Do I have to apply separately for the Merit Award?

No. The Merit Award is automatically granted to graduating high school seniors who meet the unweighted-GPA cutoffs. There is no separate merit application — it is set from your admission GPA.

How much is the Merit Award?

For 2026-2027, Oregon residents and WUE students get $1,000 (2.75-3.10 GPA), $1,500 (3.11-3.40), $2,000 (3.41-3.75), or $4,000 (3.76+) per year. Nonresidents get $5,000 (3.00-3.59), $8,000 (3.60-3.74), $10,000 (3.75-3.94), or $12,000 (3.95+) per year.

How do I keep the Merit Award each year?

It renews over a 3-year renewal period if you complete 36 credits at WOU by the end of spring term and maintain a 3.0 WOU cumulative GPA.

Western Oregon· Renewal Rules

Keeping Western Oregon’s Merit Aid for Four Years

What the financial-aid office actually requires after freshman year: minimum GPA, credit-hour pace, and the cliffs that quietly downgrade families mid-degree.

Verified Jun 20264 days ago· CC

At a glance

Renewable tiers: 3 of 3
One-time tiers: 0
Tiers with published renewal terms: 3
Renewal risk profile: moderate

Renewal risk profile

Western Oregon's renewal bar is achievable for steady students but isn't generous. Most awards require a cumulative GPA in the 3.0–3.4 band plus full-time enrollment. Audit the strictest tier on this school's list before assuming the four-year value is locked in.

Merit Award — Resident & WUE: See notes
Merit Award — Nonresident: See notes
David S. Brody Scholarship: See notes

Renewal terms by tier

Merit Award — Resident & WUE
$1,000-$4,000 per year
Entry requirements: Unweighted HS GPA grid: 2.75-3.10 = $1,000; 3.11-3.40 = $1,500; 3.41-3.75 = $2,000; 3.76+ = $4,000 GPA
To keep it: Renewal period: 3 years. Must complete 36 credits by the end of spring term with a 3.0 WOU cumulative GPA to continue with the award.
Source: https://wou.edu/finaid/scholarships/merit-scholarship/
Merit Award — Nonresident
$5,000-$12,000 per year
Entry requirements: Unweighted HS GPA grid: 3.00-3.59 = $5,000; 3.60-3.74 = $8,000; 3.75-3.94 = $10,000; 3.95+ = $12,000 GPA
To keep it: Renewal period: 3 years. Must complete 36 credits by the end of spring term with a 3.0 WOU cumulative GPA to continue with the award.
Source: https://wou.edu/finaid/scholarships/merit-scholarship/
David S. Brody Scholarship
Covers tuition, mandatory fees, food and housing, and books after other gift aid (dollar value not published)
To keep it: Renewal terms not published on the freshman scholarships page.
Source: https://wou.edu/finaid/scholarships/freshmen-scholarships/

How families lose this aid

Thinking a strong senior-year semester can raise your Merit tier after you apply.
The award is set automatically on your unweighted high school GPA at admission. There is no separate application and no re-rating once the award is set.
Treating the Merit Award as guaranteed for all four years without conditions.
It renews for a 3-year renewal period only if you complete 36 credits by the end of spring term with a 3.0 WOU cumulative GPA. Falling below full-time progress or the 3.0 cumulative GPA can end the award.

Renewal questions families ask

Do I have to apply separately for the Merit Award?: No. The Merit Award is automatically granted to graduating high school seniors who meet the unweighted-GPA cutoffs. There is no separate merit application — it is set from your admission GPA.
How much is the Merit Award?: For 2026-2027, Oregon residents and WUE students get $1,000 (2.75-3.10 GPA), $1,500 (3.11-3.40), $2,000 (3.41-3.75), or $4,000 (3.76+) per year. Nonresidents get $5,000 (3.00-3.59), $8,000 (3.60-3.74), $10,000 (3.75-3.94), or $12,000 (3.95+) per year.
How do I keep the Merit Award each year?: It renews over a 3-year renewal period if you complete 36 credits at WOU by the end of spring term and maintain a 3.0 WOU cumulative GPA.

How Western Oregon compares across our verified dataset

669 of 751 verified schools publish at least one four-year renewable merit award.
Western Oregon is one of them. The cohort minority (82 schools) only awards one-year scholarships, which means the four-year value families assume on a brochure quote isn't guaranteed at every school.

Sources used on this page

Every renewal claim is checked against Western Oregon’s own published materials.