Presidential Scholarship

Presidential Scholarships are highly competitive awards given to exceptional incoming first-year students from Oregon. Each year, approximately 50 first-year students receive this prestigious scholarship through a selective process. These scholarships are made possible by the generous contributions of donors to the University of Oregon scholarship fund.

Award Information

Presidential Scholars receive up to $36,000 over four years of undergraduate study—$9,000 per year (split evenly over fall, winter, and spring terms).

Eligibility Requirements

  • Oregon residents who graduate from an Oregon high school
  • Incoming domestic first-year student
  • A minimum 3.85 cumulative high school grade point average on a 4.00 scale
  • A significant, demonstrated history of leadership and volunteer service activities

How to Apply

The Presidential Scholarship requires a separate application. To be considered for this 2025-2026 scholarship you must:

  • Apply for admission to the University of Oregon by January 15.
  • Within days of applying for admission, find your UO Student ID number in your Status Portal. You'll need this number to create an account to apply for UO Scholarships. 
  • Complete the Presidential Scholarship Application within the UO Scholarship Dashboard by January 31.
  • Submit all required admission application materials to the Office of Admissions by February 15.

Selection Criteria

  • Academic preparation
  • Activities and talents
  • Leadership
  • Volunteer service
  • Work experience
  • Four short-answer essay questions

Scholarship Renewal

Maintain a 3.25 cumulative UO GPA and complete 12 UO credits per term (36 UO credits per year).

  • Presidential Scholarships are renewable for up to 12 academic terms (excluding summer) within a five-year period, or 15 academic terms within a six-year period for students seeking a BLA, BIARC, or BARCH degree
  • Unused terms are forfeited if you graduate early. 

Award Notification

Recipients of Presidential Scholarships will be notified by April 1.

Complete terms and conditions can be found here.