21 Best Scholarships for Community College Students: Breaking Barriers to Higher Education
Many students and families then choose community colleges because they are less expensive and offer faster career-focused degrees.
Students may prefer to attend a community college over a typical four-year institution for a variety of financial, intellectual, and practical reasons.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, two-year institutions have lower average costs than four-year colleges.
Some community colleges may also provide more diverse financial aid options, such as daycare, housing vouchers, and emergency grants. They may also hold classes across numerous campus locations.
Scholarships for Community College Students: Breaking Barriers to Higher Education
Many community college programs cater to adult students and working professionals.
The Community College Research Center found that almost two-thirds of community college students work while enrolled, with 46% working full-time.
1. Be Bold: No-Essay Scholarship
2. Niche Scholarship No-Essay
3. The DEWALT Trades Scholarship
4. The Community College Transition Award
5. The Jack Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship
6. The Lockheed Martin Vocational Scholarship
7. Redefining the Victory Scholarship
8. The Frederick and Bernice Beretta Memorial Scholarship
9. The William A. Stuart Dream Scholarship
10. The Russell Koci Skilled Trade Scholarship
11. The Federal Work-Study Program
12. The Federal Pell Grant Program
13. The TEACH Grant Program
14. The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Program
15. Iranian-Afghanistan Service Grant Program
16. AHCCCS Scholarships
17. Honorary Achievement Award
18. The Nina Scholars Program
19. The Phoenix Promise Program
20. Presidents’ Honors Scholarship
21. Spouses of Military Veteran
1. Be Bold: No-Essay Scholarship
Who Can Apply?: This merit-based grant is offered to high school seniors regardless of GPA, state, education level, or main field of study.
Deadline: January 2, 2024.
Scholarship amount: $25,000
2. Niche Scholarship No-Essay
Who Can Apply?: Applicants must be at least 18 years old, or 13 with parental approval. Rising high school graduates who want to attend college within the next 12 months, as well as current college students, are eligible.
Deadline: October 31, 2024.
Scholarship amount: $2,000.
3. The DEWALT Trades Scholarship
Who Can Apply?: Candidates must be rising high school graduates or current college students attending full-time in a two-year college or vocational institution.
Eligible fields of study include industrial, construction, motor/power, mechanical, and technology.
Deadline: January 17, 2024.
Scholarship amount: $5,000.
4. The Community College Transition Award
Who Can Apply?: The National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) grants this award to community college students who are transferring to a four-year institution. Candidates must also have a 3.0 GPA and an NSCS membership.
Deadline: May 25, 2024.
Scholarship amount: $1,000.
5. The Jack Cooke Foundation’s Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship
Who Can Apply?: Applicants must be community college sophomores aiming to transfer to a four-year university the following year, have a minimum 3.5 GPA, and demonstrate unmet financial need by providing their tax returns’ adjusted gross income for the previous three years.
Deadline: January 11, 2024.
Scholarship amount: varies.
6. The Lockheed Martin Vocational Scholarship
Who Can Apply?: Candidates must be high school seniors or recent high school graduates enrolled in a community college or vocational program in an approved field of study, such as engineering, mechanics, advanced manufacturing, or computer and information science.
Deadline: Varies.
Scholarship amount: up to $5,000.
7. Redefining the Victory Scholarship
Who Can Apply?: Candidates are considered for eligibility based on their academic performance and community activity.
Applicants may attend a community college or a four-year university and major in their preferred field.
Deadline: April 27, 2024.
Scholarship amount: $2,500.
8. The Frederick and Bernice Beretta Memorial Scholarship
Who Can Apply?: Candidates must demonstrate financial need while attending high school or community college. An essay may be required. Eligibility is limited to California residents only.
Deadline: June 17, 2024.
Scholarship amount: $2,500.
9. The William A. Stuart Dream Scholarship
Who Can Apply?: Eligible students include high school or community college students engaged in engineering, mechanical, or computer software programs. An application essay is required.
Deadline: March 30, 2024.
Scholarship amount: $2,000.
10. The Russell Koci Skilled Trade Scholarship
Who Can Apply?: Applicants must be high school seniors or current trade school students pursuing a vocational degree such as farming, construction, or electrical. An application essay is required.
Deadline: April 15, 2024.
Scholarship amount: $1,300.
11. The Federal Work-Study Program
Who Can Apply?: Students who demonstrate financial need on their FAFSA may be eligible for federal work-study funding, which allows them to earn income at a work-study-approved employment, usually linked to their major.
Deadline: June 30, 2024 (FAFSA).
Grant Amount: Varies
12. The Federal Pell Grant Program
Who Can Apply?: Pell Grants provide the majority of federal financial help to college students who demonstrate a financial need on their FAFSA.
Deadline: June 30, 2024 (FAFSA).
Grant Amount: Varies
13. The TEACH Grant Program
Who Can Apply?: TEACH funds are awarded to students who agree to fulfill a teaching service requirement after graduation.
Candidates must be eligible for federal help and enrolled in a TEACH-Grant-qualifying program. Teachers who do not comply with the terms of the grant must repay it as a loan with interest.
Deadline: June 30, 2024 (FAFSA).
Grant Amount: Up to $4,000 annually
14. The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) Program
Who Can Apply?: FSEOGs are provided on a first-come, first-served basis by individual universities to students with unmet financial needs after receiving federal financial aid.
Eligible candidates must fill out the FAFSA and attend a school that participates in the FSEOG.
Deadline: June 30, 2024 (FAFSA).
Grant Amount: $100 to $4,000 per year
15. Iranian-Afghanistan Service Grant Program
Who Can Apply?: This grant is for kids whose parent or guardian was a member of the United States military who died while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan after 9/11.
Candidates must be ineligible for a Pell Grant based on family income while meeting all other Pell Grant requirements.
They must also be under the age of 24 and enrolled in college when their parent or caregiver dies.
Deadline: June 30, 2024 (FAFSA).
Grant Amount: Varies
16. AHCCCS Scholarships
Empowering students to pursue careers in behavioral science, health science, or teaching by providing a comprehensive scholarship program that covers tuition, course fees, books, and other necessary resources.
17. Honorary Achievement Award
Supporting current students with at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA and at least 12 college credits. This scholarship grant helps cover the costs of tuition, registration, and books.
18. The Nina Scholars Program
The Nina Mason Pulliam Legacy Scholars Program provides full support to underserved students by covering tuition, fees, books and supplies, and other resources, as well as offering mentorship.
19. The Phoenix Promise Program
Committed to giving scholarships to Phoenix residents pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree at any of Maricopa’s ten community colleges. This scholarship covers tuition, fees, and other expenditures.
20. Presidents’ Honors Scholarship
Providing up to 15 credits of free tuition per semester to prospective first-year college students with at least a 3.25 unweighted high school GPA.
This scholarship award can be used to pursue any bachelor’s degree program at any of the ten colleges.
21. Spouses of Military Veteran
Assisting the wives of honorably discharged United States military veterans in achieving their educational aspirations.
This scholarship grant is eligible for in-state residents in a stated program, and it covers tuition & fees.
More Financial Resources
State Educational Agencies
US Department of Education
Free Federal Student Aid Application
State Educational Agencies
Your state education agency may provide extra resources for upcoming high school graduates and college students, such as regional and state-funded scholarships, tuition aid programs, and statewide professional development tools.
US Department of Education
Investigate the various financial aid options accessible to FAFSA candidates through the US Department of Education, such as the federal work-study program, TEACH grants, and university-funded FSEOGs.
Free Federal Student Aid Application
The FAFSA examines your family’s income and tax status to evaluate your eligibility for financial aid from the United States Department of Education.
Submitting the FAFSA as soon as possible is critical to maximizing your federal aid. It is also required for numerous additional awards and scholarships.
Why go to community college?
Community colleges often provide two-year programs that result in an “associate” degree at far lower tuition than a traditional four-year institution.
With an associate’s degree from a community college, students can transfer to a full college or university and finish their undergraduate degree in just two years.
Instead of spending four years of higher-cost tuition at colleges and universities, students pay two years of community college tuition and two years of university or college tuition.
For example, the University of Florida predicts that an international undergraduate student’s annual tuition and living expenditures will be $42,498 for the 2013 school year.
Assuming you could live on the anticipated amount and there is no growth in costs over the four years (both questionable assumptions!), an overseas student would pay $169,992 for a four-year undergraduate degree at the University of Florida.
What are the downsides of attending community college?
A community college may not suit the demands of a student seeking a traditional university education. While community colleges can provide benefits such as affordable education and flexible class schedules, they may lack aspects of traditional universities such as Greek life, varsity athletics, and on-campus housing.
Certain specialized programs may need you to look beyond community college. For example, your local community college may offer programs in career trades such as cosmetology and medical technology, but you must transfer to a four-year university to obtain a degree in law or financial technology (fintech).
What are the advantages of attending a community college?
Community colleges allow students to explore several career paths at a lower cost than four-year universities. You can take basic foundation courses before deciding on a major or acquire an associate degree and then transfer to a bachelor’s program.
Many community colleges also provide vocational programs for students interested in obtaining a certificate in a trade or technical field, such as carpentry, information technology, HVAC technicians, cosmetology, and culinary arts.
Can you receive a full ride to community college?
While some institutions and other sources may advertise “full ride” opportunities, obtaining a free college education through a single scholarship is uncommon, even for the most qualified candidates.
However, several states provide free community college. You can also combine various scholarships and other forms of financial aid to reduce college costs as much as feasible.
You may be eligible for both need-based and merit-based scholarships to pay the majority of your tuition fees, as well as financial aid through grants and resources such as the federal work-study program to assist with educational supplies and living expenses.
