About EOC
The Educational Opportunity Centers (EOC) at ORS are TRIO programs funded by the U.S. Department of Education that provide counseling and application assistance to any qualified participants interested in pursuing higher education. Higher education can be college, university, a trade school program, or any other training after the completion of high school or the GED. The EOC advisors are here to be your higher education advocates.
Participants in the EOC program receive more than just help completing forms. Our experienced advisors understand the obstacles students face when enrolling in college – financial, personal, and family – and we will help you create a personalized plan to work through those obstacles to attend school and further your career.
EOC is federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education to provide assistance at no cost to you, meaning all EOC services are 100% free. ORS currently serves the Dallas, Johnson, and Tarrant County areas.
The Dallas County EOC program at ORS has been serving the Dallas area since 2021. The Dallas EOC program is funded to serve at least 850 individuals per year throughout Dallas County.
Need to connect with the Dallas EOC team?
The Johnson County EOC program is ORS’s flagship EOC, originally funded in 2016. The Johnson EOC program is funded to serve at least 1,000 individuals per year. Key partners for the Johnson County EOC program at ORS include Alvarado High School, Cleburne High School, Keene High School, Godley High School, Rio Vista High School, Family Crisis Center, Texas Workforce Solutions, and Sanders Estes unit.
Need to connect with the Johnson EOC team?
EmailThe Tarrant County EOC program at ORS has been serving the Tarrant area since 2021. The Tarrant EOC program is funded to serve at least 850 individuals per year throughout Tarrant County.
Need to connect with the Tarrant EOC team?
our focus
our impact in 2023
EOC Participants Served in North Central Texas
Applied for Financial Aid
Applied for College Admission
Enrolled in Postsecondary Education or Training
ORS has been a partner with Oasis Center for the past three or more years and the participants we serve have greatly benefitted from the partnership. Kristen Miller and her team come with great energy and information that provides our students the necessary information. Their presentation answers questions on how to finance higher education goals, how to totally dismiss or reduce old loan amounts, and new pathways to careers in CDL, Cuisine, etc., for just an example. The presentation is so full of information that almost all the students come away with something they needed to move forward or help solve some problem they have. The team treats our participants with dignity and respect which is greatly appreciated.
Also, they take the time to work with students individually and provide contact information for future needs. ORS is one of our closest partners and again we are so pleased we have this relationship.
Always helpful. informative and friendly. Wouldn’t be attending Dallas College without your assistance! Thank you SO much and God bless you!
Thank you so much. The staff at the EOC has always been professional, friendly, and helpful. They take the time to make the process smothe and understandable. They are timely and follow up when they say they will.
I’m absolutely confident after my initial visit that I’m on the right track. I was very nervous that I wasn’t going to be prepared and that I was going to fail before I even started school. I look forward to continuing my preparation with them and am very grateful for the help.
our services
Academic Counseling
Financial Aid Applications
College Applications
Scholarship Research
Career Exploration
Not sure where to start? An EOC advisor can help you navigate possible careers and the education level necessary to enter a career field. We can also help you find a career compatible with a felony background.
Student Loan Rehab
If you have a student loan in default or want to see if you qualify for loan discharge or forgiveness, we can help you navigate the programs available and apply for a payment plan to get your loan on the right track.
Our Service Models
EOC provides free services and resources to our communities to eliminate barriers to higher education. Our services are available to any school, business, institution, or community organization at absolutely no cost to you. Our goal is to expand access to education for as many people as possible in North Central Texas and beyond. Interested in partnering with us to expand access for your participants or students? Reach out today - we would love to collaborate with you!
School Application Drives
Our EOC teams are able to offer assistance with completing applications for admission and the FAFSA on-site at any school in our target areas.
In-Person Advising
In-person advising is available at our Cleburne center. Our Johnson County EOC team assists hundreds of individuals one-on-one per year with their educational and career goals.
Phone Advising
Phone advising is offered by all of our EOC programs to provide individualized advising and application assistance for any college or vocational training.
Virtual Advising
Community Application Drives
We also offer assistance with completing college applications, FAFSA's, and student loan rehab on-site at any community agency or correctional institution.
Workshops & Presentations
We provide workshops on many topics: higher education, financial aid, student loan rehabilitation, career pathways, military education benefits, & scholarships.
Community Events
We are always able to set up info booths at community events, expos, and resource fairs, as well as give out information and resources at food distribution sites.
College & Career Tours
EOC periodically will take a group of students to tour a college, and then make the connection to a career with local industry employers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does this cost?
What areas do you serve?
The Educational Opportunity Centers at ORS serve Dallas, Johnson, and Tarrant counties, and surrounding areas.
Do you offer virtual or in-person appointments?
Our EOC program that serves Johnson County offers in-person appointments at our Cleburne office location, as well as virtual and phone appointments.
Our Dallas & Tarrant County EOC programs only offer virtual and phone advising appointments at this time. Our virtual appointments are conducted through Google Meet. You can schedule your appiontment by going to eoc.setmore.com.
Do I need to bring anything with me?
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. For the 2024-2025 FAFSA, you will be using your income tax return for 2022.
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!
Who is eligible for this program?
- 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.
Is this for a particular school?
How long will an appointment last?
Do you accept walk-ins?
Yes, we welcome walk-ins to our Cleburne office in Johnson County. 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.
Clients of our Dallas & Tarrant County EOC programs should schedule a virtual or phone advising appointment, or call/text our office at (817) 241-4141 for assistance.
Do you offer money for school?
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.
The EOC programs at ORS are committed to providing opportunities to all qualified people, regardless of economic or social status, and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, creed, religion, political beliefs, sex, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, veteran’s status, or physical or mental disability. The Educational Opportunity Centers at ORS are 100% federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education to serve Dallas, Johnson, & Tarrant counties respectively for up to $283,663 annually.