HOW TO GET STARTED SEARCHING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS
File the FAFSA
Many scholarship donors require you to have completed the FAFSA in order to qualify for scholarships. The colleges you're applying to also need this information to consider you for their scholarship.
College Specific Scholarship
Visit the website of the college you're attending to learn about the scholarships they offer.
Local/Community Scholarships
There are scholarships that may be available in your area sponsored by certain organizations or businesses. Examples are the following: Elks Club Scholarship, Kaiser-Permanente Scholarship, etc. To find available scholarships, log into your Naviance account and select the Colleges tab. Under Scholarship & Money, choose Scholarship List.
Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC)
Every year, OSAC lists hundreds of scholarships that are available to Oregon high school students. As you begin your search, keep in mind your skills, interests, heritage, field of study, and state of residency. You should also keep track of your activities, both academic and extracurricular. Many scholarships are based on your association with particular groups and/or your involvement inc certain activities.
General Scholarships
Naviance has a search engine for national and local scholarships. The scholarship searches can be found under the Colleges tab. Search for general scholarships under the National Scholarship Search.
OSAC is the Office of Student Access and Completion and is an office of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) committed to assisting Oregonians in their pursuit of higher education and a brighter future. Established in 1959 by the Oregon Legislature, OSAC provides innovative funding and programs to Oregon students and families.
Each year, OSAC awards grants and scholarships of more than $118 million to thousands of Oregon students. Prominent grant programs include the Oregon Opportunity Grant, the Oregon Promise Grant, the Chafee Education and Training Grant, and the Oregon Student Child Care Grant. OSAC also administers the ASPIRE student mentoring program, the FAFSA Plus+ program, outreach services, and statewide publications.