Scholarships and Fellowships

University Honors College Scholarships and Fellowships

These scholarships and fellowships are only offered to Honors students at Portland State University.

Honors Laurels Scholarship

Award: Up to $3,000 per year

Eligibility: Students who apply to PSU and the Honors College by January 1, to start in fall term, are automatically considered.

This is a tuition remission scholarship awarded to outstanding applicants to the Honors College. The award is based primarily on the student's application essays, although GPA and other factors may be taken into account. Awarded once a year to new applicants to the college, and renewable for up to four years. There is no separate application for this scholarship.

Honors Rosenbaum Service Leadership Scholars

Award: Rosenbaum Service Leadership Scholars will receive a $2,000 scholarship over the academic year they are in the program, earn 8 Honors internship credits, and receive a remission scholarship covering these internship credits. 

Eligibility: Honors student in good standing.

Students accepted into the program will be matched with a local non-profit board, for which they will serve as an intern. Students will develop leadership skills by engaging with and receiving mentorship from the chair and members of the board and executive director of the non-profit organization. Internships will run for the 9-month academic year from September-June. Scholars are selected in spring term for the following academic year through a competitive application process.  Applications are now open for the 2025-2026 academic year.  Visit the Rosenbaum Service Leaders Scholars webpage for more information about the program.  

Honors STEM scholarship

This is a $5000 annual award, renewable for two years, for two students per year. Students must be majoring in a STEM field, with preference given to students studying engineering or physics. Students should have demonstrated financial need and outstanding academic merit. Applications are now closed for the 2025-2026 academic year.  Applications will open again in February 2026 for the 2026-2027 academic year.  

Honors College James Hart Endowed Scholarship

The James S. Hart Endowed Memorial Scholarship is available to a student enrolled in the Honors College who is majoring in an academic area within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. This scholarship is for students currently admitted to the Honors College who are majoring in an academic area within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Student must have a minimum cumulative PSU GPA of 3.5.   Applications are now closed for the 2025-2026 academic year.  Applications will open again in February 2026 for the 2026-2027 academic year.  

Wessinger Foundation Honors Scholarship

The Wessinger Foundation Honors Scholarship is available to a student enrolled in the Honors College. This scholarship is for students currently enrolled in the Honors College, students who are in good standing and must maintain full time status (minimum of 12 credits).  Students must be Oregon residents.  Students must have a 3.5 college GPA to apply and demonstrate financial need.  Applications are now closed for the 2025-2026 academic year.  Applications will open again in February 2026 for the 2026-2027 academic year.  

Wim and Alice Wiewel Diversity in Urban Sustainability Undergraduate Scholarship
 

This new scholarship will be awarded to an Honors student who is working to address challenges of climate change.  Applications are now closed for the 2025-2026 academic year.  Applications will open again in February 2026 for the 2026-2027 academic year.  

Honors College Application for Funding: Global Thesis Research 

Limited funds are available for one Honors student per year to help fund specific costs related to thesis-related research that must be conducted internationally.  For this application, you will be asked to provide: description of your research or creative endeavor; a detailed, itemized budget of your expected costs: what money do you need, how will you spend it; and a written statement explaining why this funding is necessary for your global research opportunity.  Applications are closed for 2024-2025.  This award is not available for 2025-2026.  
 
 

Honors College Study Abroad Scholarship
 

Honors students who are in good standing and accepted into a PSU Honors Faculty-led study abroad program are automatically awarded a $2000 scholarship.  No additional application is necessary.  

Honors Editorial Fellowship at Pacific Historical Review

Eligibility: The John and LaRee Caughey Honors College Editorial Fellowship with Tuition Grant is a 12-month fellowship beginning in mid-September. As a cooperative effort between the PSU University Honors College, The John and LaRee Caughey Foundation, and the Pacific Historical Review, the PHR is happy to offer an undergraduate fellow position to a student currently enrolled in the University Honors College as either a rising junior or rising senior. Students in history (or any major or field of study) are encouraged to apply. Fellows receive a $5,000 tuition remission scholarship and an hourly wage for 12 hours a week. Fellows are selected in winter term for the following academic year through a competitive application process.  Applications are now closed for the 2025-2026 academic year.  Applications will open again in January 2026 for the 2026-2027 academic year.  

Prof. Starry's Home Ecology Lab Scholarship 

Award: Up to $4,000 for one year, plus $1000 for research materials or conference attendance.

Eligibility: Honors College student in good standing; juniors preferred, sophomores considered. The scholarship may be renewed one time, depending on circumstances.

Home Ecology Lab scholars receive financial support enabling them to prioritize a research experience that will help them acquire valuable project management skills while also learning different lab techniques. Projects are all related to the focus of Professor Starry's  home ecology lab, which is the application of ecological theory to urban systems, especially at the household scale. Green roofs are often the main study system investigated. Students are encouraged to participate in an annual team project, such as group literature review, while also pursuing their own independent research projects. Scholars are selected in spring term for the following academic year.  Not available for 2025-2026.