Oregon benefits for college students

Food assistance: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Oregon's name for SNAP, run by Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS). If you are enrolled at least half-time, you need a student exemption to qualify, such as working 20 hours a week, work-study or caring for a young child. If you are enrolled less than half-time, the student rule does not apply and only the regular SNAP rules do. See every exemption →

ODHS says students aged 18-49 enrolled more than half-time in higher education (college, university, trade or technical school; the school decides what half-time means) can get SNAP if they meet regular SNAP rules and at least one condition. Oregon's list includes: working or self-employed more than 20 hours a week (internships, externships, graduate assistantships and graduate fellowships count); federal or state work study; receiving TANF or unemployment; being in school because of employer-sponsored training; taking part in an Employment Department training program; being enrolled in a program or course of study that will lead to employment; caring for a child under 6; caring for a child 6-12 when ODHS finds adequate child care is not available; or being a single parent of a child under 12.

Apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) · Oregon's page for students

Health coverage: Oregon Health Plan (OHP)

Oregon has expanded Medicaid, so adults with low incomes, students included, can qualify based on income. All your health coverage options →

Apply for Oregon Health Plan (OHP)

Child care help: Employment Related Day Care (ERDC)

Going to college or training counts as an approved activity in this state. DELC says families can qualify if they are working or attending school (in a two-parent family, both parents must be working or in school, with some exceptions). ERDC covers the time you are in school, including some study time, plus travel time between child care and school, and care during approved medical leave from school. Initial income limit is 200% of the federal poverty level; ongoing limit is 250% FPL or 85% of state median income, whichever is higher. ERDC currently has a waitlist for most new applicants.

Apply for Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) · Help on campus (CCAMPIS) →

Phone and internet: Lifeline

Oregon Lifeline: Oregon Lifeline is a combined federal and state program run by the Oregon Public Utility Commission. The PUC web page says it gives up to $20.25 a month off phone service or up to $24.25 off high-speed internet (or free wireless voice and data), plus up to $25 more on Tribal lands; the state's application form (revised 02/09/2026) instead says up to $15.25 for phone and up to $19.25 for internet. Both say amounts are subject to change. Who qualifies →

Apply for Lifeline (Oregon Lifeline)

Taxes

If you qualify for the federal EITC you can also claim Oregon's earned income credit: 12% of your federal EITC if you have a dependent under 3, otherwise 9%; ITIN filers who miss the federal credit only because of the SSN rule can still claim it. Direct File Oregon lets most full-year Oregon residents file their state return (Form OR-40) online directly with the Oregon Department of Revenue for free. Part-year residents and nonresidents can't use it; DOR also lists other free tax help options.

Oregon earned income credit (EIC) · Free state filing · Federal education tax credits → · Free federal filing →

Keep looking

• Oregon grants and scholarships
• Every benefit, and other states