The Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling is making a historic, nearly $400,000, investment in need-based scholarships in response to the elimination of the Grad PLUS loan. The new Bridge the Gap Scholarship Fund is intended to prioritize access to high quality graduate programs by reducing the financial barriers that will be left once students no longer qualify for Grad PLUS loans to support their education.
All incoming graduate students who plan to start in 2026 and who have documented financial need will receive an award.
Graduate Education Must Remain Accessible
“Approximately 85% of our incoming students report some level of financial need. We have to flip the script on the federal cuts and show our students that we support them, and that we will do everything in our power to ensure they can still access our high quality graduate programs.”
Andy Saultz, Dean of the Graduate School of Education and Counseling
Bridge the Gap FAQs
All students with documented financial need whose program begins in 2026, after the July 1 cut-off date for the Grad PLUS loan.
Documented financial need is determined by a combination of factors. Students who are able are encouraged to fill out the FAFSA or ORSAA. Upon admission, students will also have the opportunity to submit supplemental financial information directly to the graduate admissions office. This will enable students to provide updated information if their current financial situation looks different than what is reported by the FAFSA/ORSAA. This will also ensure students who do not wish to submit their information using government forms to remain eligible for a scholarship.
The graduate admissions office will communicate directly with admitted students regarding how to submit your supplemental financial information.
No. Students who are able are encouraged to submit their FAFSA. However, we recognize this may not be possible for everyone.
Upon admission, students will have the opportunity to submit financial information directly to the graduate admissions office. This will ensure students who do not wish to submit their information using government forms will remain eligible for a scholarship.
The graduate admissions office will communicate directly with admitted students regarding how to submit your supplemental financial information.
This is a need-based scholarship and no application is required. The graduate admissions office will contact all eligible admitted students individually with more information.
Scholarship announcements will be made before the April 15 decision deadline. We hope to be able to start making announcements in March.
This will be determined based on the demonstrated financial need of the incoming class. Most awards will be between $500 - $2500.
The Bridge the Gap Scholarship is just one piece of the multi-pronged approach that Lewis & Clark is taking to mitigate the hardship caused by the elimination of the Grad PLUS loan. Program scholarships are also available, and Lewis & Clark is negotiating partnerships with preferred lenders for students to receive private loans. The preferred lender list should be announced in mid-April.
In the meantime, prospective students can look into private student loan options by going to financial aid’s Private Loan page and scrolling to the ElmSelect private loan search tool. That tool will show verified lenders that other Lewis & Clark students have used in the past.
Graduate students will also continue to be eligible for federal unsubsidized loans. These loans are capped at $20,500 per year, with an cumulative maximum of $100,000.
Yes! Anyone interested in donating to the Bridge the Gap Scholarship Fund can easily do so online. Every gift, in any amount, will help ensure Lewis & Clark graduate students can continue to access high quality programs in education and counseling.
The Office of Financial Aid is currently in the process of negotiating a preferred lender list to help students source private loans at reasonable interest rates. They hope to make this available in mid-April.
In the meantime, prospective students can look into private student loan options by going to financial aid’s Private Loan page and scrolling to the ElmSelect private loan search tool. That tool will show verified lenders that other Lewis & Clark students have used in the past.
Get Involved
Anyone interested in donating to the Bridge the Gap Scholarship Fund can easily do so online. Every gift, in any amount, will help ensure Lewis & Clark graduate students can continue to access high quality programs in education and counseling.
Graduate School Admissions Lewis & Clark 615 S. Palatine Hill Road PortlandOR97219
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