Big Plans: Tomorrow's Best Minds

An Investment in the Future

Donors to Portland State may support scholarship funds that assist students with a variety of backgrounds and education and career objectives. For many, scholarship assistance makes the difference between the dream of a college education and the reality of a goal achieved. No contribution is more valuable or has a greater impact.

General Scholarships

Over 60% of PSU students receive financial aid—primarily in the form of loans. There is a direct correlation between the number of hours per week students work and grade averages. If the only aid a student has is loans, her only alternative is to work more hours or attend school part-time.

Scholarships alter this formula. The good news is that even a modest scholarship can make a significant difference. When coupled with other financial aid—loans, grants, and work-study—scholarships help struggling students to make ends meet.

Annie Spencer Need-Based Scholarships

A story illustrates the kinds of financial challenges PSU's highest-need students face:

Janelle is 19. She's the first member of her family to attend college—her parents cannot assist her with school or living expenses. She moved away from home, where there are five younger siblings, in order to secure a private study environment. She works 40 hours a week, carries a full class schedule and is a sophomore with a 3.25 grade point average and a double major in business and accounting. When her federal financial aid was reduced she feared she would have to leave school because she couldn't afford to buy books. A scholarship helped her to meet these costs. While she's grateful for the financial assistance, she says that the vote of support is just as meaningful.

Hundreds of other PSU students tell similar stories. By supporting student success in the present, your gift is truly an investment in tomorrow.

Diversity Scholarships

At the heart of Portland State University's strength is the diversity of our student and faculty community. We strive to build a campus that fuses a broad range of perspectives and backgrounds, enriching the learning experience for every student. To do this we must be able to serve promising students from underrepresented groups who confront financial barriers that jeopardize their education. With your gift you join others in the community who understand the importance of educational equity to our shared future.

Get more information about specific diversity scholarship funds.

Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

Students with disabilities contribute significantly to campus life by sharing their intellectual strengths, unique perspectives and diversity of experiences. Your gift will support students with a documented disability who demonstrate leadership qualities and outstanding service to school and community.

Nancy Ryles Scholarships for Returning Women

The Nancy Ryles Scholarships assist women who return to college after significant interruptions in their educations. Most balance demanding family and work responsibilities with their academic commitments. Most also urgently need financial assistance in order to stay in school.

Each recipient of a Ryles Scholarship has attested to the profound difference this assistance has made in her life. Through your support, you help women to create a better future for themselves, their children, and their communities.

Presidential Scholarships

Your gift supports Portland State's most prestigious academic scholarships, which recognize talented students in any area of study. Attracting high achieving students to PSU brings many benefits to the entire campus community. Among them:

• Students of exceptional promise stay in Oregon, increasing the likelihood that they will live and work here after graduation.
• Enriched, challenging class discussions for all students.
• Improved faculty recruitment and retention.

For more information about scholarship funds at Portland State, contact Leslie Aaron at aaronl@pdx.edu.