregon Laws 2025. The text that applies prior to the 2026-2027 academic year, including amendments by section 15, chapter 95, Oregon Laws 2024, is set forth for the user’s convenience. 348.205. (1) The Oregon Opportunity Grant program is established within the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. (2) Under the program, the cost of education of a qualified student shall be shared by the student, the family of the student, the federal government and the state. (3) The commission shall determine the cost of education of a qualified student based on the type of eligible post-secondary institution the student is attending. The cost of education equals: (a) For a student attending a community college, the average cost of education of attending a community college in this state; (b) For a student attending a public university listed in ORS 352.002, the average cost of education of attending a public university; (c) For a student at