Ecampus Degree Completion Award

Award nominations open during Fall 2025 on October 27, 2025, deadline: December 01, 2025

The Office of Graduate Education is pleased to invite nominations for the Ecampus Degree Completion Award to support Ecampus graduate students nearing completion of their graduate degree offered online through OSU’s Ecampus. This award is designed to provide tuition support to students during their final academic term of their degree.

Award Details

The Office of Graduate Education intends to offer up to 4-5 Ecampus Degree Completion Awards each term Summer 2025, Fall 2025, Winter 2026, and Spring 2026, for a total of 16-20 awards during the year.

The award provides a one-time one-term tuition scholarship (at actual charged tuition rates) for enrollment in three to six (3-6) online graduate-level OSU Ecampus credits. The funds distributed from this award may only be used in the final term of degree completion.

Please note, these are competitive funds and intended only for those students who are in the final term of their degrees. Only those nominees who have a very strong likelihood of successfully completing their degrees no later than one calendar year from the term of nomination should be put forward for consideration. In cases where awardees do not successfully complete their degree during the award period, the Office of Graduate Education may choose to restrict or exclude the nominating unit from submitting future nominations for this award.

Eligibility

  • Nominee must be a graduate degree-seeking student in an OSU online graduate program offered via Ecampus.
  • At the time of nomination, nominee must have successfully completed at least 2/3 of the credits required towards their degree and have an approved program of study on file outlining expected course enrollment for future academic terms through degree completion.
  • Nominee will complete their Ecampus graduate degree in a future academic term no later than one calendar year from the term of the nomination (e.g., nominees during the Summer 2025 nomination period must expect to complete their degree in Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026, or Summer 2026).
  • Nominee must have a GPA of 3.0 or above.
  • Nominee must be making satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the graduate program and the Office of Graduate Education.

Nominees are ineligible for this award if:

  • They do not have an approved program of study on file or if the program of study does not confirm degree completion within one calendar year.
  • They receive or have received an Office of Graduate Education Thesis Completion Award, Dissertation Completion Award, or Graduate Dean’s Catalyst Fellowship at any time during their graduate degree.
  • They have received an Ecampus Degree Completion Award at any time during their graduate degree.
  • They are pursuing only a graduate certificate or other non-degree credential through Ecampus.

Evaluation Criteria

Evaluation of nominations will be based upon:

  • The nominee’s previous academic success, commitment to graduate studies, and scholarly potential in their chosen field of study
  • Likelihood the nominee will successfully complete their degree in no more than one calendar year, as confirmed by their academic program

Preference will be given to:

  • Nominees who have completed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Oregon Student Aid Application (ORSAA), and have demonstrated financial need
  • Nominees who have exclusively or largely had to self-pay for their education, which encompasses some or all of the following:
    • Not receiving an OSU-provided tuition benefit
    • Not receiving a private employer-provided tuition benefit
    • Having largely paid tuition through personal funds and/or federal/state loan programs

Nomination Period

  • Summer 2025: Open 07/14/25 to 08/18/25
    (awardees may use funds for completion in Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026, or Summer 2026)
  • Fall 2025: Open 10/27/25 to 12/01/25
    (awardees may use funds for completion in Winter 2026, Spring 2026, Summer 2026, or Fall 2026)
  • Winter 2026: Open 01/20/26 to 02/23/26
    (awardees may use funds for completion in Spring 2026, Summer 2026, Fall 2026, or Winter 2027)
  • Spring 2026: Open 04/13/26 to 05/18/26
    (awardees may use funds for completion in Summer 2026, Fall 2026, Winter 2027, or Spring 2027)

Please note that these posted deadlines refer to the date/time by which the Office of Graduate Education must receive the final and complete nomination packet and any accompanying materials. Academic units may have earlier deadlines to accommodate their internal selection and nomination processes, so students are encouraged to verify the timeline with faculty and/or their graduate program leadership.

Nomination Procedure

Nominations must be submitted by the nominee's graduate program director, department chair/head or appropriate college leadership. Students may not apply directly for this award. Each graduate program (as defined by university major code) may nominate no more than ONE nominee (total) per award cycle.

Note to nominators: You are only able to nominate one student per cycle, but two or more students may use the award in the same intended term of degree completion.

In the online nomination form, nominators will be required to prepare/upload the following materials as one PDF document using the following file name convention:
"Nominee's Last Name_Department_Completion.pdf," and upload it through the nomination form.

  1. A statement from the nominee (2 pages maximum) that speaks to (a) their previous academic success and commitment to graduate studies, (b) how this award will support them in making progress towards degree completion, and (c) how they have financed their degree to date.
    • Previous academic success and commitment can be demonstrated in a variety of ways including, but not limited to, prior coursework, degrees, and institutions of higher education; honors, awards, scholarships, or other academic distinctions; scholarly activity at previous institution(s) or employment; scholarly engagement in professional organizations, and research endeavors; skills and aptitudes that support academic success such as motivation, persistence in the face of challenges and hardship; intellectual curiosity; self-direction; and initiative.
  2. A nominating letter (2 pages maximum) from college leadership or the nominee’s major professor, unit chair/head addressing (a) the nominee’s previous academic success, commitment to graduate studies, and scholarly potential in their chosen field of study; (b) the nominee’s timeline for completion of the degree including confirmation of the strong likelihood the student will complete their degree in no more than one calendar year; and (c) a description of any financial support provided to the student by the academic unit to date.
    • Previous academic success and commitment can be demonstrated in a variety of ways including, but not limited to, prior coursework, degrees, and institutions of higher education; honors, awards, scholarships, or other academic distinctions; scholarly activity at previous institution(s) or employment; scholarly engagement in professional organizations, and research endeavors; skills and aptitudes that support academic success such as motivation, persistence in the face of challenges and hardship; intellectual curiosity; self-direction; and initiative.
  3. A copy of the nominee’s résumé or curriculum vitae

Nomination Form

Submit a nomination

Scholarships and Fellowships Application Form Overview

Questions

For questions about this award or any Office of Graduate Education administered awards, please contact our Graduate Scholarships and Fellowships team