Ford Scholars

We see your potential

Our Ford Scholars Program is an undergraduate scholarship available to promising high school seniors or recent high school graduates who work hard, have significant financial need and face barriers to higher education. Up to 120 renewable scholarships are awarded each year to students from Oregon and Siskiyou County, California.

Eligibility Requirements

Ford Scholars by the numbers

74% are first-generation college students

75% are from rural communities

Eligibility requirements

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

Resident of Oregon or Siskiyou County, California
Graduating high school senior, recent graduate, or equivalent, and never enrolled full time in a two- or four-year college program
Goal to earn a bachelor’s degree
Fall enrollment of application year, attending full time, on campus at a federally financial aid-eligible public or private (nonprofit) college, based in their home state of Oregon or California*
Face significant barriers – financial and otherwise – to attending college
A completed financial aid application and have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of no more than 8,000
Eligible undocumented students are welcome to apply
If a felony conviction in the past, satisfy the terms of the conviction by August 1 of the application year

*Residents of Siskiyou County may attend Oregon Institute of Technology, Southern Oregon University or Klamath Community College if they qualify for in-state tuition. Online college education programs do not qualify.

Frequently asked questions

When does the application open?

The scholarship application opens December 1 and closes March 1, 2027.

Can I apply to more than one program?

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.

When is the scholarship application deadline?

The scholarship application deadline is March 1, 2027, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Submit your completed application by that time; late applications will not be considered.

More FAQs

Scholarships for our programs include a renewable financial award of up to $40,000 per year.

The actual award amount is calculated based on several factors, including the student's financial need, the Cost of Attendance at their college of choice and additional scholarships received.

Ford Scholars are more than their GPA

Our selection process recognizes the potential of all students, especially rural students. There is no minimum GPA requirement to apply. We look for resilient students who believe success is the result of hard work and exemplify exceptional qualities such as:

Academic potential

Show an academic ability to be successful in college; curious and motivated to learn

Community engagement and service to others

Contribute to school, family and/or community; think and care about how they impact the world around them and take action to get involved

Work ethic

Demonstrate responsibility and initiative in skill-building and learning through experiences such as paid or unpaid work

Motivation and mindset

Believe success comes from one’s ability to grow and learn; rise to challenges and persist despite obstacles; willing to ask for help and utilize resources

The Ford Scholars experience

For students seeking a college degree in their home state of Oregon or California, the Ford Scholars Program covers expenses such as tuition, living expenses, books and required fees. Specifically, the Ford Scholars Program includes: