Oregon is rolling out a new tuition-and-fee waiver that can wipe out undergraduate costs for young people who have experienced homelessness, opening a direct route into the state’s public two- and four-year colleges. The program zeroes in on students under 25 who spent at least six months without stable housing between their teen years and early twenties. State officials say the goal is straightforward: remove one of the biggest financial obstacles standing between transition-age youth, a college degree, and long-term stability.
The waiver was announced through the Oregon Department of Human Services, which says it can be used at participating public universities and community colleges. Since the program quietly launched in fall 2023, 267 waivers have been approved. The state notes that the waiver kicks in after federal and state grants are applied, covering remaining tuition and associated fees. Matthew Rasmussen, who manages ODHS’s Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program, said the state’s message to these students is that “Oregon knows their future is worth investing in.”
Who Qualifies And What It Covers
To qualify, students must be under age 25 and pursuing an undergraduate degree. They must also have experienced at least 180 days (six months) of homelessness between ages 14 and 24, received services from an ODHS-contracted provider, and been at least 16 the last time they received those services. The waiver is only available to students enrolled at an eligible Oregon public two- or four-year college or university.
The waiver is applied after federal grants and the Oregon Opportunity Grant are factored into a student’s financial aid package. According to Oregon Student Aid, qualifying students can use the waiver for the equivalent of four years of undergraduate study, making it a long-term support rather than a one-term boost.
How To Apply And Deadlines
Students must first complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA) before they can apply for the waiver itself. The program’s FAQ from the Oregon Department of Human Services explains that FAFSA and ORSAA submissions can begin October 1. The FAFSA deadline is June 30 of the award year or a student’s last day of class, whichever comes first.
Students can submit the tuition-and-fee waiver application at any point during their enrollment, as long as they have completed FAFSA or ORSAA. For verification of eligibility, applicants can work with a community-based organization contracted by ODHS or email [email protected] for help navigating the process.
Voices On The Ground
For students who have lived through housing instability, the waiver is not just a line item on a financial aid form. Bell Cambridge, a waiver recipient, described it as “an opportunity” to pursue a future they once believed was out of reach, according to KATU.
KATU also reports that there is no closing deadline for submitting a waiver application itself, although students still have to follow the usual federal and state financial aid calendars. Application materials and program PDFs are available in English and Spanish through the state agency links highlighted in local coverage.
Why It Matters
Advocates say targeted waivers like this can turn college from an abstract idea into a realistic escape route from homelessness, particularly for young people who face steep financial and bureaucratic hurdles. The timing is notable. State leaders are currently debating how to fund higher education more broadly and are weighing possible changes to programs such as the Oregon Promise, a conversation that could reshape Oregon’s support for low-income students, according to Inside Higher Ed.
Students and service providers looking for specifics can find more details and the waiver application on the Office of Student Access and Completion’s youth resources page, which links out to program FAQs and contact information. OSAC and ODHS also provide a dedicated contact email for waiver questions and point to a network of contracted youth providers who can help students verify their eligibility and get through the paperwork.
