Scholarship FAQs

No. Each student may submit only one scholarship application. Use our Scholarship guide to identify the program that best fits your situation and contact us if you still have questions.​

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Before the deadline, confirm that you have answered every required question and uploaded each required document.

Yes, you will be required to upload a PDF of your academic transcript (high school or college). Additionally, once your financial aid application has been processed, you will receive a Submission Summary, which will display your Student Aid Index (SAI) for the 2027-28 academic year. The Submission Summary with SAI will need to be uploaded to your application.

Yes. We consider AP, college-credit, and other accelerated-learning courses shown on your transcript. However, applicants are not penalized when these courses are unavailable at their school or in their community.

After validation—when applications are reviewed for completeness and eligibility—they move into a competitive review process. Based on this review, selected applicants are recommended to advance to the interview stage. Check your email for updates from The Ford Family Foundation. Do you have more questions? Please email appquestions@tfff.org. Each Ford Family Scholarship Program follows its own specific timeline, see Review and Selection section below.

To be eligible for the Ford Scholars Program, Ford Transfer Scholars Program or Ford Opportunity Scholars Program, you must be a resident of Oregon or Siskiyou County, California. To be considered a resident, you must have lived in Oregon or Siskiyou County, California, for at least 12 months preceding college enrollment. Additionally, if attending a public university, you must qualify for in-state tuition at your college of choice. If you are a member of a federally recognized tribe of Oregon, you may qualify as well, regardless of your state of residence; contact us for specific guidance on filling out your application. Please be prepared to show documentation confirming tribal membership. Applicants for the Ford Sons and Daughters Program need not adhere to residency requirements but must otherwise meet all eligibility requirements.

Yes, The Ford Family Foundation accepts applications from students throughout the state of Oregon and Siskiyou County, California, including urban areas, although we do prioritize rural students.

Absolutely. The Foundation’s selection committees take a holistic approach to reviewing applications. They are trained to recognize that students from small schools and rural areas may not have the same opportunities as students from larger communities in metropolitan areas. They consider the applicant’s location, what may be available in their school and community, and how they create opportunities for themselves.

Yes, we welcome applications from undocumented students residing in Oregon and Siskiyou County, California who meet certain qualifications.

Maybe. If you meet the eligibility requirements to complete the Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA) or the California Dream Act Application (CADAA), you may be eligible to apply to Ford Family scholarship programs. Read more details about undocumented student eligibility before applying.

Yes, you are eligible to apply. Scholarships are awarded to individuals with a felony conviction if they have completed parole, probation, or any type of post-prison supervision and have paid any required restitution and/or court fees by Aug. 1 of the application year. All Ford Family scholarship applicants are subject to a criminal background check. Selection committees may consider the number, type and time elapsed since the conviction(s).

Yes, you need to apply for federal financial aid (or equivalent for undocumented students) to qualify for the Ford Scholars, Ford Transfer Scholars and Ford Opportunity Scholars Programs. You are not required to complete a financial aid application to apply for the Ford Sons and Daughters Program, but we encourage you to do so for other financial aid opportunities. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required to receive any federal financial aid (such as the Pell Grant, State Grant, Stafford Loan, etc.) and to qualify for many scholarships. Undocumented students may complete an alternative financial aid application:

• Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA)
• California Dream Act Application (CADAA)

Yes. Upload a PDF of your official Submission Summary showing your Student Aid Index (SAI) for the 2027–28 academic year by the scholarship application deadline. You may start the scholarship application while you wait for your Submission Summary. As soon as you receive your Submission Summary, you will need to upload it to your scholarship application in PDF format. ​

As in the past, Pell eligibility will remain a consideration but will not be the sole factor in determining eligibility.

Financial need is a consideration of the scholarship and the SAI from the FAFSA (or equivalent) helps us understand your situation.

• For the Ford Scholars Program, an SAI of 8,000 or less is required.
• For the Ford Transfer and Ford Opportunity Programs, an SAI of 10,000 or less is required.

No, you must enroll in the fall of the year you are awarded the scholarship. If you have any questions about this requirement and your academic plans, please email appquestions@tfff.org.

Yes, you must enroll full time with a minimum of 12 credit hours per term/semester. If you have any questions about this requirement and your academic plans, please contact us at fordscholarships@tfff.org

For the Ford Scholars, Ford Transfer Scholars and Ford Opportunity Scholarship Programs, an eligible college is defined as a federally financial aid-eligible public or private (nonprofit) college or university. The college or university must be based in your state of residence (Oregon or California).

A recipient of the Ford Scholars scholarship may attend a community college with the intention of transferring to a university to earn a bachelor’s degree. Be sure to clearly explain your plan for earning a four-year degree in your application materials. Some community colleges now offer applied bachelor’s degrees. Students pursuing their first bachelor’s degree at an eligible community college may still qualify.

We understand that your college choice may change. Contact us as soon as you make your decision so we can confirm that you are still eligible for our scholarship programs. Your college choice must align with our scholarship eligibility criteria.

If you are still enrolled in high school and are taking dual credit courses at a community college, you should apply to the Ford Scholars Program. If you are under age 25, currently attending a community college, and prepared to transfer to a four-year university in the fall, apply for the Ford Transfer Scholars Program.

The Foundation believes in the value of residential and campus-based programs, with some exceptions for our Ford Opportunity Program. If you have questions about requirements for the scholarship program you are applying for, please contact us for more information at fordscholarships@tfff.org.

After validation—when applications are reviewed for completeness and eligibility—they move into a competitive review process. Based on this review, selected applicants are recommended to advance to the interview stage. Check your email for updates from The Ford Family Foundation. Do you have more questions? Please email appquestions@tfff.org.