Competitive Scholarships
Competitive Scholarships are awarded to students who will enroll for fall entry based on interests, skills, or background. Requiring a separate application, which is reviewed by program faculty, competitive scholarships are added on top of merit scholarships awarded at the time of admission.
You’re encouraged to apply for all scholarships that match your interest and talents, but you’ll only receive the one that best matches your strengths. Check out each scholarship, including the application, participation and renewal requirements and apply by the priority deadlines.
Early Action and Early Decision candidates who apply for, and are awarded, a Competitive Scholarship will receive notification with their offer of admission, merit scholarship, and, if applying for need-based financial aid, the remainder of their financial aid offer in mid-December.
Early Action and Early Decision candidates may continue to apply for Competitive Scholarships until the final priority deadline on January 18. Notification will be sent on February 6 for all remaining applicants.
Applications for Competitive Scholarships may remain open after the final priority deadline on January 18. Please contact the Office of Admissions at 503-370-6303 or bearcat@willamette.edu for more information.
While you will not be able to access the Willamette Applicant Portal until after you submit your Common Application or Coalition with SCOIR, you may review the application materials required for each scholarship below and begin to prepare your submission.
The Willamette University Debate Union is the oldest debate program in the Western United States and serves as an extracurricular activity for students across the academic spectrum.
The application requires:
Scholarships are awarded up to $4,000 annually.
Recipients are required to enroll in the Collegiate Debate course each semester. Recipients must also participate in the Willamette University Debate Union and at a competition at least twice each semester – once as a competitor, and once as a judge.
The Dempsey Scholars program values academically accomplished students looking to get a jump start on their career in environmental studies. Excellent applicants have a clear passion for environmental science and a commitment to civic engagement.
The application requires:
Scholarships are awarded up to $4,000 annually.
Renewal requires an annual application. To be prioritized for renewal, recipients must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3 and declare a major in environmental science. Participation in department activities, such as assisting faculty and facilitating co-curricular programs, is expected, but not required.
This scholarship, made possible due to a $6 million endowed gift from FamilyCare Health and the Heatherington Foundation, is for students who have an interest in learning how to improve lives and build healthy communities through Public Health. Participants will collaborate with one another, with faculty, and with the FamilyCare Pre-Health Director to dive deep into important issues such as disease prevention, access to care and environmental health.
Recipients of the Heatherington Scholarship have a record of commitment to public health equity through a combination of involvement in extracurricular school-based activities, community service and employment and will demonstrate financial need through submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
The application requires:
Scholarships are awarded up to $11,500 annually.
The declaration of a major in public health is encouraged, but is not required. Renewal requires annual submission of the FAFSA and continued demonstration of financial need.
Willamette's music ensembles and programs seek talented students to participate at all levels. Scholarships are awarded to students who demonstrate ability and achievement in composition, vocal, band, or orchestra performance and plan to participate in music ensembles, major or minor in music.
The application requires:
Scholarships are awarded up to $10,000 annually.
Renewal is based on an annual evaluation by the faculty. Recipients must join at least one of Willamette’s music ensembles, enroll and complete a music scholarship class during their first year, and take private lessons through the music department.
With robust experiential, research and internship opportunities, the STEM fields are among the most popular at Willamette. For students with academic promise and a strong passion for these subjects, the STEM Fellows Program provides financial support, additional peer and faculty mentorship, academic support, and more.
The application requires:
Scholarships are awarded up to $5,000 annually. Other benefits of this program include:
Recipients must pursue a major in one of the following: biology, chemistry, computer science, data science, environmental science, exercise and health science, mathematics, physics, or pre-engineering.
Renewal requires the fulfillment of all program requirements.
Willamette’s Studio Art Department offers students with a serious commitment to studio art and the artistic community courses across traditional mediums and experimental practices.
The application requires:
Scholarships are awarded up to $4,000 annually.
Recipients are required to declare a major or minor in studio art, participate in Studio Art Department events for either six hours each semester, or 12 hours each academic year. This includes installation projects before major art shows, gallery and studio maintenance, and assisting faculty. Recipients must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 in studio art courses.
Willamette’s Theatre Department performs a variety of plays and musicals every year, and seeks passionate, dedicated students, who will pursue a major in theatre, to participate in every element of theatrical production.
The application requires:
Finalists will be invited to interview with department faculty.
Scholarships are awarded up to $12,000 annually.
Renewal is based on an annual evaluation by the faculty. Scholarship recipients are required to declare a major in theatre or musical theatre, enroll in at least one theatre class per semester, and fully participate in every production in a given year, including, but not limited to the production itself, as well as department meetings and strikes, rehearsal and crew commitments. Recipients will work three hours a week and enroll in Acting I and Voice for the Stage in their first year, and must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
Unlike our other competitive scholarships, these awards do not require a separate application. Recipients are selected automatically based on the strength of the admission application and experience as it relates to the eligibility criteria for the scholarship.
The Fairweather Fellows Scholarship and Experience Program provides incoming first-year students with scholarships and academic support activities to succeed as future computing and data science scholars and leaders.
No separate application is required. To be considered, you must:
Scholarships are awarded up to $10,000 annually.
An interest in computer science or data science is encouraged, but the declaration of a major in computer science or data science is not required. Renewal requires annual submission of the FAFSA and continued demonstrated need.
Ronald and Lila Schmidt (Class of 1966) established the Schmidt Scholars Program to help high-performing applicants attend Willamette University by removing financial barriers.
No separate application is required. To be considered, you must:
Preference is given to students with a minimum cumulative 3.75 high school GPA.
Scholarships are awarded up to $7,500 annually.
Renewal requires annual submission of the FAFSA and continued demonstrated need.
Willamette University