{"id":2743,"date":"2017-08-16T09:50:52","date_gmt":"2017-08-16T16:50:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wou.edu\/finaid\/?page_id=2743"},"modified":"2026-03-12T11:39:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T18:39:16","slug":"merit-scholarship","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wou.edu\/finaid\/scholarships\/merit-scholarship\/","title":{"rendered":"Merit Scholarship"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Merit Award<\/h1>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”14px|5%|29px|5%|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_4,1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||3px|||” custom_padding=”||17px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

The Merit Award is automatically granted to graduating high school seniors who meet the GPA requirements listed below.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_tabs _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_tab title=”Merit Award Amounts 2025-2026″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Merit Award Grid 2025-2026<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
GPA<\/strong><\/td>\nResident<\/strong><\/td>\nWUE<\/strong><\/td>\nNonresident<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.00-3.599<\/td>\n$1,000<\/td>\n$1,000<\/td>\n$5,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.60-3.749<\/td>\n$2,000<\/td>\n$2,000<\/td>\n$8,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.75-3.949<\/td>\n$3,000<\/td>\n$3,000<\/td>\n$10,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.95+<\/td>\n$5,000<\/td>\n$5,000<\/td>\n$12,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

[\/et_pb_tab][et_pb_tab title=”2026-2027 Resident & WUE Merit Award Amounts ” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Merit Award Grid 2026-2027 Resident and WUE<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
GPA<\/strong><\/td>\nAward Amount<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2.75 – 3.10<\/td>\n$1,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.11 – 3.40<\/td>\n$1,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.41 – 3.75<\/td>\n$2,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.76+<\/td>\n$4,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

[\/et_pb_tab][et_pb_tab title=”2026-2027 Nonresident Merit Award Amounts” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Merit Award Grid 2026-2027 Nonresident<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
GPA<\/strong><\/td>\nAmount<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.00 – 3.59<\/td>\n$5,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.60 – 3.74<\/td>\n$8,500<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.75 – 3.94<\/td>\n$10,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3.95+<\/td>\n$12,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

[\/et_pb_tab][\/et_pb_tabs][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

This scholarship is intended for incoming freshmen working on their first undergraduate degree who have excelled academically at the high school level and who will begin enrollment at WOU. The scholarship expectations are that the student is attending full-time for the year, 12 credits per term at WOU for the academic year (fall, winter & spring terms) as they must complete 36 credits by the end of spring term with a 3.0 WOU cumulative GPA to continue with the award.*\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Western Oregon University recognizes that standardized test scores do not always reflect academic potential and can cause students to lose scholarship opportunities. It is for this reason that WOU has created a merit award based solely on unweighted GPAs. Be sure to send updated transcripts to the Admissions Office if your GPA increases throughout the year in high school.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Renewal period: 3 years**<\/span><\/p>\n

Please note, Merit Awards cannot<\/span> be used for Study Abroad Aid and OHSU students are not eligible to recieve this award.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

*Students that begin attending WOU during Winter (or Spring) term would only need to complete 24 (or 12) credits by the end of their first academic year. In addition, the renewal period will\u00a0<\/span><\/em>NOT<\/u><\/em>\u00a0<\/span>increase to account for missed terms of enrollment and the total award amount will be prorated accordingly. In addition this award cannot be used as Study Abroad Aid.<\/em><\/p>\n

**Students must meet\u00a0<\/span>renewal requirements<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>to keep their scholarship over the four year period. If a student takes 9-11 credits per term, they may retain the funds for the term but may risk renewal if not completing 36 credits for the academic year. If a student is enrolled in 8 or less credits for the term, they lose the term of funding and may risk renewal of the scholarship. WOU students enrolled in the Degree Partnership Program (DPP) must be enrolled in at least 9 credits at WOU per term to be eligible and their non-WOU DPP credits do not count towards the 36 annual credit requirements for renewal.<\/em><\/p>\n

Example of meeting<\/u>\u00a0the renewal requirements with WOU credits each term:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Fall Term<\/td>\nWinter Term<\/td>\nSpring Term<\/td>\nTotal Annual Credits in Academic Year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
12 credits<\/td>\n12 credits<\/td>\n12 credits<\/td>\n36 credits<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

Example of NOT MEETING<\/span> the renewal requirements with WOU credits each term:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Fall Term<\/td>\nWinter Term<\/td>\nSpring Term<\/td>\nTotal Annual Credits in Academic Year<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9 credits<\/td>\n12 credits<\/td>\n12 credits<\/td>\n33 credits<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Merit Award The Merit Award is automatically granted…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":910,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"splash-page.php","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"Renewal period: 3 years****<\/span>\n\nAward amount: Varies (see table below)<\/span>\n\nThis scholarship is intended for incoming freshmen who have excelled academically at the high school level.<\/span>\n\nWestern Oregon University recognizes that standardized test scores do not always reflect academic potential and can cause students to lose scholarship opportunities. It is for these reasons that WOU has created a merit award based solely on unweighted GPA.<\/span>\n

2022-2023<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
WOU<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3.95+<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3.75-3.949<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3.6-3.749<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n3.00-3.599<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Resident<\/td>\n$5,000<\/td>\n$3,000<\/td>\n$2,000<\/td>\n$1,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WUE<\/td>\n$5,000<\/td>\n$3,000<\/td>\n$2,000<\/td>\n$1,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Nonresident<\/td>\n$12,000<\/td>\n$10,000<\/td>\n$8,000<\/td>\n$5,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n****Students must meet<\/span> renewal requirements<\/a> to keep their scholarship over the four year period.<\/span><\/em>\n\n\u00a0<\/span>\n

Presidential Plus Scholarship - $250<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n
\n

Presidential Plus Scholarship - $250<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Presidential<\/strong> Scholarship<\/strong> recipients may be eligible for the Presidential<\/strong> Plus Scholarship<\/strong><\/span> by meeting the following criteria:<\/span><\/p>\n\n

    \n \t
  • Complete 45 credits within the academic year (Fall \u2013 Spring term)<\/span><\/li>\n \t
  • Maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative WOU GPA<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n

If you get the Presidential Scholarship your freshman year, you may receive the Presidential Plus scholarship the remaining three years of your education. Eligibility for the Presidential Plus Scholarship begins after spring term of the academic year ends.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n