½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï

Department-sponsored competitions for prospective first-year students are held on the McMinnville campus. Participation is by invitation only. For students applying fall 2026, the completed application for admission and must be submitted by December 1, 2025.

Each exam will offer the following annual scholarships:

• First place: $5,000
• Second place: $4,000
• Third place: $3,000
• Honorable mention: $2,000

There will be four total scholarships per exam available for first-year participants, and four total scholarships per exam available for transfer participants. 

All participating students who do not place will receive a $1,000 annual scholarship for attending the program and completing an exam. 

The ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï First Scholarship is designed to address challenges faced by first-generation college students and build upon the skills and experience they bring to campus. ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï defines “first-generation” as a student whose parents did not complete a bachelor’s degree OR a student from a single-parent home whose parent did not complete a bachelor’s degree.

• Students will be considered for the ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï First Scholarship at the time of admission.
• This scholarship is for first-year students attending full-time.
• The ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï First Scholarship is automatically renewable as long as the student is meeting satisfactory academic progress and expectations of the ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï First Scholars Program.

½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï Legacy $2,000 Awards: awarded to new first-year or transfer students who list family members who attended ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï on their application for admission.

½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï Legacy $4,000 Awards: awarded to new first-year or transfer students who currently have a sibling enrolled at ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï. For the remainder of the sibling’s enrollment, they will also receive the ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï Legacy Award of $4,000.

Students who are finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Corporation Program, and who list ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï as their first-choice college, and are eligible for a college sponsorship through National Merit, will be awarded a ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï Merit Award.

• The amounts range from half-tuition on a no-need basis, to full tuition with sufficient financial need.
• The award is guaranteed through the sophomore year and renewed for the junior and senior years if the student maintains a 3.35 ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï cumulative GPA, is a full-time student and applies for renewal of financial aid in a timely manner.

½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï Scholarships are available for a selected number of outstanding incoming first-year students attending full time, at least 12 credits per semester.

• Scholarship decisions are based on the student’s academic record including grades and strength of schedule.
• Information submitted on the application for admission to ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï is used to determine scholarship eligibility. A separate application is not required.
• At its discretion, the university may change this award to a ½ñÈÕ³Ô¹Ï Endowed Scholarship for the same award amount and with similar renewal criteria. A portion of ½ñÈճԹϒs institutional dollars are funded by more than 200 endowed scholarships.