CUPA Scholarships

PSU awards thousands of dollars in scholarships each year through Scholarship Universe, an integrated search engine that gives students access to information on more than 12,000 PSU and non-PSU scholarships. The list below represents scholarships that are available to students in the College of Urban and Public Affairs (CUPA).

The deadline to apply for scholarships using the PSU Scholarship Application is April 1.

Cain, Leonard Endowed Awards (Roberta Badger-Cain Award)

The Leonard D. Cain Endowed Awards supports two distinct student awards. The Virginia Cain Award supports graduate sociology students. Applicants must have demonstrated financial need. Preference is given to students who are working on their dissertation or thesis. The Roberta Badger-Cain Awards supports students in the Institute on Aging who demonstrate financial need and academic excellence.

Nohad and Dirce Toulan Endowed Scholarship

The Toulan Memorial Scholarship is a renewable scholarship for a full-time graduate student who has been admitted to the Toulan School of Urban Studies Planning. The scholarship is awarded based on academic excellence with a minimum 3.0 GPA required. The award is $2500/year, with one-two awards each year, depending on available funds.

UPA General Endowed Scholarship

UPA General Endowed Scholarship supports student enrolled in the College of Urban and Public Affairs.

State Treasurer's Urban Pioneer Scholarship Endowment

State Treasurer's Urban Pioneer Scholarship Endowment provides financial support for students enrolled in any program in the College of Urban and Public Affairs.

Yaden Family Endowed Scholarship

This fund will provide a scholarship to a full time undergraduate who is a student in the College of Urban and Public Affairs with a 3.0 GPA , and has demonstrated financial need.

Maurie Clark Endowed Fellowship

Awarded annually to an outstanding Ph.D. candidate in the College of Urban and Public Affairs. The recipient must have an approved dissertation outline and intend to use the fellowship to support research activities. Apply for this scholarship by submitting the online PSU Graduate Scholarship Application, which opens in October and is due by February 1 each year.

Carl Abbott Fellowship

Carl Abbott Fellowship is awarded to doctoral students in the College of Urban and Public Affairs. Awards are up to $5,000.

Frank L. Roberts Community Service Endowed Scholarship

The Frank L. Roberts Community Service Scholarship will be given to a graduate degree student in Portland State University’s College of Urban & Public Affairs who demonstrates a commitment to community or public service. The scholarship will recognize a person whose activities reflect the importance of civic responsibility either through career choice or desire to use higher education to achieve specific goals shared by a community.

Harold Goodhue Vatter Endowed Scholarship

The Harold Goodhue Vatter Endowed Scholarship is for junior or senior economic students who show academic progress and demonstrated financial need.

Ron Cease Founder's Award Endowment

Ron Cease, PSU Professor Emeritus and founder of the Division of Public Administration, and his wife Jane Cease led active careers as state administrators and as Oregon legislators. These scholarships honor graduate students by providing financial assistance to those who are planning careers in public service and are pursuing on a full-time basis an MPA, MPA:HA or MPH:HMP degree and have financial need. A GRA position may also be given to Founders Award recipients depending on the availability of funds.

Phyllis Wiener Endowed Scholarship

The Phyllis Wiener Endowed Scholarship is awarded annually to junior or senior Political Science majors.

Frank and Nadezda Munk Political Science Endowed Scholarship

Annual scholarship available to full-time students in political science and international studies with high promise of achievement in international affairs.

Ione E. Curtis Endowed Scholarship

Ione E. Curtis Endowed Scholarship is awarded annual student in the political science program at Portland State University.

Bradley N. Horner Memorial Endowed Scholarship

To be eligible for this scholarship you must have declared yourself as a major in Criminology and Criminal Justice at PSU, be in a junior standing, have an interest in pursuing a career in law enforcement, and demonstrate financial need.

The Nick Fish Memorial Fund for Leadership Endowment

Nick Fish Scholarship supports graduate and undergraduate students in the Hatfield School of Government.

Gov. Barbara Roberts Leadership in Oregon Endowed Scholarship

Gov. Barbara Roberts Leadership in Oregon Endowed Scholarship will benefit students within the College of Urban and Public Affairs. Preference will be given to students enrolled in the Hatfield School of Government, with demonstrated financial need, are an undergraduate student at the sophomore, junior, or senior level, and who will add diversity to careers in public service.

Ernie Bonner Equity Planning Endowed Scholarship

Annual scholarship available to students pursuing a Master of Urban and Regional Planning or a Ph.D. in Urban Studies, and who have stated interest in equity planning and/or the use of planning to advance conditions of social equity in our society.

Nancy Chapman Endowed Scholarship

This fund will provide a Ph.D. student in the College or Urban; Public Affairs with demonstrated financial need, and a promise of accomplishment in an academic or professional career. Preference will be given to students who have a dissertation proposal accepted by his or her committee. Awards up to $2,000.

Graham Stewart Clark Memorial Endowed Scholarship

The Graham Stewart Clark Scholarship was created in honor of Graham Stewart Clark, an alumnus of the Masters in Urban and Regional Development Program and accomplished planner for the City of Portland. Applicants must be a graduate students enrolled in the MURP program GPA of 3.0 or greater. Student must demonstrate financial need. Awards are up to a $1,500.

John D. Gray Endowment in Sustainable Development

This scholarship is for students in the Toulan School of Urban Studies and Planning with a demonstrated focus in sustainable development. Applicants must have completed USP 313U.

Michael P. Saba Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship is for a graduate student enrolled in PSU’s School of Urban Studies & Planning who has good academic standing and financial need. This scholarship is to benefit graduate students in USP who have a love of cities and wish to pursue a career to enhance urban civilization, both locally and globally. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and demonstrated unmet need.

UPA Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund

UPA Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund supports students who plan to enter into a career in public service.

Vera Katz Endowed Scholarship

Scholarship to be awarded to student who is admitted to the graduate program (masters or PhD) in the College of Urban and Public Affairs, demonstrates a commitment to public service, and is a primary caregiver of dependent child living at home.

Marko Haggard Quasi-Endowed Scholarship

Political Science students with financial need and resided in Oregon for at least 5 years. Preference is given to students in the PSU Legislative Internship Program and students seeking a career in public service.

Joseph Blumel Scholarship

The Joseph Blumel Scholarship funds junior or senior economics students. Preference is given to students who plan to pursue a doctorate in economics, especially quantitative economics.

Tom Potiowsky Scholarship

This scholarship is for upper-division undergraduate students majoring in Economics. Applicants should have a GPA of 3.0 or greater and demonstrated financial need. There is a preference for students who are the first in their family to attend college.

Helen and Sam Wilderman Endowed Scholarship

The Helen and Sam Wilderman Fund supports the Political Science Department's Legislative Intern Program and helps students in the program cover travel expenses.

Joseph and Alice Savel Scholarship

This fund will provide a PSU and upper division or graduate student a scholarship who is pursuing a career related to long-term care of the elderly. The family created this scholarship in an effort to promote the principles of person-centered care provided with dignity and respect for all elders, regardless of the elder’s degree of disability or dependence.