Scholarships

All students are encouraged to apply for scholarships from the Schnitzer School of Art + Art History + Design and the College of the Arts. By submitting your application through PSU's Scholarship Universe portal, you may find you qualify for many other university-wide scholarships. You can't get support if you don't apply!

Scholarship Universe is open until midnight on April 1

Internal Scholarships

Blick Art Materials Art + Design Merit Scholarship

$1000
Blick Art Materials Scholarship Fund supports an Art + Art History + Design student who is either an undergraduate or graduate, has a cumulative Portland State University GPA of 3.25, and demonstrates financial need.

Catherine Kumlin & Robert Gamblin Endowed Art Practice Study Abroad Scholarship

$2000
Catherine Kumlin & Robert Gamblin Endowed Art Practice Study Abroad Scholarship supports a BFA or MFA student participating in a PSU School of Art + Art History + Design study abroad program that includes art practice credit.
Information and application

College of the Arts Scholarship

$1000
The College of the Arts Scholarship is available to any student in a department in the College of the Arts: Film, Music, Architecture, Theater Arts, Art History, or Art Practice. Successful candidates will have a minimum 3.0 GPA and demonstrate artistic promise.

Dorothy Piacentini Endowed Art Scholarship

Amount varies
Dorothy Piacentini Endowed Art Scholarship is open to Art Practice and Graphic Design students. Financial need is a consideration, and students must maintain a 3.0 GPA in department coursework. There is one award available for Art Practice and one for Graphic Design.

Dr. Harry and Karen Groth, Jr. Endowed Scholarship

$1000
Dr. Harry and Karen Groth, Jr. Endowed Scholarship assists an undergraduate or graduate Art + Art History + Design scholar whose preferred medium is sculpture or painting. The successful applicant will be an Oregon resident. This is a renewable award.

Florence Saltzman Heidel Endowed Scholarship

Amount varies
The Florence Saltzman Heidel Endowed Scholarship was established to honor the memory of Florence Salzman Heidel, an exceptional painter and teacher. This award is available to an Art + Art History + Design major who is in good academic standing.

Frederick Heidel Scholarship

$7500
Applicants must be pursuing a graduate degree in the Fine Arts. Preference will be given to students who are studying Painting. Must be an Oregon resident. Must demonstrate financial need and a 2.5 or higher GPA required. This is a renewable award.

Gabe Castro Graphic Design Scholarship

$2000
Gabe Castro Graphic Design Scholarship supports students who add diversity to the Graphic Design program and the field at large.

Graphic Design Endowed Scholarship

Amount varies
The Graphic Design Endowed Scholarship is awarded to students in Graphic Design.

Justin Eyerly Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Amount varies
Justin Eyerly Memorial Endowed Scholarship is awarded to a Graphic Design major who has completed lower division course requirements and the sophomore portfolio review. Selection is contingent on the applicant’s portfolio, financial need, and GPA. The selected scholars should demonstrate a creative spirit and show an aptitude for working in multiple mediums.

LAIKA Scholarship

$10,000
The LAIKA Scholarship supports undergraduate students in the College of the Arts. Applicants should demonstrate academic and/or career interest in the creative industry. Preference is given to students with diverse and/or underrepresented experiences in the creative industry. Eligible students may reapply annually.

Lane Martin Art Practice Endowed Scholarship

$2000
Lane Martin Art Practice Endowed Scholarship is generously awarded to students in the College of the Arts who have demonstrated financial need and academic merit. Preference is given to students who have overcome obstacles or personal adversity in their lives and with a field of study in Art Practice.

Leonard & Evelyn Kimbrell School of Art + Design Endowed Scholarship

Amount varies
This scholarship supports upper-level undergraduate and graduate students within the School of Art + Art History + Design. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA, and financial need is a consideration. Preference for students interested in illustration and animation.

Leroy E. Bynum, Jr. Endowed Scholarship

Amount varies
This scholarship supports undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing a major, second major, or minor in the College of the Arts. Applicants must have financial need.

Lois and Oscar Mock Endowed Scholarship

$2000
Lois and Oscar Mock Endowed Scholarship will be awarded to a full-time junior or senior majoring in the College of the Arts who has a 3.00+ cumulative GPA (3.50+ in their major). The scholarship award must be used for tuition. One student per school (a total of 4) will be awarded annually.

Lucille Welch Endowed Scholarship

Amount varies
The Lucille Welch Endowed Scholarship recognizes academic excellence and artistic promise. Financial need is a deciding factor when there are students who demonstrate equivalent achievement and potential. Scholarships are available to students who meet the following criteria: a full-time upper-division undergraduate or graduate student who has completed 20 credits of art coursework. Program emphasis must be for studio areas of painting, drawing, sculpture, and printmaking. Portfolio submission is required.

Michi Kosuge Scholarship in Art

$1000
The Michi Kosuge Scholarship in Art is awarded annually to a student in either Art Practice (undergraduate) or Contemporary Art Practice (MFA).

Murmur Creative Graphic Design Scholarship

$2000
The Murmur Creative Graphic Design Scholarship is available to a junior or senior graphic design student. Applicants must demonstrate financial need and have a 3.0 GPA. Preference will be given to applicants dedicated to or demonstrating a potential for a career in graphic design.

Richard Muller Endowed Scholarship

Amount varies
Richard Muller Endowed Scholarship memorializes Professor Muller's contribution to Portland's art community and his great love of teaching art students. This award is made to an Art + Art History + Design student who demonstrates financial need.

Schnitzer Art + Design Scholarship

Amount varies
This scholarship is for PSU Art + Art History + Design majors. There must be demonstrated financial need and good academic standing.

School of Art and Design Scholarship

Amount varies
Undergraduate and graduate scholarships for art practice, art history, and graphic design majors.

Wilma and Robert Sheridan Endowed Scholarship

$1000
Wilma and Robert Sheridan Endowed Scholarship is available to a full-time, returning junior or senior PSU COTA student. Students must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA and a 3.5 GPA in major classes.

External Scholarships

External scholarships are independent and available through applications outside of PSU's Scholarship Universe.

Tsagaglalal (She Who Watches) Scholarship

$10,000
This renewable scholarship is for non-graduating Indigenous students of U.S. states and territories pursuing a degree in art or architecture at Portland State University. It is available through the generous support of the Architecture Foundation of Oregon (AFO).

Applications open in November with a February deadline. Apply through the AFO website.
More info