Scholarships are free money for college! Apply to as many as possible.
What are scholarships
A college scholarship is money for college expenses that does not have to be paid back. You can get a scholarship for different reasons: good grades or test scores, a special talent like in music or sports, or a specific characteristic.
Scholarships may range from a few hundred dollars up to the full cost of attendance. You may have to use a scholarship at a specific college or it may be "portable," meaning that you can use the funds at any college.
How to apply for scholarships
Search for scholarships
- Pay attention to requirements. Only apply for scholarships you are eligible for. Many scholarship search engines let you filter by specific criteria.
- Focus locally. The more local the scholarship, the more likely you are to win! Check in with your high school's counseling office or college & career center, explore the OSAC scholarship catalog, and use our calendar of Oregon scholarships.
- Look at your college. Some colleges award scholarships automatically. Others need an extra application.
- Search nationally. There are many free websites to search for scholarships. For those that need a log in, be aware that they may sell your information.
Stay organized
- Make a list. Keep track of scholarships and deadlines.
- Plan ahead. Some scholarships ask for essays, letters of recommendation, or other information from you or your school.
- Treat it like a part-time job. Set aside time each week and apply to as many scholarships as you can!
- Start now. Many scholarships are open to younger students.
Scholarship calendar
Find Oregon and national scholarships with upcoming deadlines. You can filter results to find ones that fit your needs.
Scholarship deadlines and details are subject to change. Check each scholarship website for the most up-to-date information.
| Deadline | Scholarship | More information |
|---|---|---|
| 5/13/2022 | Portland Chinese Scholarship Foundation | $250 - $3,000 scholarships for Oregon students of Chinese ancestry with a minimum 2.75 GPA. |
| 5/20/2022 | Beans for Brains Scholarship | $2000 scholarships for students who have a 3.0 GPA and who know how to knit, crochet or weave. |
| 5/31/2022 | Full Circle Scholarship | Scholarships for American Indian students with a 2.0 GPA or higher. |
| 6/1/2022 | American Indian Graduate Center Scholarships | Scholarships for undergraduate students including AS, BA and BS degrees in all majors, with special scholarships for STEM majors. |
| 6/1/2022 | Women in HVACR Scholarship | $2,000 scholarships for women preparing to enter the HVACR industry. |
| 6/15/2022 | Oregon Sports Hall MacTarnahan Scholarship | $3,000 scholarships for student-athletes attending Oregon colleges with a 3.3 GPA or higher. |
| 6/24/2022 | Navigate Your Future Scholarship | $2,500 scholarship offered to a high school graduate continuing his or her education in the aviation industry. |
| 6/30/2022 | Against the Grain Scholarships | Several scholarships for Asian-American students who are artists, entrepreneurs, fashion designers and leaders. |
| 6/30/2022 | Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship | $1,000 scholarship for a short essay on the impact of cyberbullying. Open to students in grades 9-12. |
| 6/30/2022 | Islamic Society of North America Scholarships | Several scholarships open to Muslim students pursuing higher education. |
| 6/30/2022 | Korean American Scholarship Foundation Western Regional Chapter | Scholarships for students of Korean heritage who will be a full-time student in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, or Washington. |
| 7/15/2022 | Horatio Alger Association Career & Technical Scholarship | Up to $2,500 for students to pursue a career or technical certificate/degree. |
| 9/10/2022 | Cameron Impact Scholarship | Full-tuition, renewable scholarship for exceptional high school students who have demonstrated excellence in academics, extracurricular activities, leadership, and community service. |
| 9/15/2022 | Beat the Odds Scholarship | $4,000 renewable scholarships from Stand for Children for Oregon high school seniors with a 3.0 GPA who are overcoming adversity and succeeding in school. |
| 9/15/2022 | The Gates Scholarship | Full scholarship for exceptional, Pell-eligible, minority, high school seniors with a minimum 3.3 GPA. |
| 9/16/2022 | Golden Door Scholars | Full, renewable scholarships for undocumented or DACA-mented students attending partner colleges. |
| 9/30/2022 | QuestBridge National College Match | Full four-year scholarships to some of the nation's most selective colleges for outstanding low-income high school seniors. |
| 10/1/2022 | NW Fire Diversity Council Scholarship | $650 scholarship for a student who attends an accredited fire or EMS program and plans for a career in these fields. |
| 10/8/2022 | The Skanner Foundation Scholarship | Up to $3,000 for a student with a 2.5 GPA who has completed at least 20 hours of community service in the last year. |
| 10/15/2022 | National Space Club Olin Teague Scholarship | $4,000 scholarship open to graduating high school seniors who plan to pursue careers in the aerospace fields. |