The Educational Opportunity Center program is 100% funded by the U.S. Department of Education. This means that all of the services and assistance we provide are completely free for the community that we serve. This includes individual appointments, community workshops, and application drives. If you need EOC assistance, make a free appointment today!

If you would like to get free assistance with enrolling in school or applying for financial aid, all you need to get started is to schedule an appointment with an EOC advisor. No documents are required to be part of the EOC program. When you make an appointment, our advisors will help you through the rest of the process, and there is no obligation.

However, if you would like to apply for financial aid during your appointment, it is helpful to have your tax information. The FAFSA utilizes your income tax information from two years prior. So if you are applying for Fall 2020 or Spring 2021, you should bring your 2018 tax return to your appointment, along with your W-2’s.

Permanent residents should also bring their green card or alien identification number.

Dependent students will need to provide parent information to complete a FAFSA. For that reason, if you are a dependent student, bringing your parent or legal guardian is also beneficial in completing the process. If your parent is not able to accompany you, no problem. We will still walk you through the process.

If you do not need to complete a FAFSA, then you do not need to bring anything other than your questions! You are always welcome to bring a friend or family member to your appointment.

• Anyone who is a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident, or a qualifying non-citizen (e.g. a resident of the Marshall Islands)
• Anyone who expresses a desire to enroll, or is already enrolled in college, and is seeking help with applying for financial aid, scholarships, or enrolling in a program.

The EOC advisors will help anyone needing assistance with the college or trade school entrance process, as well as navigating the FAFSA. We can demystify this process for you, helping you to enroll in the higher education program of your choice and then maximizing the amount of financial aid you qualify for.

No, EOC will assist you with enrolling in any college, university, or technical school of your choosing. We will discuss the different options available  and help you make the best choice for you.

Depending on how many questions you have and what you would like our assistance with, an appointment with an EOC advisor can last anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, typically. An average appointment to complete a college application and FAFSA may take approximately 45 minutes.

Yes, we welcome walk-ins. However, because of the work we do in the community, advisors may not always be in the office. If you are able to make an appointment ahead of time or call in advance, then we can ensure that an advisor is available.

No, EOC will help you access financial aid and other resources. In the spring, the ORS Board of Directors does fund two scholarships for participants of our EOC program.

The only direct financial assistance that the EOC program offers is payment for college entrance exam fees for low income clients. If you are low income based on our program criteria, you may qualify for payment assistance for the following tests: GED, HiSET, and TSI. Contact us at eoc@orstx.org for more information.