ORU runs almost everything through one program: the Quest Whole Leader Scholarship. Every eligible student who gets admitted and enrolls full time on campus gets a Quest award automatically. There’s no GPA chart to look up. A scholarship committee sets the number. From there, your student can try to move that award all the way up to full tuition by getting nominated, visiting campus for a Quest event, writing the Quest essay, and interviewing. Think of the automatic award as the floor and the Quest process as the elevator.
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Oral Roberts University (Read This First)
That $6,000 to $11,000 GPA chart you saw online is gone. ORU no longer lists its old Academic Scholarship tiers. Today the Quest award is set by a committee, so don’t budget off a grid.
Full tuition requires showing up. To compete, your student needs a nomination from someone outside the family, a campus visit at a Quest event, an essay, and an interview, all done before a selection round (Dec 1, Feb 1, or Apr 9).
NCAA athletic money changes everything. ORU says students on NCAA athletic scholarships can’t receive Quest or any other ORU institutional aid. Compare the two offers carefully before your athlete commits.
Nothing is locked until you pay $299. ORU says scholarship offers can change until the enrollment fee is paid.
Moving off campus costs you. Changing residential status, including switching to a virtual program, cuts the Quest award by 25%.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Oral Roberts University is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 19-26; SAT: 1045-1270.
Average net price? About $25,365/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Oral Roberts University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in October 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Oral Roberts University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $1,000 to $2,500 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
All students: billed cost per year
$49,990
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$38,430
Housing & meals (typical)
$11,560
Total billed cost
$49,990
Average federal net price: $25,365 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
📌 Regional Tuition & Waiver Options
Oral Roberts University is a private Christian university utilizing a single tuition rate for all residential undergraduates. Because there is no out-of-state premium, residency-based reciprocity programs (like MSEP) do not apply.
One Price for Everyone, Plus a Few Ways to Shrink It
ORU is private, so a family in Tulsa and a family in Tampa see the same sticker price. What changes the bill is aid. Oklahoma families under $100,000 should look at the Golden Eagle Promise, and Texas families who had a state grant lined up should ask about the Texas Grant Match. For whatever’s left, ORU offers an interest-free monthly payment plan that spreads each semester over 4 to 5 months, plus on-campus work-study for students who accept it in their aid offer.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Oral Roberts University
Is ORU cheaper if you live in Oklahoma?
The sticker price is the same for everyone. Oklahoma students do get one extra tool: the Golden Eagle Promise, which can stack federal, state, and ORU aid to cover up to 100% of tuition for families earning under $100,000 with at least a 2.5 GPA.
What’s actually in ORU’s yearly cost?
For 2026-2027, ORU lists tuition at $36,250, a standard-room housing average of $4,910, meal plans at $6,650, a general fee of $1,320, a technology fee of $500, and an academic fee of $360. That’s an estimated $49,990 before books, travel, and personal spending.
Why do families pay so much less than the sticker price?
Because almost nobody pays full price. ORU says nearly 100% of its full-time residential undergraduates get scholarships or grants. The most recent federal data puts the average net price around $25,000 a year after grants and scholarships.
What is the $299 enrollment fee, and why does it matter for scholarships?
It’s the deposit that secures your student’s spot. It also locks in the scholarship and aid offer and opens up housing selection. ORU says awards are subject to change until it’s paid, so don’t sit on it if you’re sure about ORU.
Will moving off campus change our cost?
It can raise it. The Quest award is built for full-time residential students. Changing residential status, or switching to a virtual program, triggers a 25% cut to the Quest award.
What happened to ORU’s LEAP loan buyback program?
LEAP offered up to a $15,000 graduation credit toward ORU loans, but ORU says the opportunity ended with the fall 2026 entering class. Students who already signed a LEAP contract keep their terms. New students shouldn’t count on it.
When should we file the FAFSA?
ORU’s FAFSA priority deadline is March 1, and ORU warns that some funds are first come, first served. Use school code 003985. ORU also lets families file during a campus visit.
Dec 1: Quest full-tuition Round 1. Nomination, visit, essay, and interview all done. Results by Dec 15.
Feb 1: Quest full-tuition Round 2. Results by Feb 15.
Mar 1: ORU’s FAFSA priority deadline. This drives the Golden Eagle Promise, the Texas Grant Match, and need-based money.
Apr 9: Quest full-tuition Round 3. Results by Apr 23.
May 15: Most donor and restricted scholarship applications close (the window opens Feb 1).
Parent rule of thumb: aim for the December round. Interview slots are limited, and later rounds have the same number of hoops with fewer seats left.
Automatic Scholarships at Oral Roberts University
The big one here is the Quest Whole Leader Scholarship. Eligible students get it automatically when they’re admitted, with no separate application. ORU doesn’t publish a GPA or test chart for it; a Scholarship Review Committee sets each amount. ORU is test-optional, so test scores aren’t required to get in. The other awards below are add-ons for specific situations: Oklahoma families, Texas students, transfers, ORU legacies, dual enrollment students, and tribal scholarship holders.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
High school seniors, recent high school graduates, and transfer students enrolling full time in a residential undergraduate program. Not available to students who already received a Quest award or are returning ORU students.
✚
Stacking & Combining
Quest is one of two main scholarship tracks at ORU — students are awarded Quest OR the academic tier scholarship, not both. NCAA Division I athletic scholarship recipients are ineligible for Quest. Quest can be later upgraded to the full-tuition tier through the competitive Quest process.
💡
Strategic Detail
ORU awards a Quest Whole Leader Scholarship automatically at admission. ORU does not publish a GPA or test-score chart for it. Amounts are set by ORU's Scholarship Review Committee and range in value, up to full tuition for students who win a full-tuition Quest award. Older third-party sites still show a $6,000 to $11,000 Academic Scholarship grid, but that program no longer appears on ORU's live scholarship page. Students receiving NCAA Division I athletic aid are not eligible. Switching away from residential status, including to a virtual program, cuts the award by 25%. Awards can change until the $299 enrollment fee is paid.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Nearly every admitted full-time residential undergraduate. ORU says nearly 100% of full-time residential undergraduates receive scholarships or grants. Because a committee sets the amount, two students with similar grades can see different numbers.
Automatic
Oklahoma Golden Eagle Promise
📅 Deadline: Mar 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPA
✚
Stacking & Combining
This is how ORU packages Pell, Oklahoma state aid, and ORU institutional dollars together, so it works alongside the Quest award rather than replacing it. File the FAFSA early, since some funds are first come, first served.
💡
Strategic Detail
A packaging pathway for Oklahoma students, not a fixed scholarship. ORU combines federal, state, and ORU aid to cover up to 100% of tuition for students with family income under $100,000 and at least a 2.5 GPA or a qualifying test score. Oklahoma's Promise recipients are automatically considered, and students who never enrolled in Oklahoma's Promise can still qualify.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Oklahoma students with family income under $100,000 and at least a 2.5 GPA (or a qualifying test score) who apply to ORU and list ORU on the FAFSA.
Automatic
Texas Grant Match
📅 Deadline: Mar 1 ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
$5,300/yr
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Meant to restore some of the Texas state aid a student gives up by leaving Texas. It sits alongside the Quest award; confirm the final package on the aid offer.
💡
Strategic Detail
Students who were awarded a Texas state grant at another institution before enrolling at ORU may receive a matching award of up to $5,300 per year. ORU says the match amount depends on the student's original admit year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Texas students who previously qualified for a Texas state grant at another institution and now want to bring that state aid value with them to ORU. The match restores some of the in-state aid value Texas families forfeit by choosing an out-of-state private school.
Automatic⚠ Transfer Only
Quest Transfer Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Feb 1 ✓ Renews (2 GPA, 4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
🎓 Transfer
💡
Strategic Detail
A 50% tuition scholarship for full-time undergraduate students who transfer to ORU. ORU says it renews at the awarded amount with a 2.00 GPA for up to four years while the student stays enrolled full time.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Full-time undergraduate transfer students admitted to ORU.
Automatic
Legacy Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Aligns with ORU admission timelines ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
ORU does not publish a dollar amount. Ask admissions how it combines with the Quest award on the official aid offer.
💡
Strategic Detail
ORU advertises the Legacy Scholarship as available to children of ORU graduates but does not publish a dollar amount. This is a record to surface in admissions conversations rather than to budget against — ask the admissions counselor for a specific Legacy figure as part of the official aid offer.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with one or both parents who graduated from ORU and who enroll as residential undergraduates. Online students are not eligible.
App Required
ORU Tribal Scholarship Matching Program
📅 Deadline: Coordinate with the tribal scholarship cycle and ORU first-year enrollment Non-Renewable
$2,000
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Matches qualifying tribal scholarships up to $2,000 in the first year only. It amplifies tribal scholarship dollars rather than replacing ORU aid. One-time; not renewable.
📄
How to Apply
Submit a Certificate Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB) card, file the FAFSA listing ORU, and arrange the tribal scholarship payment to ORU. The match is processed by ORU once the tribal funds and FAFSA are on file.
💡
Strategic Detail
ORU matches qualifying tribal scholarships dollar-for-dollar up to $2,000 for incoming full-time undergraduates in their first year only. This is a meaningful first-year boost but families should not budget on it beyond freshman year — there is no renewal pathway in the published program.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Incoming full-time undergraduate students who are enrolled members of a federally recognized American Indian tribe, hold a CDIB card, and have a FAFSA-documented financial need.
Automatic
Advantage Program Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Applied upon first-year enrollment at ORU Non-Renewable
$500
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
A one-time rebate of ORU Advantage dual enrollment tuition the student paid, up to $500, for students who enroll full time in a residential program. It sits alongside the Quest award.
💡
Strategic Detail
A modest, one-time, capped scholarship matching ORU Advantage dual enrollment tuition paid by the student up to $500. Not a tuition-mover on its own, but a nice extra for families that took the Advantage track and then committed to ORU.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who paid tuition for ORU Advantage dual enrollment courses while in high school and then enrolled full-time at ORU as a residential undergraduate.
Data last verified Oct 22, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: Each student gets one Quest award. Transfers get the Quest Transfer Scholarship instead. Add-ons like the Golden Eagle Promise and Texas Grant Match are packaged around Quest. Always confirm the final mix on your student’s official aid offer.
Automatic Scholarships: FAQs (Oral Roberts University)
How much is the Quest Whole Leader Scholarship?
ORU doesn’t publish a set amount. A committee decides each award, and it ranges in value up to full tuition for students who win a full-tuition Quest seat. The only way to see your number is to apply and get admitted, which ORU says takes about three days once your file is complete.
What happened to ORU’s $6,000 to $11,000 academic scholarships?
ORU used to list a GPA-based Academic Scholarship grid. That grid no longer appears on ORU’s live scholarship page, which now lists Quest as the scholarship program at admission. Older articles and some college sites haven’t caught up.
Does my student need test scores for scholarships?
ORU is currently test-optional for admission, and Quest is set by a committee rather than a score chart. If your student has a strong ACT, SAT, or CLT score, sending it can only add to the picture. The Golden Eagle Promise can also be met with a qualifying test score instead of the 2.5 GPA.
What is the Oklahoma Golden Eagle Promise?
It’s ORU’s commitment to Oklahoma families with income under $100,000 and at least a 2.5 GPA or qualifying test score. ORU combines federal, state, and ORU aid to cover up to 100% of tuition. Apply to ORU and list it on the FAFSA with code 003985. Oklahoma’s Promise students are automatically considered, but you don’t need Oklahoma’s Promise to qualify.
We’re in Texas. Do we lose our state grant by choosing ORU?
Texas state grants generally don’t travel out of state, which is exactly why ORU created the Texas Grant Match. Students who were awarded a Texas state grant at another school before enrolling at ORU may get a match of up to $5,300 a year. ORU says the amount depends on the student’s original admit year.
Is there a scholarship for children of ORU grads?
Yes. The Legacy Scholarship is open to students with one or both parents who graduated from ORU. ORU doesn’t publish the dollar amount, and it isn’t available to online students, so ask admissions for the exact figure.
My student took ORU Advantage dual enrollment classes. Does that help?
It does, a little. ORU gives a one-time scholarship equal to the Advantage tuition you paid, up to $500, when your student enrolls full time in a residential program.
Does ORU match tribal scholarships?
Yes, in the first year only. ORU matches tribal scholarships up to $2,000 for incoming full-time undergraduates. Your student needs a CDIB card, a FAFSA on file, and financial need as shown on the FAFSA. It’s a one-time grant and doesn’t renew.
What do transfer students get?
The Quest Transfer Scholarship covers 50% of tuition for full-time undergraduate transfers. It renews at the same amount with a 2.00 GPA for up to four years as long as your student stays full time.
How does my student keep the Quest award?
Stay full time, live on campus, stay in good standing, and keep a 2.0 GPA (3.0 for full-tuition awards). Fall below and the award goes on probation for a year with no cut. Stay below a second year and it’s cancelled until the GPA recovers.
ORU’s flagship award is the Quest Whole Leader Full Tuition Scholarship, and it’s very much an “earn it in person” award. ORU’s Quest page says it gives about 12 each year (its main scholarship page says 15). The committee weighs the nomination, the essay, and an interview held at a Quest campus event. National Merit Finalists get their own package and an automatic interview invitation.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at ORU?
Aid Type
Stacks with Quest?
ORU Parent Translation
Quest award at admission
N/A
One Quest award per student. This is the starting point for almost everyone.
Quest Full Tuition
Replaces (upgrade)
Same program, bigger number. If your student isn’t selected, they keep the award they already had.
National Merit package
Is a Quest award
A $25,000 Quest award plus a full room award, with an automatic shot at full tuition.
Golden Eagle Promise / Texas Grant Match
Packaged together
These pull in state and federal money around Quest. FAFSA timing matters.
Donor and restricted scholarships
Often yes
Good gap fillers. ORU notes a need-based grant may shrink if other ORU money comes in.
NCAA athletic scholarship
No
ORU says NCAA athletic aid rules out Quest and all other ORU institutional aid. Run the numbers both ways.
Here’s the kitchen-table truth: the full-tuition Quest seats go to students who start early. Get the nomination in the fall of senior year, book a Quest event, and finish the essay before December. A student with good grades who checks every box by Dec 1 is in a much better spot than a student with great grades who shows up in April.
Full TuitionApp Requiredservice
Quest Whole Leader Full Tuition Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Dec 1 · 📢 Results: Round 1 announced Dec 15; Round 2 by Mar 1; Round 3 by Apr 20 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Tuition
tuition
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Requires a nomination from a non-family member, a campus visit at a Quest event, a Quest essay, and an interview. About 12 awarded per year.
👥 ~Approximately 12 full-tuition Quest scholarships per year per ORU's dedicated Quest undergraduate page winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
The full-tuition award replaces the Quest base and the academic tier awards rather than stacking on top — it is the same Quest framework, just elevated. National Merit Finalists who land the full-tuition tier keep the full room award on top, which is the strongest combined ORU package available.
📄
How to Apply
Be admitted to ORU as a residential, full-time undergraduate, secure a nomination from a non-family member (school official, church leader, community leader, or ORU alumni/faculty/staff), visit campus for a Quest event, submit the Quest essay, and complete the on-site interview at Quest Premier.
Selection criteria: Committee review weights nomination, essay, and interview — essay topics cover Spiritual Integrity, Personal Resilience, Intellectual Pursuit, Global Engagement, and Bold Vision
✎ Essays🎤 Interview🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
ORU's Quest page lists 12 full-tuition Quest scholarships per year; ORU's main scholarship page says 15. A committee weighs the essay, the interview, and the nominations. Essay questions center on Spiritual Integrity, Personal Resilience, Intellectual Pursuit, Global Engagement, and Bold Vision. Students not selected keep the Quest award they received at admission. Renewal requires a 3.0 GPA, with one year of probation before cancellation.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted full-time residential students who get nominated early, attend a Quest event, and present a strong mix of academics, leadership, service, and fit with ORU's Christian mission. Only about 12 are chosen each year.
Automaticnational merit
National Merit Finalist Scholarship Package
📅 Deadline: Follows National Merit Scholarship Program deadlines plus ORU's standard admission timelines ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✘ Not stackable
👥 ~Limited to National Merit Finalists enrolling at ORU; exact number varies each year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
The package is itself a $25,000 Quest Whole Leader Scholarship plus a full room award — it replaces, rather than stacks with, other academic tier or Quest base awards. National Merit Finalists are also automatically invited to compete for the full-tuition Quest tier on top of this baseline.
💡
Strategic Detail
ORU's package for National Merit Finalists is a $25,000 Quest Whole Leader Scholarship plus a full room award, renewable for four years. Finalists are also automatically invited to interview for one of the full-tuition Quest scholarships.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: National Merit Finalists who enroll at ORU as full-time residential undergraduates.
Data last verified Oct 22, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
How many full-tuition Quest scholarships does ORU give?
ORU’s Quest page says 12 a year. Its main scholarship page says 15. Either way, it’s a small number for a school this size, so plan as if seats are scarce.
What does my student have to do to compete?
Four things: get admitted and secure a nomination, visit campus for a Quest event, submit the Quest essay, and complete an interview. The essay link shows up by email after the nomination comes in, so check the spam folder.
Who can nominate my student?
ORU wants a nomination from someone outside the family, like a school counselor, a teacher, a pastor, a community leader, or ORU alumni, faculty, or staff. Multiple nominations are allowed and encouraged.
What are the Quest deadlines?
There are three selection rounds: Dec 1 (announced Dec 15), Feb 1 (announced by Feb 15), and Apr 9 (announced by Apr 23). Every step has to be finished before the round date.
What does the Quest essay ask about?
It’s a set of short-answer questions built around five traits ORU looks for: Spiritual Integrity, Personal Resilience, Intellectual Pursuit, Global Engagement, and Bold Vision. ORU asks students to answer like they’re turning in a school paper. Our Essay Toolkit and Brag Sheet Builder can help your student organize stories that fit those themes.
What if my student isn’t picked for full tuition?
Nothing is lost. ORU says students who aren’t selected keep the Quest award they were offered at admission.
Does ORU have a National Merit package?
Yes. National Merit Finalists get a $25,000 Quest Whole Leader Scholarship plus a full room award, renewable for four years, and an automatic invitation to interview for full tuition.
How does my student keep a full-tuition Quest award?
Keep a 3.0 GPA, stay full time and on campus, and stay in good standing. A year below 3.0 means probation with no cut. A second year below 3.0 cancels the award until the GPA recovers.
🧠 Parent Strategy: ORU’s “One Form, Many Funds” Window
ORU’s Financial Aid office runs a single Restricted Scholarship Application that gets your student considered for a group of donor funds at once. It’s open Feb 1 to May 15 every year, freshmen through seniors.
File the FAFSA by March 1. Most of these funds are need-based.
Fill out the restricted application between Feb 1 and May 15.
Parent translation: Quest gets you most of the way there. These spring applications are how families close the last few thousand dollars, and they’re how a sophomore or junior adds money after year one.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These aren’t automatic. Most need their own application, the FAFSA, a specific major, or a talent like debate or esports. A few are built for specific groups, like first-generation students, international students, and students coming back to finish their degree.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Jonas B. Nyberg Memorial Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 15 Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
A need-based donor award that sits alongside Quest. Check the aid offer for any reduction to need-based grants.
💡
Strategic Detail
For students ages 18 to 23 (high school seniors, recent graduates, or current ORU students) who plan to major or minor in Evangelism or Communication, hold a 3.00 cumulative GPA, and show financial need. Open to U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, and citizens of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, or Finland. Applicants review jonasmemorialfund.org first. Amount not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Evangelism or Communication students with a 3.0 GPA and financial need who complete the application by May 15.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Jack and Carol Greer Memorial Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 15 ✓ Renews (2.5 GPA)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.5+ GPA🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
A donor award for upperclass business majors. ORU notes need-based grants may be reduced when other institutional funds are awarded, so check the aid offer.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the departmental scholarship application through ORU’s restricted scholarship process for business majors by the posted deadline.
Selection criteria: Selection emphasizes Christian commitment, service involvement, academic standing, and financial need among business majors.
💡
Strategic Detail
For business majors who are juniors or seniors with a 2.50 GPA, a strong Christian commitment, and active service. One ORU page lists it for sophomores through seniors; the application page says juniors and seniors. The application form is currently marked inactive, and ORU does not publish an award amount.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Business majors (often sophomores and above) who demonstrate financial need, maintain at least a 2.5 GPA, and are active in Christian service.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Margaret L. Lesher Foundation Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 15 Non-Renewable
$4,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA👥 ~As many as ten scholarships per year, depending on funding. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
A need-based donor award that sits alongside Quest. Check the aid offer for any reduction to need-based grants.
📄
How to Apply
Submit the Margaret L. Lesher Foundation Scholarship application between Feb 1 and May 15 with FAFSA on file (for U.S. students), writing samples, faculty recommendation, and required essay.
Selection criteria: Evaluated on academic performance, financial need, writing quality, and alignment with calling and communication goals as discussed in the required essay.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
As many as ten awards of up to $4,000 each year, depending on funding, for full-time Print Journalism majors with a 3.0 GPA and financial need. Broadcast Journalism majors may apply, but Print Journalism gets preference. Requires the FAFSA (domestic students), two writing samples from the past 12 months, one faculty recommendation, and a 500-word essay. Students reapply each spring for the next year and can receive it up to four times.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Upper-level print or broadcast journalism majors with at least a 3.0 GPA and demonstrated financial need.
App Required
International Quest Whole Person Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Follow ORU international undergraduate admission timelines ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
This award builds on top of the Quest Whole Leader Scholarship for international students — it is essentially a layered amplifier for students already inside the Quest framework, not a freestanding international scholarship.
📄
How to Apply
Be admitted to ORU as an international undergraduate, receive a Quest Whole Leader Scholarship at admission, then complete the International Quest Whole Person Scholarship application form linked from ORU's undergraduate scholarship page.
💡
Strategic Detail
A layered scholarship designed specifically for international students who already qualify for Quest. Dollar amount is not publicly listed and is best confirmed directly with ORU's international admissions team as part of the aid offer.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
International undergraduate students who hold a Quest Whole Leader Scholarship at ORU and complete the supplemental International Quest Whole Person application.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Quest Whole Leader Entrepreneurship Scholarship
📅 Deadline: April 15 or May 15 (ORU's pages disagree); application currently closed Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
A major-specific Quest add-on. ORU does not publish stacking rules, so confirm on the aid offer.
📄
How to Apply
Participate in the Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship Launch Competition, submitting a venture concept and pitch per program rules and timelines.
Selection criteria: Judged on venture viability, execution, innovation, and potential impact by Stovall Center and competition judges.
🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
For students majoring in ORU's Entrepreneurship program. ORU lists the deadline as April 15 on its main scholarship page and May 15 on its undergraduate aid page, and the application page currently shows the window as closed. Amount not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Declared Entrepreneurship majors who apply during the spring window.
App Required
Quest First Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Apply after admission; attend Quest Day and file the FAFSA first Non-Renewable
Varies
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
📄
How to Apply
Indicate first-generation status and complete ORU’s required verification; must meet minimum GPA and be degree-seeking under ORU’s terms.
Selection criteria: Eligibility based on first-generation status and minimum GPA; not a competitive scored process.
💡
Strategic Detail
ORU's first-generation scholarship for students seeking full-time residential undergraduate admission who will be the first in their family to earn a bachelor's degree. Steps: be admitted, attend Quest Day, file the FAFSA with ORU's code 003985, and submit the Quest First application. ORU does not publish the award amount or renewal terms on its live pages, so confirm both on the aid offer.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Incoming freshmen who will be first-generation college graduates and complete all four Quest First steps.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Financial Aid Restricted Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 15 Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Restricted scholarships from this umbrella application generally layer on top of academic and Quest awards as supplemental aid for students with demonstrated need. The single application is a high-leverage way to be considered for multiple smaller donor funds at once.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the Financial Aid Restricted Scholarship application, available from February 1 through May 15 each year. One application opens consideration for several donor-funded restricted scholarship funds.
💡
Strategic Detail
One of the most efficient applications a continuing ORU student can fill out — a single form gets the student evaluated against a portfolio of restricted donor funds run through the financial aid office. Open from Feb 1 to May 15 each year and well worth the effort even when individual awards are modest.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Currently enrolled ORU undergraduates of any year who can show financial need and who submit the single restricted scholarship application during the open window from February 1 to May 15. Awards from this pool typically vary from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on which donor funds match the student profile.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Quest Whole Leader Media Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 15 ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
A major-specific Quest add-on intended to amplify Quest awards for Broadcast Media majors — usually stacks on the existing Quest base rather than replacing it.
📄
How to Apply
Be admitted to ORU as a Broadcast Media major, then submit the Quest Whole Leader Media Scholarship application by the published May 15 deadline.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
A narrow-but-real opportunity for Broadcast Media majors. Dollar amount is not publicly listed — students need to apply by May 15 and confirm the awarded figure with the financial aid office.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Declared Broadcast Media majors at ORU who submit the supplemental Quest Media application on time and show alignment with the program's media leadership focus.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Esports Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Team-specific recruiting and tryout timelines ✓ Renews
$3,500/yr
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Treated here as an add-on to Quest for students recruited to ORU's esports team. ORU does not publish stacking rules, so confirm on the aid offer.
📄
How to Apply
Be recruited to an ORU competitive Esports team and complete team tryouts and coach selection requirements; coordinate with financial aid to have the scholarship applied.
Selection criteria: Selection is based on competitive gaming skill, team fit, and coach evaluation.
💡
Strategic Detail
ORU’s scholarship list notes that students recruited to competitive Esports teams may receive scholarships up to $3,500; CRP echoes this amount and frames it as a renewable award for recruited competitive gamers.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: High-skill competitive gamers recruited to ORU Esports teams in titles like Valorant or Rocket League.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Readmit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Applies on readmission Non-Renewable
Varies
✘ Not stackable
⚠ Returning ORU students with fewer than 15 credit hours left
🎓 All Undergrad
💡
Strategic Detail
Students who left ORU and applied to return in 2023 or later get 50% off tuition if they have fewer than 15 credit hours left to finish their degree. Applies to part-time or full-time and residential or online students. Students who left for medical or military leave can appeal to have their original Quest award reinstated regardless of hours remaining.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Former ORU students close to finishing who come back to complete the degree.
App Required⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Suzanne M. Behr Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 15 ✓ Renews (2 GPA)
$3,000/yr
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.0+ GPA🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
A need-based donor award. ORU notes need-based grants may be reduced when other institutional funds are awarded, so check the aid offer.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the Suzanne M. Behr Scholarship application through ORU’s restricted scholarship process by May 15, documenting financial need.
Selection criteria: Evaluated on spiritual commitment and financial need for junior and senior students; academic minimum is modest but continued satisfactory progress is expected.
💡
Strategic Detail
A minimum of $3,000 for the school year, paid as $1,500 per semester, for full-time juniors and seniors of any major who will graduate within two years of the deadline, show financial need, and hold at least a 2.0 GPA. Requires an essay and two recommendation letters, one from ORU faculty or staff and one from a spiritual leader. Recipients meet and have dinner with Ms. Behr. ORU's page description refers to female students.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Junior and senior students from any major who demonstrate a heart for God and financial need and are willing to engage with the donor.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Marilyn Bonebrake LaPointe / Debate and Forensic Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Contact the ORU debate coach ✓ Renews (2.8 GPA)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Added to the student's financial aid package each semester alongside other awards.
💡
Strategic Detail
Yearly scholarships for members of the ORU Debate team, paid half in fall and half in spring. Recipients enroll in COM 400 Debate, attend tournaments, and keep a 3.0 major GPA and a 2.8 overall GPA; falling short triggers probation. Amount not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students selected for the ORU Debate team.
Automatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
ApplyBoard International Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Follows ApplyBoard and ORU international admission timelines ✓ Renews (2 GPA)
$9,250/yr
✘ Not stackable
⚠ International students applying through ApplyBoard
🎓 All Undergrad
💡
Strategic Detail
International students who apply through ApplyBoard receive a renewable $9,250 scholarship toward full-time annual enrollment. It renews with full-time residential enrollment and a 2.0 GPA. ORU does not publish whether it combines with Quest.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: International undergraduates who come to ORU through the ApplyBoard platform.
Data last verified Oct 22, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
Is there a scholarship for first-generation college students?
Yes, the Quest First Scholarship. Your student needs to be admitted, attend Quest Day, file the FAFSA with code 003985, and submit the Quest First application. ORU doesn’t post the amount online, so ask for it on the aid offer.
Can incoming freshmen apply for these?
Some, yes. Quest First and the Jonas B. Nyberg Memorial Scholarship are open to high school seniors, and the Restricted Scholarship Application takes freshmen through seniors. Others, like the Suzanne M. Behr and Jack and Carol Greer awards, are for juniors and seniors.
Will a donor scholarship lower our other aid?
It can. ORU says a need-based grant may be reduced or cancelled if your student is awarded other institutional funds. It’s still free money, but compare the full aid offer before and after.
Are there scholarships tied to a major?
Several. Print and broadcast journalism majors can apply for the Margaret L. Lesher award (up to $4,000, as many as ten a year). Evangelism and Communication students can apply for the Nyberg award. Broadcast Media majors have a Quest Media Scholarship, and Entrepreneurship majors have a Quest Entrepreneurship Scholarship. Business juniors and seniors have the Greer award, though its application is marked inactive right now.
Does ORU offer money for esports or debate?
Yes. Students recruited to ORU’s esports team can get up to $3,500. Debate team members receive yearly scholarships tied to staying in COM 400 Debate and keeping a 3.0 major GPA and 2.8 overall GPA.
What about international students?
International students who apply through ApplyBoard get a renewable $9,250 scholarship. International students who already hold a Quest award can also apply for the International Quest Whole Person Scholarship.
My student left ORU. Is there help to come back?
Yes. Students who return in 2023 or later with fewer than 15 credit hours left get 50% off tuition. Students who left for medical or military reasons can appeal to have their original Quest award reinstated.
ORU has an Honors Program (not a separate honors college) built around smaller, discussion-heavy classes. Most honors courses replace general education classes your student has to take anyway, so it doesn’t usually add extra classes. Membership is by invitation.
Scholars (invite only): admitted freshmen or transfers with a 4.0 cumulative high school GPA
Fellows: Scholars who complete four HONR seminars, for an extra distinction at graduation
Transfers: a 3.5 transfer GPA can qualify on request. Tulsa Community College honors students come in automatically as Scholars.
To stay in: 3.5 ORU GPA, two program social events a year, and a renewal form each winter
Honors Program Scholarships & Funding
Heads up: ORU’s own pages disagree here. One Honors page still advertises a Fellows award of up to $20,000 a year. The Honors FAQ says ORU no longer offers a specific Honors scholarship and points students to Quest instead. We’re going with the FAQ. If your student is invited to Honors, ask admissions directly whether any honors money is attached.
Automatic⚠ Upperclassmen Only
Honors Research Assistantship
📅 Deadline: Program-specific; depends on faculty proposals and the Honors program calendar Non-Renewable
$1,250
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Varies each year based on available assistantship funding and the number of faculty projects winners/yr🎓 Upperclassmen
✚
Stacking & Combining
Research stipends pay for research work and do not replace existing merit or Honors awards — treat this as an add-on income source for Honors students rather than a tuition offset.
💡
Strategic Detail
Honors students in good standing who do research or scholarly work under a faculty mentor can receive stipends of up to $1,250 per semester, with additional money available for summer. Assistantships open as faculty requests and vacancies occur.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Upperclass Honors Fellows and Scholars in good standing matched to faculty-led research projects. Selection depends heavily on the slate of proposals submitted by Honors faculty each year.
Data last verified Oct 22, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
The main honors perk with real dollars attached is the Honors Research Assistantship: up to $1,250 per semester, plus possible summer money, for honors students doing research with a faculty mentor.
Where Strong Students Actually Find Bigger Money at ORU
Quest Full Tuition: about 12 a year, earned through nomination, visit, essay, and interview.
National Merit Finalists: a $25,000 Quest award plus a full room award.
Honors Research Assistantships: paid research once your student is in the program.
Honors Program FAQs (Oral Roberts University)
How does a student get into the Honors Program?
By invitation. Admitted freshmen and transfers with a 4.0 cumulative high school GPA are invited as Scholars. Transfers with a 3.5 GPA can ask to be considered by contacting admissions.
Does the Honors Program come with a scholarship?
ORU’s Honors FAQ says there’s no dedicated Honors scholarship anymore. The Quest Whole Leader Scholarship is the main merit award for everyone, honors or not.
What’s the difference between a Scholar and a Fellow?
Both get the full program benefits. Fellows are Scholars who take four HONR seminars, which earns an extra distinction at graduation. Everyone needs 18 honors credits and a 3.5 GPA to graduate from the program.
Will honors classes hurt my student’s GPA?
ORU says honors classes aren’t graded on a tougher scale, and students tend to earn the same grades they get in regular classes. Average honors class size is about 15 to 20 students.
Can nursing or engineering majors do Honors?
Yes. ORU says students in tightly structured majors have done it successfully. The tip is to take most honors classes freshman and sophomore year, before major requirements pile up.
What if my student’s GPA drops below 3.5?
They get one year of probation to bring it back up. If it’s still under 3.5 after that, they’re dropped from the program, but they can be reinstated once the GPA recovers.
Oral Roberts University is a private Christian university in Tulsa with more than 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs. Faith isn’t a side activity here. ORU calls its approach “Whole Person Education” (spirit, mind, and body), and it shows up in everything from chapel to how the nursing program is designed. Families who want that kind of environment tend to love it. Families who don’t should know that going in.
Signature Strength: Theology & Ministry. This is the program ORU is best known for. The College of Theology & Ministry trains future pastors, missionaries, worship leaders, and ministry professionals, and it’s the heart of the school’s identity.
Nursing: The Anna Vaughn School of Nursing’s BSN is CCNE-accredited, and ORU says it meets the educational requirements for RN licensure in all 50 states.
Engineering: The Bachelor of Science in Engineering is ABET-accredited, a big deal for students who may want a professional engineering license someday.
Business: ORU’s business programs carry ACBSP accreditation and pair with a real entrepreneurship push through the Stovall Center for Entrepreneurship.
Communication & Media: Broadcast, journalism, and digital media are a natural fit at a school with its own TV operation (GEB TV), and they come with their own scholarships (Quest Media, Lesher, Nyberg).
Health Sciences & Pre-Professional: Simulation labs in the Nursing and Engineering Complex and a range of health science tracks for students heading toward medical careers.
🔗 Official Oral Roberts University Links
Use ORU’s official pages below to double-check admissions requirements, Quest scholarship rules, costs, and deadlines. ORU updates its scholarship programs often, so treat these pages as the final word.
Big picture? Oral Roberts University rewards families who show up. Almost every full-time student on campus gets a Quest award just for being admitted, but the life-changing money, full tuition, goes to the handful of students who get nominated early, come to Tulsa for a Quest event, and tell their story well in the essay and interview. If your student is drawn to a Christ-centered campus and to programs like ministry, nursing, engineering, business, or media, ORU can come in far below its sticker price.
The playbook is simple: apply early in senior year, request a nomination right away, book a Quest visit before December, file the FAFSA by March 1, and use the spring restricted application to pick up smaller awards. Oklahoma and Texas families should ask specifically about the Golden Eagle Promise and the Texas Grant Match. And if your student is weighing an NCAA athletic offer, compare it side by side with Quest before signing anything.
Was this helpful? Share it with another parent who’s comparing college costs!
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
After the series, about once a month, sometimes twice during application season. No drip funnels, no affiliate pitches, and we never sell your information. Unsubscribe anytime.
Written by Leo Dimilo
Leo is a parent who went through the college money maze with his own daughter and built CollegeReadyParent as a free, no-paywall guide for middle-income and first-generation families. More about Leo →
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
__utmz
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gali
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager
