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The application program will be live on or after January 23, 2025. Please return then and navigate to the Scholarship America Hub to register your account and begin your application process!

Oportun Scholarship Program
Live application window: January 23, 2025 through March 20, 2025 3:00 pm Central Time

Oportun is a mission-driven, fintech that puts its 2.1 million member’s financial goals within reach. With intelligent borrowing, savings, and budgeting capabilities, Oportun empower members with confidence to build a better financial future. As part of its commitment to the communities it serves, it initiated an Oportun Scholarship program providing $1,500 in scholarships to help up to 25 students in the state of California and Harris County, Texas pay for their college tuition.

The program is administered by Scholarship America®, the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarships and other education support programs for corporations, foundations, associations, and individuals. Eligibility for individual programs is determined at the sole discretion of the sponsor and eligible applications are reviewed by Scholarship America’s evaluation team.

Applicants to the Oportun Scholarship Program must:

  • Currently reside in either the state of California or Harris County, Texas
  • Be high school seniors or graduates, or current college undergraduates
  • Plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year

Awards

If selected as a recipient, the student will receive a $1,500 award. Up to 25 awards will be granted.

Awards are not renewable, but students may reapply to the program each year they meet eligibility requirements.

Awards are for undergraduate study only.

Notification

All applicants will be notified in late May.

Payment of Scholarships

Scholarship America processes scholarship payments on behalf of Oportun. Payment is made in August.

Selection of Recipients

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of:

  • Academic record
  • Demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities
  • Unusual personal or family circumstances
  • Responses to the following topics (2,000-character limit for each response):
    • Describe the value of postsecondary education to you and your family
    • Tell us what financial wellness means to you and share your own best practices when it comes to managing money
  • An online recommendation

Financial need will be considered. Recipients must demonstrate need.

Assuming there are qualified applicants, preference will be given to applicants pursuing a non-medical STEM or finance-related degree.

Assuming there are qualified applicants, the diversity of the recipient pool will reflect the diversity of the applicant pool.

Selection of recipients is made by Scholarship America. In no instance does any officer or employee of Oportun play a part in the selection. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients. All applicants agree to accept the decision as final.

As part of your application, you must upload the following:

  • A current, complete transcript of grades. Grade reports are not accepted. Transcripts must display:
    • Student name
    • School name
    • Grades
    • Credit hours for each course and term in which each course was taken.

    NOTE: If you are providing SAT or ACT test scores, and those scores are not listed on your high school transcript, you will need to upload a copy of your test score report(s) separately. If you are uploading a college transcript, those scores are not required.

  • A copy of the first two pages of the most recently filed IRS Form 1040 used for the Financial Information section of the application. Please black out all sensitive and personal information such as social security numbers and bank account information.

One online recommendation form must be submitted on your behalf no later than March 25, 2025 3:00 pm Central Time.

Your application is not complete unless all required materials are submitted electronically.

Oportun has partnered with Scholarship America. Selecting the button below will redirect you to the Scholarship America Student Hub!

Please make sure to add studentsupport@scholarshipamerica.org as well as the program email address provided below in the footer as safe senders in your email contact list.