Scholarships and Financial Aid

UP Study Abroad Scholarships

There is some funding available from UP for study abroad scholarships - the exact amounts of available scholarship funds are subject to change each year. Each Spring semester, students accepted/committed to a study abroad program for the following year will receive information on how to apply for UP Study Abroad Scholarship funds.

External Study Abroad Scholarships

Below is a list of external study abroad scholarships not affiliated with UP.

Financial Need-Based Scholarships

US State Department Financial Aid for Study Abroad
First Trip ($1,500)
1. Funds available for students traveling abroad for the first time
2. Trip abroad destination must be an eligible country
3. No essay or GPA requirement
4. Applications are considered on a rolling basis
Gilman Scholarship ($100-$5,000)
1. Has supported students who have been historically underrepresented in education abroad, including but not limited to:
  1. First-generation college students, ethnic minority students, students with disabilities, students attending HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) or other minority-serving institutions, students attending community colleges, and students coming from U.S. states with less study abroad participation.
2. Eligibility
  1. A citizen of the United States
  2. Recipient of a Federal Pell Grant during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving a Pell Grant during their study abroad program or internship
3. Competitive selection process
4. To start this application, meet with Becca Henley. Make an appointment by logging in to Handshake, clicking Career Center, and make an appointment for "Fellowship Advising-Inital Appointment."
Explore the World Scholarship ($2,000) *On hold as of March 2023
1. Recipients receive $2,000 to help finance their international trip that includes an educational or service component
2. Eligibility
  1. Be 18-30 years old
  2. A citizen of the United States or permanent resident
  3. Demonstrate financial need
Fund for Education Abroad
1. General scholarship
  1. Comprehensive application to be considered for all available scholarships (general and specific)
2. Scholarship award of up to $1,000 for students who plan to study abroad for the full year; up to $5,000 for students who study abroad during the fall or spring semester; and awards that are decided based on the number of weeks-in-country (with a minimum of $1,250) for students studying abroad during summer
3. Eligibility:
  1. A citizen of the United States or a permanent resident
  2. Currently enrolled as an undergraduate at a college or university
  3. Study abroad program must be eligible for credit at student's home institution
  4. Study abroad program must be at least 4 weeks in country/countries
4. What you'll need:
  1. Completed application form
  2. Unofficial transcript
  3. Request recommendation letter
  4. Submit financial aid form to registrar
U.S.-Japan Council: The Toshizo Watanabe Study Abroad Scholarship Program
1. Provides financial assistance to undergraduate/graduate students for a semester or year-long study abroad program in either the U.S. or Japan
2. Support students who would not be able to study abroad without financial support
3. Scholarship awards up to the full costs of attendance to the study abroad program of the applicant's choice
4. Eligibility:
  1. A citizen of the United States or permanent resident
Shawn Carter Foundation Scholarship Fund
1. The grant can be used to cover tuition expenses and related supplemental educational expenses such as books, lab fees, travel, and select costs of living
2. Eligibility:
  1. Undergraduate college students, and students in trade school
  2. US citizen or permanent resident
  3. 25 years old or younger
  4. Minimum 2.0 GPA
3. If awarded, Shawn Carter scholars are required to "give back" by conducting community service and by serving as mentors to younger, aspiring Shawn Carter Scholars
4. Provides $1,500 to $2,500 to students who qualify and can be renewed for 4 years
DIWC Scholarship
1. The Diverse International Women Of Color Study Abroad Scholarship is intended to assist women of color who are exceptional in their studies and in need of financial assistance to study abroad.
Freeman-ASIA
1. A Freeman-ASIA award provides need-based funding to assist the recipient with the cost of the study abroad program and related expenses, including airfare, basic living costs, local transportation, books, etc.
2. Eligibility
  1. U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  2. Must demonstrate financial need to participate in the study abroad program.
  3. Minimum 2.8 GPA
  4. Must be planning to study in Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macao, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, or Vietnam.

Honors Society Scholarships

DES: https://www.honorsociety.org/study-abroad-scholarship

ALD: https://www.nationalald.org/stemler

Reach out to the Office of Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement (honors@up.edu) with questions, and they can help you in this process!

General or Merit Scholarships

Gilman-McCain Scholarship ($5,000)
1. The Gilman-McCain Scholarship provides awards of $5,000 for child dependents of active-duty service members to study or intern abroad on credit-bearing programs
2. Eligibility
  1. A citizen of the United States
  2. Recipient of any type of Title IV federal financial aid during the time of application or provide proof that they will be receiving Title IV federal financial aid during their study abroad program or internship
Scott's Cheap Flights Study Abroad Scholarship ($1,000)
1. Open to undergraduate and graduate students
2. Eligibility
  1. A citizen of the United States or resident
Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship ($1,000 and a travel backpack)
1. The Tortuga Study Abroad Scholarship is awarded biannually to passionate students who want to explore the world
2. Eligibility
  1. A citizen of the United States, permanent resident, or currently studying in the US on a student visa
  2. Be a full-time undergraduate students
  3. Have applied to or have been accepted to a study abroad program
James G. Stemler Study Abroad Scholarship ($1,000 - 2,000)
1. Ten $2,000 scholarships and ten $1,000 scholarships established to help qualified members offset the costs of study abroad. Candidates will be considered on the basis of merit. Applicants must be invited beforehand to be a member of ALD (Alpha Lambda Delta).
2. Eligibility
  1. Alpha Lambda Delta members who have paid their membership dues
  2. Cumulative GPA of 3.5 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher
Boren Awards ($8,000 - $25,000)
1. Fund study abroad by U.S. undergraduate students in world regions critical to U.S. interests
2. Eligibility
  1. U.S. citizen
  2. Matriculated undergraduate student at a U.S. college or university

E3 Savings Program (Another Source of Funding)

(Not to be confused with Global E3, which is an Engineering exchange program!)

E3 is an innovative, need-based matched savings program that pairs resources with eligible students pursuing a college education at one of Oregon’s leading private colleges and universities. E3 makes college more affordable by matching savings at a 6:1 ratio, giving students, who have saved $500, up to $3,500 to use for tuition or approved educational expenses per enrollment year!

E3 allows income-eligible students to enroll in college and graduate with less financial stress and more time to focus on academics. By doing so, E3 increases access for Oregon’s students, allowing them to acquire a lifetime asset and change the course of their own future and their families’ as well.

Finally, E3’s first tenet – Earn – foregrounds the importance of financial habit building, so that the program can also educate and empower Oregon’s next generation of successful scholars, businesspersons, creators, innovators, and leaders.

E3 is one of three matched savings programs offered by CASA of Oregon on behalf of the Oregon IDA Initiative. E3 was developed in collaboration with The Alliance and member institutions and is funded, in part by The Alliance and its partners. The Oregon IDA Initiative is supported by funding from the Oregon IDA Tax Credit. For more information, go to www.oregonidainitiative.org.

E3 is not a loan. It is an income and need-based financial aid program. E3 is renewable depending on on-going funding as long as students reapply and remain eligible. E3 is available to a limited number of eligible students attending or planning to attend a participating alliance member institution. (University of Portland qualifies)

How does it work?

Apply
An E3 specialist will contact you regarding eligibility. If you are eligible:
Create a savings plan agreement

Once you are enrolled:

Complete financial education education courses and a personal development
plan
Make deposits from earned income, based on your customized savings plan
Use your funds to pay for college

Am I eligible:

Applicant household income must be below 80% of Oregon Median Family Income for the participant’s county of residence.
Applicant’s household net worth must be at or below $20,000 (excluding a home, a vehicle, and up to $60,000 of retirement savings)
Applicant must demonstrate capacity to save

How do you apply?

To apply, you must submit a complete application and required income
documentation for you household.
For application materials, please contact E3 program staff:
- Hector Martinez
- hector@casaoforegon.org
- (503)687-3328

Is E3 good through my 4 years of college?

You must reapply and qualify each year you wish to enroll in E3. Note that re enrollment also depends on continued funding availability, which varies by institution

What is an IDA Program?

An individual Development Account (IDA) is a matched savings account that enables families with limited financial resources to save and build assets. IDAs encourage savings by matching participant deposits, which then are invested in one of the following assets.

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