OCF Scholarships Administered Through the Oregon Student Access Commission

OCF has partnered with the Oregon Student Access Commission for nearly 30 years. OSAC is a state agency whose mission is to help Oregon students attain a post-secondary education.

By contracting with OSAC to administer more than 250 of its scholarship programs, OCF permits students to complete a single application form to be eligible for scholarships from OCF and from a number of other public and private sources.

To review the enormous list of scholarships administered by OSAC for OCF, please visit http://oregonstudentaid.gov. The site lets students search for scholarships that fit their needs and provides an electronic application form and instructions on how to apply. Applicants need to complete only one common application online for the portfolio of scholarships administered by OSAC.

OSAC applications are available online beginning in November and are accepted through March 1 for the approaching academic year. Visit http://oregonstudentaid.gov for updates and additional information.

OCF Scholarships Administered by an Educational Institution or Other Entity

For some of OCF's scholarships, the application form and directions are found at an educational institution or other site. Please click on the counties and regions below for information about scholarships available in your area.

OCF Scholarships Administered Solely by OCF

Application forms for the following OCF scholarships are available below.

Verl and Dorothy Miller Native American Vocational Scholarship

For Native American residents of Oregon who are seeking vocational training or certification. Download the application.

St. Andrew's Society Scholarship

For Oregon high school graduates who were born in Scotland or who have a parent or grandparent who was born in Scotland, or who have demonstrated a significant commitment to Scottish dancing, piping, drumming, Celtic harp or highland fiddle. Download the application and the recommendation form.

Howard Vollum American Indian Scholarship

For Native American residents of Clackamas, Multnomah or Washington counties in Oregon or Clark County in Washington, who are seeking a post-secondary degree in science, computer science, engineering or math. Download the application. For previous recipients of the Vollum scholarship, download the renewal form.

Staff Assistance

If you have any questions after reviewing the information available on this page, please contact:

• Belle Cantor, program officer: bcantor@oregoncf.org or 503.227.6846
• Randy Choy, program officer for education and special funds: rchoy@oregoncf.org or 503.227.6846
• Maesie Speer, program associate for scholarships and grants: mspeer@oregoncf.org or 503.227.6846

Our scholarships are as varied as Oregon's landscape.

Take some time to read a few of their stories.

Scholarship FAQs

When can I apply for a scholarship?

The application window is January 1 through March 1 each year for the following academic year.

How complicated is it to apply?

For most scholarships, you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The scholarship application itself requires student contact information, educational history, career goals, and — in most cases — information about the student's finances. Attachments to the application include an activities worksheet, school transcripts, and several short essays.

How do I know if I'm eligible for a scholarship?

Please review the individual scholarship descriptions to determine your eligibility. Most OCF scholarships can be found at  http://oregonstudentaid.gov. However, a few scholarships are listed on OCF’s website (please see Scholarships Through OCF).

Am I eligible for a scholarship if I'm planning to attend a vocational school?

We have many scholarships for vocational students. Please read our scholarship descriptions to learn more.

What is the average amount awarded?

About $2,700, though awards range from $200 to $10,000.

How are recipients selected?

The first step is to ensure a student’s eligibility for a particular scholarship. The second step is to reduce the pool of applicants to those who seem to best fit a particular scholarship’s criteria. The third step is to have a scholarship committee review the final pool of applications to identify the best candidates. A student’s personal essays are crucial at this point, because they supply information about the student that may not be evident in educational transcripts or a list of activities.

When will I know if I've been selected?

 It depends on the scholarship. Some students hear in May, but others may not hear until August.

How are awards paid?

Scholarship awards are paid directly to the educational institution once the student's enrollment has been verified. Generally, awards are paid term by term or semester by semester.

What if I attend only one semester?

Your scholarship award is meant to offset the cost of attendance over a full academic year. If you attend for only one of the two semesters, your award will be reduced by half. Similarly, if you attend only two of three quarters, your award will be reduced by one-third.

I received a scholarship this year. Can I apply for the same scholarship next year?

Some scholarships allow renewal and others don't. You are probably eligible for many scholarships, so you should apply every year. Check the award notice for your current scholarship to find out if you can apply for renewal.