Education at OHSU

Financial Aid and Scholarship Information

There are four general types of financial aid:

Scholarships

Below are resources for both internal and external scholarships, as well as scholarship search tools. Each school at OHSU has its own internal scholarship application and awarding process, so it’s best to check directly with the school if you have internal scholarship questions. Also, OHSU does not recommend any scholarship assistance or search services where there is a fee involved.

OHSU School of Medicine Scholarships

The School of Medicine has various scholarships for different programs, as well as some awarded to applicants during the admissions process and others to current students. You can find a list of the scholarships as well as eligibility requirements below.

Scholarships for Medical Students

Physician Assistant Scholarships

Radiation Therapy Scholarships

Human Nutrition Scholarships

OHSU School of Nursing Scholarships

The School of Nursing offers both internal scholarships as well as an extensive list of scholarships available to nursing students. In 2020, over 150 nursing students received a scholarship or grant award, typically ranging from $3,000-$6,000 per individual, to help support their nursing education.

School of Nursing Scholarship Opportunities

OHSU School of Dentistry Scholarships

The School of Dentistry has several scholarships available each academic year pending availability. You can find a list of the scholarships as well as eligibility requirements below.

School of Dentistry Scholarship Opportunities

OHSU/PSU School of Public Health Graduate Student Scholarships

With the exception of students in the MA/MS Health Studies and MURP/MPH and MSW/MPH dual degree programs, all SPH graduate students’ financial aid services are provided by the OHSU Office of Financial Aid. You can find a list of the scholarships as well as eligibility requirements below.

School of Public Health Graduate Student Scholarships

Oregon Office of Student Access & Completion Scholarships (OSAC)

The OSAC scholarship bank includes over 480 scholarships totaling more than $10,000,000. There are scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students. Some scholarships are specific to health care programs and not all of them require Oregon residency. The application is simple and one application matches you with eligible scholarships. The application opens on November 1st for the next financial aid year, so apply early to get priority funding. In 2021, OHSU students were awarded $288,000 in OSAC scholarships.

OSAC Scholarship Application

If you are an Oregon resident that has undocumented status, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, and/or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) you may be able to apply for the OSAC Scholarships by completing the Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA).

Go to ORSAA Information

If you are an enrolled member of an Oregon federally recognized tribe, you may be able to apply for the Oregon Tribal Student Grant (OTSG). 

Oregon Tribal Student Grant Information

National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program

The purpose of the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program (SP) is to provide scholarships to students pursuing primary care health professions training in return for a commitment to provide primary health services in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA). The NHSC SP currently pays for tuition and various other reasonable education-related costs and also provides a monthly stipend to assist with living expenses in exchange for a fulltime service commitment.

NHSC Scholarship Program Eligibility Requirements and Application

Scholarship Searches

There are several scholarship searches available that house a comprehensive catalog of scholarships with varying eligibility requirements. Again, OHSU does not recommend any scholarship searches or search services where there is a fee involved. Typically, you sign up for an account and it matches you with potential scholarships based on the information you provided. It is always a good idea to also check out the specific scholarship’s website to verify eligibility, due dates, application criteria, etc.

Fastweb.com

CollegeBoard.org

Federal and State Grants

Eligibility: graduate students and undergraduate students pursuing their second Bachelor’s degree are ineligible for Federal and State grants.

Federal Pell Grants are available to financially needy undergraduate students who are working toward their first baccalaureate degree. Eligibility for Pell Grants is determined by a federally mandated calculation. Only financially needy students (as determined by the federal calculation) are eligible for the Pell Grant. The size of the Pell Grant award is dependent on several factors, including the financial circumstances of the applicant, the level of federal appropriations, the cost of education and the number of credit hours taken each quarter. To receive full payment of a Pell Grant, you must enroll in at least 12 credits, which is full-time for undergraduate programs.

Beginning 2012-13, all students may receive a Pell Grant (if they otherwise qualify) for a maximum period of 12 semesters or the equivalent. Federal Pell Grants are reported to the National Student Loan Database. NSLDS is the U.S. Department of Education's central database for student aid. NSLDS receives data from schools, guaranty agencies, the Direct Loan program and other Department of Education programs. NSLDS Student Access provides a centralized, integrated view of Title IV loans and grants so that recipients of Title IV Aid can access and inquire about their Title IV loans and/or grant data.  Students can access this information on the NSLDS site. Other authorized users (as determined by the US Department of Education) are also able to access this information.  This system contains personal information protected by the Privacy Act of 1974 (as amended).  Authorized users are bound by the Act's requirements and acknowledge the possible criminal and civil penalties for violation of the Act.

Go to National Student Loan Data System

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are provided by the federal government and are available to undergraduate students who are working toward their first baccalaureate degree. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are awarded only to very needy students.

The State of Oregon makes funds available to Oregon residents enrolled in an undergraduate program who are working toward their first baccalaureate degree. Eligibility is determined by the Office of Student Access and Completion and is based on the information provided on the FAFSA.

Go to Office of Student Access and Completion

If you are an Oregon resident that has undocumented status, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, and/or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) you may be able to apply for the Oregon Opportunity Grant (OOG) by completing the Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA).

Go to ORSAA Information

Federal Work-Study

The Federal Work-Study program is a federal employment program available for students who wish to work on campus.  Students interested in being awarded Federal Work-Study should complete the Federal Work-Study request form.

Federal Work-Study is claimed as it is earned. After you verify you are eligible for work-study, you must apply for employment by examining the listing of vacant positions posted on the bulletin board outside the Financial Aid Office, student work-study positions listed on the OHSU HR website or by contacting departments for which you would like to work. There are several different types of positions available including community service positions. After determining the positions in which you are interested, you must obtain an employee referral form from the Financial Aid Office.

When you are hired, you will need to come to our office to receive the necessary hiring paperwork. Your employer will complete the referral form and other Human Resources documents and send them to the Financial Aid Office, which will process the forms and forward them to Human Resources, Payroll and Business Affairs. Students report hours worked through the automated Time and Attendance Collection System, and payment is made bi-weekly through the University Payroll Office. Hiring procedures must be completed each academic year, even for continuing student employees.

Federal Work-Study is employment, and earnings must be reported to the Internal Revenue Service in compliance with the same requirements as any job. At the end of each calendar year, you will be sent a W 2 form to be used when filing your tax return.

When reapplying for financial aid for the following year, Federal Work-Study income is excluded from the Expected Family Contribution calculation. It must be appropriately reported on the additional Financial Information of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (Please see the appropriate section of the FAFSA or call the Financial Aid Office for additional information).

Student Loans

OHSU offers a variety of Federal Student Loans. Individual eligibility will vary depending on program, enrollment, awarding criteria and availability of funding.  Some of the more common Federal Student loans awarded by OHSU includes, but not limited to: 

  • Federal Direct Subsidized and Unsubsidized Stafford
  • Federal Parent PLUS
  • Federal Graduate PLUS
  • Federal Nursing loan for undergraduate students.

Download 2023-2024 Student Financial Aid Explained – read page 31

As a general rule, students should only consider obtaining a private education loan if they have maxed out all federal student aid and still have remaining eligibility. Students should also file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which may qualify them for grants, loans, work-study and other forms of student aid.

Go to FAFSA