Scholarships through the PSU Scholarship Application
The School of Business awards over $300,000 in scholarships every year to undergraduate, post-baccalaureate and graduate students across all disciplines. If you have financial need, make sure you submit an application using PSU's online scholarship system before the April 1 deadline. Applications open in October but give yourself plenty of time. The more effort you put in, the more likely you will get a scholarship.
If you have any questions related to your scholarship application or fund disbursal, please email The School of Business Scholarship Coordinator at sba-scholarships@pdx.edu.
How to Apply
Business scholarships are administered through the online system unless otherwise noted. Hard-copy applications are not accepted. Applications open Fall term and close Winter term. Students fill out one application and the system determines from all possible scholarships which ones are applicable to you. This applies to general PSU scholarships as well as scholarships offered by The School of Business. It is not possible to apply for a specific scholarship. You will be automatically assigned to the pool of scholarships that you are eligible for.
Who Can Apply
All undergraduate and post-baccalaureate who are admitted or will be admitted to The School of Business by fall term can apply for scholarships for the following academic year. Business scholarships are available to undergraduate students who are studying full-time. Undergraduate scholarship recipients are only permitted to study part-time if they are in their final term before graduation.
Complete Your Application
- Visit the scholarship website
- Log in and register as a first-time user. Begin filling out either the PSU Continuing/Transfer Student Undergraduate Application or the PSU Graduate Application. First-year students should complete the PSU Incoming Freshman Application.
- Familiarize yourself with the application by answering basic demographic questions first. Save your answers after each page to avoid losing your work.
- Write your essays in a word document and copy to the application once they are complete. This will allow you to edit your answers without the risk of the system timing out.
- Send a friendly reminder to your references if they have not submitted their letter of recommendation by mid-January. No extensions to the deadline can be given for the application or recommendations.
- Make sure you press the submit button at the end of the application. Only submitted applications will be considered for a scholarship. Once you have pressed the submit button, you cannot change your answers.
Application Tips
The key to getting a scholarship is early preparation. There are a number of materials you need to provide and a number of essays you need to write so the sooner you start, the better.
- Transcript: You must attach a transcript to your application. Some departments at PSU do not require it but it is mandatory for students if they want to be considered for business scholarships.
- Economic statement: This is an optional essay in the “Financial Information” section but we highly recommend you complete it. This is the best opportunity you have to highlight your financial need and economic situation.
- Letters of recommendation: Provide the names of two references and it is best if at least one of them is a faculty member, especially if you are a current PSU student. Choose an employer or mentor rather than a family member or friend if possible.
- Other essays: The application is long and it can be tempting to skip essays to save time but the more you complete, the better chance you have. If the application is asking you to write an essay, it is because there is a scholarship available that is directly related to it. Take the time to answer and make it meaningful by using specific examples. Pay particular attention to the essays in the “School of Business” section.
When You Will Be Notified
In The School of Business, most scholarships are awarded mid-April following the February deadline, although a few scholarships are awarded on a different timeline. All departments across PSU use the applications in the online system to make decisions so you may be awarded with a scholarship from outside The School of Business. Recipients are usually notified by email to their pdx student account. Make sure you follow all the specific instructions in the email.
Most successful recipients across PSU are notified by the end of May. In The School of Business, we try to notify unsuccessful applicants by mid-May. If you have not received any notification by June, you should assume that your application was not successful and consider your other financial aid options. You should consider applying for external scholarships (see bottom of this page) offered outside of PSU and The School of Business. Students can find additional financing information through the Office of Financial Aid.