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OUAA Scholarships

The Oakland University Alumni Association (OUAA) Scholarship Program offers non-renewable Alumni Association Legacy Scholarships for incoming freshmen and non-renewable Alumni Association Legacy Transfer Scholarships for incoming transfer students. These awards are one-time scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each. The OUAA also awards up to two non-renewable Alumni Association Returning Alumni Scholarships in the amount of $2,000 each.

Please view the information on the tabs below for eligibility criteria and terms and conditions. Note that these awards are not automatic. Students must apply and be selected by an alumni committee to receive the award.

To date, the OUAA has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to qualified OU students. The money for these scholarships is provided through generous donations and revenue earned from OUAA events and programs.


2025 Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship

2025 Alumni Association Returning Alumni Scholarship.

Search "Legacy" or "Alumni" on the OU Scholarship Search Tool to locate these awards, then sign in and apply for them. The deadline to submit your application is 3/1/2025.

2025 Alumni Association Legacy Transfer Scholarship

Click on the link to the 2025 Alumni Association Legacy Transfer Scholarship Application. The deadline to submit your application is 6/15/2025. 

Each award offered through the OUAA has unique eligibility criteria. Legacy students, defined as individuals whose grandparent, parent, sibling, child, or spouse received a degree or academic certificate from OU, may be eligible to apply for the OUAA's Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship or Alumni Association Legacy Transfer Scholarship.

Alumni returning to OU to complete a graduate degree or a second degree may be eligible for the Alumni Association Returning Alumni Scholarship.

Previous OUAA scholarship recipients are ineligible to apply again. OUAA scholarships are merit-based, not need-based, and are intended to cover "cost of attendance". These awards are not automatic. Recipients are selected by an alumni committee. Students must be admitted to OU at the time of selection.

To apply, please:

  1. Complete the appropriate application form located above for transfer applications or visit the OU Scholarship Tool for the freshman and returning alumni applications.
  2. Submit completed application including one short answer question by the deadline noted on the application.  If the short answer question was not already submitted with the application, it can be emailed to [email protected].

If you have any questions about the scholarship application process, please contact the alumni office at [email protected].

View a full list of the available OU Grants & Scholarships.

Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship

Amount: $2,000 one-time award non-renewable

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Legacy student (your grandparent, parent, sibling, child, or spouse received a degree or academic certificate from OU at the time of application)
  • Incoming full-time freshman
  • High School GPA 3.5+, no test scores

Application: This scholarship requires an application. Application deadline is March 1.

  • 1 short question (1 page limit per question)
    1. Who is your role model and how did they impact your decision to attend Oakland University?

Selection Process: Awarded by the Oakland University Alumni Association

Renewal: Non-renewable

Alumni Association Legacy Transfer Scholarship

Amount: $2,000 one-time award non-renewable

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Legacy student (your grandparent, parent, sibling, child, or spouse received a degree or academic certificate from OU)
  • Incoming full-time transfer student
  • College GPA 3.0+
  • 24+transferable credits earned by the fall semester following the award application deadline
  • Two years remaining in undergraduate program

Application: This scholarship requires an application. Application deadline is June 15.

  • 1 short question (1 page limit per question)
    1. Who is your role model and how did they impact your decision to attend Oakland University?

Renewal: Non-renewable

Alumni Association Returning Alumni Scholarship

Amount: $2,000 one-time award non-renewable

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Previously earned at least one degree from Oakland University
  • Enrolled full-time in a graduate program or second-degree program
  • Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA

Application: This scholarship requires an application. Application deadline is March 1.

  • 1 Short question (1 page limit)
    1. Describe your most significant leadership or volunteer activity, and why it was meaningful to you.

Selection Process: Awarded by the Oakland University Alumni Association

Renewal: Non-renewable

Terms and Conditions for the Alumni Association Legacy Scholarship
  • Awards are offered through the Oakland University Alumni Association's Scholarship Program.
  • Scholarship eligibility is based on legacy status (individuals whose grandparent, parent, sibling, child, or spouse received a degree or academic certificate from OU. Alumni status must be conferred at time of application). Eligibility is also based on the applicant's grade point average at the time of application to the university.
  • Students must apply for the award; recipients are selected by an alumni committee and notified by the Office of Alumni Engagement.
  • Awards are available to entering freshmen, defined as students who are in college for the first time and enroll full-time at OU in the first fall semester immediately following high school graduation.
  • Students may use scholarships for the fall and winter semesters in the single academic year designated by the university, not to exceed two semesters total.
  • Continuous full-time enrollment in OU undergraduate credits as an undergraduate student is required for the fall and winter semester in which the award is distributed.
  • Scholarship recipients are required to be enrolled as full-time students at the university. Advance Placement (AP) exams, International Baccalaureate (IB) exams, the College Level Exam Program (CLEP) transfer credit and/or course competency examinations do not count toward the full-time credits.
  • OU offers scholarships at its sole and absolute discretion; offers are contingent upon the availability of funds and continuation of the scholarship program.
  • Half of the annual award is available each semester.
Terms and Conditions for the Alumni Association Legacy Transfer Scholarship
  • Awards are offered through the Oakland University Alumni Association's Scholarship Program.
  • Scholarship eligibility is based on legacy status (individuals whose grandparent, parent, sibling, child, or spouse received a degree or academic certificate from OU. Alumni status must be conferred at time of application). Eligibility is also based on the applicant's grade point average and 24 minimum transferrable credits earned by the fall semester following the award application deadline.
  • Students must apply for the award; recipients are selected by an alumni committee and notified by the Office of Alumni Engagement.
  • Students may use scholarships for the fall and winter semesters in the single academic year designated by the university (not to exceed two semesters total), and are available only to new transfer students who enroll full-time in OU undergraduate credits as an undergraduate student in their first semester of admission.
  • Continuous full-time enrollment in OU undergraduate credits as an undergraduate student is required for the fall and winter semester in which the award is distributed.
  • Advance Placement (AP) exams, International Baccalaureate (IB) exams, the College Level Exam Program (CLEP) transfer credit and/or course competency examinations do not count toward the full-time credits.
  • OU offers scholarships at its sole and absolute discretion; offers are contingent upon the availability of funds and continuation of the scholarship program.
  • Half of the annual award is available each semester.
Terms and Conditions for the Alumni Association Returning Alumni Scholarship
  • Awards are offered through the Oakland University Alumni Association's Scholarship Program.
  • Scholarship eligibility is limited to individuals who have previously received a degree from OU and are admitted into a graduate degree program or second-degree program. Eligibility is also based on the applicant's cumulative grade point average.
  • Students must apply for the award; recipients are selected by an alumni committee and notified by the Office of Alumni Engagement.
  • Students may use scholarships for the fall and winter semesters in the single academic year designated by the university, not to exceed two semesters total.
  • Continuous full-time enrollment in OU graduate credits as a graduate student or undergraduate credits as a second-degree student is required each fall and winter semester.
  • Scholarship recipients must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA.
  • OU offers scholarships at its sole and absolute discretion; offers are contingent up the availability of funds and continuation of the scholarship program.
  • Half of the annual award is available each semester.
I am an international student. Can I still apply for an OUAA scholarship?
Yes, as long as you meet all other criteria.
When will the applications be available?
Applications are available December 1.
Are the OUAA scholarships renewable?
OUAA scholarships are non-renewable.
How do I know if I am a Legacy student?
A legacy student is defined as an individual whose grandparent, parent, sibling, child or spouse received a degree or academic certificate from Oakland University. Alumni status must be conferred at the time of application.
Can my scholarship be used towards the spring/summer semester?
No, all OUAA scholarships may be used for the fall and winter semesters in the single academic year designated by the university, not to exceed two semesters total.
When will I know if I am selected to receive a scholarship?
Recipients of the Legacy and Returning Alumni Awards will be notified before May 1. Transfer Legacy award recipients will be notified by August 1.
I received an OUAA scholarship in the past. Can I re-apply for the coming academic year?
Previous OUAA scholarship recipients are not eligible to apply for another OUAA scholarship.
Can I apply for more than one scholarship?
Yes, you may apply for any scholarships for which you qualify; however, you will not receive more than one scholarship from the OUAA.
What criteria does the selection committee most use in deciding on a worthy candidate?
All criteria are used in the selection process. No one piece of information has greater value over another.
When can I expect to receive the funds if I am selected to receive a scholarship?
Scholarships are distributed directly into your student account at the start of the fall and winter semesters of the award academic year as long as all criteria are met, not to exceed two semesters total. OUAA scholarships may be applied toward “cost of attendance” at OU.
What if I am dual enrolled at OU and at one of the participating Michigan community colleges. Am I eligible to receive an OUAA scholarship?
Yes, you can apply for any of the OUAA scholarships for which you qualify, but you will have to attend OU for the fall and winter semesters when the award will be distributed.
Are the OUAA scholarships automatic?
No, none of our scholarships are distributed automatically. You must apply and be selected as a recipient by an alumni committee who reviews all applications. The number of recipients may vary year to year.
If I missed the deadline for the Legacy or Legacy Transfer Awards, can I apply next year?
Once you become a current student at OU, you are no longer eligible to apply for the Legacy or Legacy Transfer Awards. If you delay enrollment to OU, you may be eligible to apply the following year for the Legacy Transfer Award, but not the Legacy Award. Please contact the office of alumni engagement with further questions at (248) 364-6130 or [email protected].
Where can I find out about additional scholarships offered through the university?
Undergraduate students, please visit 253000xa.com/futurestudents/scholarships-cost-aid/. Graduate
students, please visit 253000xa.com/grad/financial-assistance/. International students, please visit
253000xa.com/isso.

The Oakland University Alumni Association offers study abroad awards, up to $2,000 each, that
enable OU students to study and travel in foreign countries. View more information on International Education, including scholarships like the one offered through the OUAA.

View the photo gallery of students who benefited from OUAA scholarships during their travels
to Beijing and Oxford.

Alumni Engagement

John Dodge House
507 Golf View Lane
Rochester, MI 48309-4488
(location map)
(248) 364-6130