Scholarships

Applying for Scholarships

Scholarships are an excellent way to pay for college because they do not need to be repaid. It is important to apply for them each year. This post is an intensive step-by-step guide on applying for scholarships as a student at Portland State. 


STEP 1:  Complete the FAFSA  (Free Application for Federal Financial Student Aid). If undocumented status, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, and/or Temporary Protected Status (TPS), complete the ORSAA (Oregon Student Aid Application). 


Most scholarships require a completed FAFSA to determine financial need. Next school year’s FAFSA is available on October 1st – www.fafsa.ed.gov 

Apply early each year to be considered for the Oregon Opportunity Grant, Pell Grant, Work Study, etc)!


Who submits the FAFSA? United States citizens and eligible noncitizens.


Who submits the ORSAA? Oregon residents who have undocumented status, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, and/or Temporary Protected Status (TPS). ORSAA Students: add ORSAAHelp@hecc.oregon.gov to your email contacts so that important messages do not go to your Spam/Junk folder.

STEP 2:  APPLY FOR:


  Portland State University awards hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to students each year through the online Scholarship Application. Scholarships are awarded once each year. The online scholarship application opens November 1. Applications are due March 1 at 11:59pm. There are still scholarships that may be available past this deadline, especially scholarships that are external. 


Administers over 600+ private Oregon scholarships ($12 million annually)!  Online application available on November 1.  Early Bird Deadline is February 15.  Final Deadline is March 1 at 5pm. (It’s best to complete this application as early as possible, as the website has been known to crash due to heavy traffic on March 1.) 

www.oregonstudentaid.gov


Apply for Oregon’s largest private scholarship (the Ford), which pays 90% of a student’s unmet need. There are four: Ford Opportunity (single parent), Ford Restart (25 or older), Ford Transfer (transfer), and Ford Scholar (HS or GED student). Opens November 1.  Deadline is March 1 at 5pm. www.tfff.org. Determine best fit here.


Portland State University and the State of Oregon provide options for undocumented students to gain access to financial aid and other tuition resources.


☐ External Scholarships for Business Students

https://www.pdx.edu/business/sites/g/files/znldhr2306/files/2020-07/External%20Scholarships.pdf

 

☐ Scholarships for International Students



☐ Scholarships for Studying Abroad



☐ Professional Associations:

        Find a professional Association based on your career goals and check for scholarships. (i.e: AICPA or OSCPA for accounting majors); also search for corporate sponsors, employers, religious groups, unions,  clubs, political parties, etc. 


STEP 3:  FIND MORE SCHOLARSHIPS:


☐ Oregon CIS

Oregon CIS is a career & scholarship resource. If you have a Multnomah library card, you can access it for free. Instructions to login (assuming you have a Multnomah library card) 

1. Sign in with library card info.

2. Select Explore Resources. 

3. Select Education & Training 

4. Select Scholarship List. 

5. Under program of study, select your major to find related scholarships.

6. Look through the scholarships that are available



☐ Scholarship Search Engines: 

The following services ask users to fill out a profile, and then they match users with scholarships that match 

        their skills, interests, and other characteristics: 


☐ National Scholarship Search


☐ External Scholarship List


3K Go For The Gold Scholarship!  



STEP 4:  REVIEW ADDITIONAL RESOURCES


☐ Attend a Scholarship Workshop 

  Review this scholarship presentation from 2019-2020. https://www.pdx.edu/engineering/sites/g/files/znldhr1721/files/2020-09/1920Scholarship%20PowerPoint%20%282%29.ppt


☐ Visit the Writing Center  to get help with scholarship essays:

       You can schedule an appointment online at https://www.pdx.edu/writing-center/


☐How to Create Your Scholarship Strategy

https://admissions.pdx.edu/blog/your-scholarship-strategy


☐ Student Savings Account (matches your savings 1 to 3)

Each $1 saved is matched by $3 in matching funds. Savers can use their IDA funds to help pay for college tuition, start or expand a small business, buy a home, or purchase a car, computer, or training to help achieve employment goals. https://oregonidainitiative.org/ 


☐ National Student Loan Data System 

How much loan debt do you have overall and how do you manage it? This tool is helpful. 

https://nsldsfap.ed.gov/nslds_FAP/. 


☐ IBR Info 

Need help learning about student loan repayment options? www.ibrinfo.org 

Other Helpful Links and Resources for Scholarships: 


Scholarship Scams - How to recognize a scammer:


Report suspected scams to the following organizations:


Questions? Contact Portland State University Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships

Financial Aid staff can answer general questions you have about the scholarship process, and will help you learn how to locate the above scholarship resources. Schedule an appointment with us at https://portlandstatefinaid.youcanbook.me/  or email us for general questions at: askfa@pdx.edu