OCCC Foundation Scholarships
The 2027-28 Foundation Scholarship Application Will Open This Winter.
- The OCCC Foundation awarded $136,000 in scholarship funds for the 2026-2027 school year to more than 90 recipients from funds supported by local donors and the Foundation’s investment fund.
- All scholarship recipients must demonstrate financial need, have a minimum 2.5 GPA, and be taking at least 6 credits.
- OCCC Foundation scholarships may be used for tuition, fees, and books at OCCC only and will be applied to the scholarship recipient’s account at the beginning of each term. Courses taken through other community colleges cannot be paid for with OCCC Foundation scholarships.
- Talk to your Student Success Coach about Financial Aid and other supports that are available to help you achieve your academic goals.
- These scholarships are made possible by generous contributions from individuals and organizations within our community. To learn how you can be a part of this important work or for more information, email us or call 541-867-8531.
Oregon Coast Scholars
3.0 GPA or better in high school? That could mean FREE tuition!
The Oregon Coast Scholars Program is a competitive, merit-based, full-tuition scholarship program for up to two years for Lincoln County high school seniors, homeschool students, and military veterans who meet eligibility requirements.
Learn More About Oregon Coast Scholars
The Oregon Coast Scholars Program is a competitive, merit-based, full-tuition scholarship program for up to two years for Lincoln County high school seniors. The application deadline for 2026 graduates is June 30, 2026 at 11:59pm
Applications are reviewed to ensure the applicant meets the eligibility requirements and are selected based on the essay and recommendation letter submitted as part of the application process.
If selected, recipients receive a full-tuition scholarship for up to two years to attend OCCC. Recipients will be expected to pay course fees and purchase textbooks and course materials. Oregon Coast Scholars recipients who meet the renewal criteria are eligible for a second year of funding.
Eligibility
Eligibility Requirements for High School Students
- Attend high school in Lincoln County or reside within Oregon Coast’s district
- Have a cumulative, unweighted GPA of 3.0 or better at the end of the first semester of your senior year
- Be on track to earn a high school diploma
- Enroll full-time (12-18 credits) at Oregon Coast the fall that immediately follows high school graduation
Eligibility Requirements for Home-schooled Students
- Reside within Oregon Coast Community College district (Lincoln County, Oregon)
- Earn ACT composite score of 27 or SAT Reasoning Test combined score of 1200 in Critical Reading and Math
- Enroll full-time (12-18 credits) at Oregon Coast the summer or fall immediately after completing high school requirements
Eligibility Requirements for Military Veterans
- Meet requirements above for either high school students or home-schooled students
- Joined the military within three months of graduating from high school
- Enroll full-time (12-18 credits) at Oregon Coast within six months of military discharge
Oregon Coast Scholars – How to Apply
For the current school year, Oregon Scholar applicants must submit the following documents*:
- Complete the application.
- Provide one letter of recommendation from your school, work, or volunteer position. Forward this link to your recommender.
- Complete the Essay. This will be reviewed as part of the selection process.
- Unofficial high school transcript (except home-schooled students).
Transcripts should have your first semester grades from your final year in high school. Email transcripts to ocs@oregoncoast.edu - HOMESCHOOLERS ONLY: Official test results from the SAT or ACT.
A paper copy of your SAT/ACT or placement test results must be included with your application packet. - *Complete applications must be received by the deadline. Only complete application packets will be considered.
- If you have taken college credit classes in your high school, please include your college transcript as well.
Oregon Coast Scholars – Maintaining Eligibility
Students selected as Oregon Coast Scholars must meet the following criteria in order to maintain the scholarship for the second year:
- Enroll full-time (12-18 credits) credits each term*
- Successfully complete at least 36 credits each year
- Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or better in Oregon Coast classes
- Maintain continued enrollment in consecutive academic years*
GPAs for continuing students will be calculated annually following Spring term to determine eligibility for the second year of the Scholars program. The minimum 3.00 GPA will be strictly adhered to and there will be no appeal process for students who originally qualify, but whose GPA later drops below the 3.00 threshold.
Students must be enrolled for Fall, Winter and Spring terms and return the following Fall term for the full academic year.
FAQ
Who qualifies for this scholarship?
Applicants must be graduating with a diploma from a high school within Lincoln County. — OR — Be residing permanently within the Oregon Coast Community College District (if attending a high school outside our district). — OR — Be receiving a home-school diploma (while residing permanently within Lincoln County). They must also have a cumulative, unweighted GPA of 3.0 or better at the end of the first semester of your senior year. Home-schooled students must have the minimum ACT or SAT test scores. Enroll at Oregon Coast in Fall Term immediately following your high school graduation or diploma completion. Enroll full-time with a minimum of 12 credits.
What does it pay for?
The scholarship pays full tuition for up to two years for credit classes applicable to an associate’s degree. The classes must be taught by Oregon Coast instructors. Fees, books and other miscellaneous expenses are not covered.
I don’t attend a high school within Oregon Coast’s district, but I live within the district. Am I eligible?
Yes, as long as you can verify that your permanent residence is within the boundaries of Lincoln County, i.e. the Oregon Coast Community College District. You also must have a cumulative, unweighted GPA of 3.0 or better (as of your first semester/quarter grades from your final year of high school).
I joined the military immediately after I graduated high school and have just been discharged. Am I eligible?
Yes, newly discharged military personnel are eligible as long as the following criteria are met:
Graduated from a high school within Oregon Coast’s district.
Graduated with a cumulative, unweighted GPA of 3.0 or better.
Joined the military within three months of graduating from high school.
Enroll full-time with a minimum of 12 credits at Oregon Coast within six months of military discharge.
I am an international student. Am I eligible?
No. This scholarship program is intended only for students from Oregon Coast’s district.
What if my GPA at my high school is 2.9 and not 3.0 as the scholarship requires?
A minimum 3.0 GPA is required to qualify for the scholarship. No exceptions will be granted and no appeals can be made for decisions regarding ineligibility due to grades.
If my weighted GPA is 3.5 or better, am I eligible for the scholarship?
No. Your GPA must be at least 3.0, unweighted.
When can I enroll to begin the scholarship program?
You must begin college at Oregon Coast as a full-time student the fall term immediately following your high school completion to receive scholarship benefits.
Can I enroll for Summer Term in the scholarship program?
This scholarship will only pay tuition for Fall, Winter, and Spring terms. If you want to take Summer term courses, you will need another way to pay for Summer term charges. You must enroll beginning Fall Term after high school to received this scholarship..
Can I take more than 12 credits per term?
Yes. The scholarship will pay up to a maximum of 18 credits each term.
Can I take classes at any Oregon Coast campus or center?
Yes, at any OCCC location where an eligible course is being offered.
Can I take any class I choose from OCCC?
No. You cannot take noncredit courses with this scholarship.
What if I enroll as a full-time student with 12 credits but I drop some classes?
You must earn a total of 36 credits by the end of Spring Term. If 12 credits are not completed during a term, the remaining credits must be made up before the end of Spring Term. For example, if you register for 12 credits during Winter Term, but drop a class and only complete nine credits, you would need to take 15 credits during Spring Term to make up those three credits in order to have a total of 36 credits by the end of the academic year.
I understand that I must maintain a GPA of 3.0 or better while enrolled at Oregon Coast. When are GPAs checked for eligibility?
Grades are checked at the end of each academic year to verify that a 3.0 GPA has been maintained to determine eligibility for the following year.
Do I have to be eligible for federal financial aid in order to qualify for this scholarship?
No, you do not have to qualify for federal financial aid in order to be considered for the Oregon Coast Scholars program.
What is Oregon Coast’s district?
Our district includes all of Lincoln County, Oregon. If your permanent residence is located within Lincoln County, Oregon, and you meet all other criteria, you are eligible for the scholarship. If you’re not sure, you can contact Lincoln County’s elections office to verify.
Which high schools are in Oregon Coast’s district?
If you are graduating from one of these schools, you are eligible for the Oregon Coast Scholars Program.
Eddyville Charter School
Newport High School
Taft High School
Seventh Day Adventist School
Siletz Valley Early College Academy
Toledo High School
Waldport High School
Scholarships & More
Local Scholarships
The OCCC Foundation and the broader college community is grateful to the donors listed here. They’ve made commitments to annual giving for at least three years in creating ‘named scholarships,’ and in doing so have created new academic and career opportunities for OCCC students. Contact us to find out how you can place your name, or that of a loved one, on this list!
| SCHOLARSHIP DONORS | PREFERENCE FOR… |
| Alison Baker & Roger Chickering Scholarship | No preference |
| Anna May Clark Art Scholarship | Students studying art |
| Betty Lee Schellhase Scholarship | Nursing students |
| Birgitte Ryslinge Scholarship | Preference to immigrant or child of an immigrant |
| Central Coast Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (Melissa Stanley Memorial Scholarship) | Full-time students (12 credits) |
| Don & Ann Davis Memorial Scholarship | Teaching students |
| Edward van Aelstyn Memorial Scholarship | AA degree or transfer degree students |
| Fawn & Kempton Hewitt Scholarship | No preference |
| General Nursing Scholarship | Nursing student |
| Jamieson-Bergeron Scholarship | No preference |
| Jim & Shay Falch Scholarship | Preference to a student who identifies as Hispanic or Latino |
| Julie & Sener Otrugman Scholarship (Central Coast Fly Fishers) | GED students |
| Linda Johnson Scholarship | Residents of Waldport or Yachats, and 1st or 2nd generation college students, single parents, at least 12 credits |
| Nancy Steurer Nursing Scholarship | Nursing students |
| Nancy Stevens Nursing Scholarship | Nursing students |
| Oregon Coast Bank Toledo Welding Scholarship | Toledo welding students |
| Oregon Coast Veterans Association Scholarship | Veterans, veteran family members, or current members of the armed forces, and nursing or pre-nursing students |
| Oregon State Credit Union Scholarship | Business students, full-time students |
| Dr. Patrick O’Connor Scholarship | No preference |
| Penny Ittner Scholarship | No preference |
| Pam Gill & Chris Boyle Teacher Pathway Scholarship | Teaching students |
| Pam Gill & Chris Boyle Nursing Scholarship | Nursing students |
| Robert A. Clapp Memorial Scholarship | 1st generation college students or age 30+ |
| Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship | Students employed at SNLH |
| Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship | Nursing students |
| Sandi & Ron Williams Scholarship | No preference |
| Susan & David Gomberg Scholarship | No preference |
| Taft Masonic Lodge 200 Scholarship | Nursing students, at least 10 credits, minimum 2.8 GPA |
| United Methodist Women Scholarship | Students from Toledo |
| Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3156 Waldport Scholarship | 2nd year nursing students, residents of Yachats, Waldport, Tidewater or Seal Rock, minimum 2.8 GPA |
| Yachats Ladies Club Scholarship | Health-care related field or teaching, residents of Yachats, Tidewater, Waldport, or Seal Rock |
Additional Featured Scholarships
Betty Gray Early Childhood Scholarship
Funded through an endowment established with the Oregon Community Foundation, this scholarship provides support for students seeking a degree or certificate in early childhood education. There are multiple application due dates throughout the year. Check back for details.
PEO Scholarships
Discover scholarships available through Oregon PEO. PEO is an organization dedicated to the advancement of women through educational support including scholarships. Their mission is to help women around the world advance through education. Check back for details.
The Gribler Loving Trust
Olga (‘06) and Bill Gribler (‘85), residents in Newport since 1947. Bill taught music and entertained throughout the community on the piano, violin, and accordion. Olga worked for the telephone company and later the Bank of Newport. Together they enjoyed digging clams at the beach, hunting and traveling. They established this generous scholarship through the Pacific Communities Health District Foundation to address the ongoing need for quality nurses in our rural area.
The recipient will be awarded up to $3,000 a year for up to two years, which will be issued upon proof of enrollment/acceptance in a nursing program at an accredited college/university or other educational institution. A new application is required annually. Check back for details.
Other Scholarship Resources for OCCC Students
Below are listed some of the most frequently won private scholarships by OCCC students just like you.
| Scholarship | How much | Application | Deadline | Who is it for? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. OSAC By filling out one application, you apply for several scholarships. | Average is $3,100 | Oregon Student Access | February |
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| 2. Ford Family Foundation This scholarship provides up to 90% of your college costs! | Up to 90% of your unmet financial need | Oregon Student Access | February |
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| 3. US Bank Almost all banks and credit unions have scholarship programs. | $1,000 | USBank.com | May |
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| 5. Oregon Community Foundation The OCF awards offers many unique scholarship programs. | $500 to $3,000 | Oregon Student Access | February |
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| 6. Jack Kent Cooke Foundation This scholarship is competitive, but it’s worth the effort! This rigorous scholarship is based on aspects of achievement, financial need, persistence, leadership and service to others. Contact your Academic Advisor for help applying. | Up to $40,000 per year | Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship | December |
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There and many, many, many more scholarships out there. How do you find them? Use a scholarship search site. Our favorites:
Los estudiantes de Oregon Coast Community College tienen la oportunidad de solicitar diversas becas locales, regionales y nacionales para ayudar a sufragar el costo de su educación universitaria. Examine los enlaces a continuación para obtener más información sobre las becas que podrían ser adecuadas para usted. Si necesita ayuda con la información a continuación o si tiene preguntas sobre ayuda financiera, no dude en comunicarse con la Oficina de Asuntos Estudiantiles por correo electrónico student.affairs@oregoncoast.edu o al teléfono 541-867-8501.
Becas de la Fundación OCCC
Si necesita ayuda, comuníquese con la Oficina de Asuntos Estudiantiles por correo electrónico studentervices@oregoncoast.edu o al teléfono 541-867-8501.
Las becas de la Fundación OCCC pueden usarse para matrículas, cuotas y libros solo en OCCC y se aplicarán a la cuenta del beneficiario de la beca al comienzo de cada período. Los cursos tomados a través de otros colegios comunitarios no se pueden pagar con becas de la Fundación OCCC.