Ford Scholars Program

Financial need is part of how this award is decided, alongside merit.

Award

Renewable award of up to $40,000 per year. The amount depends on financial need, college cost of attendance and other scholarships received.

Deadline

Complete the application and 2027-28 financial-aid Submission Summary by March 1, 2027 at 5 p.m. Pacific Time. Annual opening is December 1; the page does not explicitly date the opening year.

How to apply

Submit FAFSA, ORSAA or CADAA as applicable and upload the 2027-28 Submission Summary with SAI plus a PDF transcript (unofficial accepted). Complete college plans, activities, household information and personal statements. One Ford Family program application per student; finalist Zoom interview required. Recommendations and SAT/ACT scores are not required.

What you'll need

• Essays
• A finalist round or selection weekend

Who can apply

Oregon or Siskiyou County, California resident for at least 12 months before college enrollment; public-college students must qualify for in-state tuition. Graduating high school senior/recent graduate or equivalent who has never enrolled full time in college, seeks a first bachelor’s degree, faces significant financial/social barriers, and has SAI no more than 8,000. Full-time on-campus fall enrollment at an eligible nonprofit institution based in the student’s home state; community college is allowed with a bachelor’s transfer plan. Eligible undocumented students may apply. Federally recognized Oregon tribal members may qualify regardless of residence, with program guidance. No minimum GPA.

Good to know

Specific program page and current FAQ confirm the SAI limit, in-state college restriction and full-time minimum 12 credits. Siskiyou residents may attend OIT, SOU or Klamath Community College if eligible for in-state tuition. No previously earned bachelor’s degree; online programs excluded. Current calendar/FAQ confirms March 1, 2027 despite an older March 2, 2026 date still near the top of the application page. Full renewal standards and updated personal-statement prompts are not public.

Details

Need consideredNeed required