Exclusive Scholarships in Oregon to Apply For in 2023

About scholarships in Oregon

The high costs of college in Oregon, and throughout the country, have resulted in many borrowers who have had to rely on debt to fund their education. With financial aid and federal student aid often not going far enough as college costs continue to skyrocket, loans may seem like the only option.

As a result, Americans are now burdened by over $1.7 trillion in student debt, owed by 45 million borrowers across the country. Though not the most debt-laden state in the US, Oregon contributes to this high national debt and is home to many students struggling to figure out how to pay for school. 

Luckily, scholarships offer a solution. As a form of gift aid, scholarships can help students with financial need fund their college degrees. While some scholarships require applicants to demonstrate financial struggles, there are also plenty of merit scholarships that are open to students regardless of financial status.

Oregon students and student debt

Grade school students in Oregon

In the 2020-2021 academic year, Oregon was home to 560,917 public school students. Though enrollment had been slowly growing between 2016 and 2019, the number of students declined by 18,030 between 2019 and 2020, largely due to the pandemic.

The number of homeless students in Oregon decreased from 21,080 in 2019 to 17,693 in 2020. This change is partially due to the lower number of total students but may also be a result of the federal government's relief programs and stimulus efforts during the pandemic.

Unfortunately, the number of freshmen on track to graduate high within four years dropped by nearly 12% between 2018 and 2020, resulting in just 73.6% of ninth graders being on track. Native students, migrant students, and those who are homeless saw especially significant drops in expected on-time graduation rates.

Colleges in Oregon

Oregon contains a multitude of options for higher education institutions, including seven public universities. The University of Oregon is the highest-ranking school in Oregon and has over 18,000 undergraduate students. Oregon State University is even larger, with nearly 27,000 undergraduate students enrolled.

Students who want a smaller college experience can look into options like George Fox University, which has just under 2,500 undergraduate students, or Linfield University which has less than 1,400 undergraduates.

Oregon college demographics

There are currently 206,211 total students enrolled in colleges in Oregon. The majority of these students, 177,678, are undergraduate students. Additionally, 117,773 Oregon college students are women, making Oregon colleges female-dominated and following the nationwide trend of women outpacing men in higher education. 

125,351 college students in Oregon are enrolled full-time, leaving many who are studying part-time. Additionally, many Oregon students take online or hybrid classes. Only 77,865 Oregon college students take fully in-person classes, as 73,896 study exclusively online and the remaining 54,450 take a mix of in-person and online courses.

Most Oregon college students, 120,382, are white. The next highest racial group in Oregon college is Hispanic students, with 30,097 enrolled. Additionally, 12,317 Asian students study at Oregon colleges and 5,322 Black students also attend. A significant 12,726 students at Oregon colleges are biracial or mixed race.

Costs of a college education in Oregon

In-state undergraduate students in Oregon pay an average of $7,596 for tuition and fees while out-of-state students pay $16,289. Graduate students pay even higher rates, with in-state graduate tuition costing $18,001 and out-of-state tuition costing $26,531. While these are the average costs, tuition varies significantly across schools. Reed College, for example, has the highest undergraduate tuition, costing $60,620 per year.

In addition to the direct costs of college, students also have to pay for books, supplies, housing, and food. Room and board cost Oregon students an average of $14,053 per year for on-campus living or $14,248 for off-campus living. Books and supplies add another $1,187 to one's expenses every year, leading to overwhelming total costs. As a result, many students need to take out loans to cover their expenses, even if they received some financial aid. 

Student loans in Oregon

As a result of the high costs of higher education in Oregon, 53% of graduates have student loans and 8% have private student loans. The average borrower in Oregon owes $26,504. While still significant, this debt total is lower than the average debt in many states, such as New Hampshire where the average student debt rings in at $39,928.

The best scholarships for Oregon students

Many scholarships are not regionally-specific, meaning that students in all states can apply. However, local scholarships are great options due to the smaller pool of eligible applicants. The fewer students that qualify, the less competition you'll be up against, boosting your chances of winning!

Noah Jon Markstrom Foundation Scholarship

This $3,000 scholarship is open to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in pediatric medicine in the Pacific Northwest. You can apply by the June 1st deadline by writing about your inspiration to pursue pediatric medicine. 

Noah Jon Markstrom Student Debt Paydown Grant

This $500 award is open to those who have graduated and now work in pediatric medicine. Individuals who live in the Pacific Northwest are preferred and you can apply by writing about your career's impact on your life.

New scholarships are created every day, so check back soon for even more opportunities for Oregon residents.

Additional scholarships that students in Oregon should consider

While scholarships that are exclusively available to students in Oregon are great options due to the lower applicant pool, Oregon students should also consider scholarships that aren't restricted by location. 

You can use the categories to find scholarships for specific groups of students or fields of study, such as engineering majors, those studying computer science, undocumented students, Native American students, or applicants with community service experience. 

There are also many high-value opportunities open to students in any state as well as easy no-essay scholarship options. Get started by checking out the following list:

1. "Be Bold" No-Essay Scholarship
2. Jameela Jamil x I Weigh Scholarship
3. Forget Your Student Debt. No-Essay Grant
4. Bold Relaxation Scholarship
5. Women's History Scholarship

Read on for even more scholarship opportunities for students residing in Oregon!

Scholarships for high school students in Oregon

High school is a great time to start preparing for the costs and challenges of college. If you earn a scholarship while still in high school, the award money will be saved until you begin college. The earlier you start applying, the more time you'll have to secure the financial aid you'll need to fund your degree. 

High school students can get ahead on their applications by selecting "High School" as their education level and checking out options like the CollegeXpress No-Essay Scholarship and the Bold Make Your Mark Scholarship.

Scholarships in Oregon for high school seniors

In addition to scholarships open to all high school students, Oregon high school seniors can also take advantage of the many opportunities exclusively open to graduating seniors who are planning to attend college. Scholarship opportunities for seniors include the Eleven Scholarship and the Kenyada Me'Chon Thomas Legacy Scholarship.

Scholarships for current college students in Oregon

Though applying for scholarships in high school can give you more time to finance your college education, it's never too late to start. You can start or continue your scholarship hunt while pursuing post-secondary education. There are many opportunities for undergraduate students, graduate students, and even recent graduates who have student debt. Scholarships for current college students include the following:

1. Youssef University's College Life Scholarship
2. Amelia Boynton and S.W. Boynton Scholarship
3. Slater Miller Memorial Fund

Scholarships in Oregon for women

As discussed above, women are now outnumbering men on most college campuses. However, women are still underrepresented in many fields, especially when it comes to leadership positions. As a result, many scholarships seek to encourage women to break into new fields. You can find opportunities for female students in the "Women" category and you can start with the following scholarships: 

1. Paybotic Women in Finance and Technology Scholarship
2. Shoot Less, Throw More- Girls Wrestling Scholarship
3. Linda Hicks Memorial Scholarship
4. Surya Education Assistance Scholarship

Scholarships for moms in Oregon

In addition to scholarships for women, there are also scholarships available to moms. These scholarships will have a much smaller applicant pool and are great options to consider! You can start by applying for the Larry Darnell Green Scholarship and REVIVAL Scholarship, and you can find scholarships for single mothers listed below.

Frequently asked questions about scholarships in Oregon

Are there Hispanic scholarships for Oregon students?

There are scholarships for all different groups of students in Oregon. Some scholarships are open to all BIPOC students while others are specifically created for Hispanic or Latino students, such as the Latinas in STEM Scholarship. You can find more opportunities for minority students in the "Diversity and Inclusion" category.

Are there scholarships in Oregon for single mothers?

Due to the challenges that single mothers face, such as financial need, limited time, and other responsibilities, there are many scholarships exclusively open to single mothers or single parents so they can find the support they need to attend college. The Law Family Single Parent Scholarship and Saroya Byrd Legacy Scholarship are just two of the opportunities that single mothers should consider. Single mothers can also look into the scholarships for women and scholarships for moms listed above.

Are there Oregon scholarships for out-of-state students?

While in-state students often benefit from lower tuition rates when entering college, both in-state and out-of-state students can take advantage of scholarship opportunities. The majority of scholarships for Oregon students are open to all Oregon residents, including students from other states who now study in Oregon. If a scholarship requires applicants to be native residents of Oregon, this requirement will be listed in the description. 

How can I apply for scholarships in Oregon?

Students already have many responsibilities and sources of stress, between homework, internships, extracurriculars, and more. Luckily, applying for scholarships is simple, quick, and a customizable experience. To begin applying, click on any of the scholarships above and create your free account. There's no limit to how many scholarships you can apply for or earn, so you can browse through the hundreds of opportunities and bookmark any relevant scholarships. 

Each scholarship will have an "Apply Now" button which will allow you to submit your application. Depending on the scholarship, you may need to write an essay in the box at the bottom of the screen. Additionally, you may need to upload an image or video in addition to, or in place of, a scholarship essay. Once you've included your application materials, you can submit the application with just a couple of clicks. 

No-essay scholarships are even simpler to apply for and it typically takes just a minute or two to start and finish your application. Always make sure to read the eligibility requirements to ensure you're an eligible applicant before taking the time to apply!