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Top 25 Community College Scholarships in May 2022
There are many paths to a meaningful life and a high paying career. While this path may be attending a four year college or university for some students, college is not one-size-fits-all and there are other options including vocational training, coding bootcamps, and two-year colleges. Two-year colleges, also known as community colleges, offer a more affordable pathway for students to pay for college. On top of this, community college scholarships will make the cost of college even lower.
If you are a community college student, you are in luck, because there are some fantastic scholarship opportunities available to you!
Jump ahead to:
- Top community college scholarships in 2022
- Tips for community college students
- Frequently asked questions
- Upcoming scholarships
- Explore these other scholarship categories
Keep reading to learn more about these community college scholarships including eligibility, amounts, and deadlines!
Top community college scholarships in 2022
Scholarships360 $1,000 No-Essay Scholarship
- Eligibility: Easy scholarship open to any student who creates a Scholarships360 account!
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: September 30, 2022
$2,000 Nitro College Scholarship – No Essay
- Eligibility: High school, college, community and graduate students
- Amount: $2,000
- Deadline: May 31, 2022
$2,000 “No Essay” College Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to all high school and college students
- Amount: $2,000
- Deadline: May 31, 2022
$2,500 SmarterCollege Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school seniors, college students, and graduate students who are U.S. residents
- Amount: $2,500
- Deadline: May 31, 2022
“Be Bold” No-Essay Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to all high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students.
- Amount: $25,000
- Deadline: May 31, 2022
Tallo’s $3,000 “Pathways to Success” Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school and college students
- Amount: $3,000
- Deadline: June 30, 2022
$10,000 ScholarshipPoints Scholarship Program
- Eligibility: Open to all high school students, college students, community college students, and graduate students
- Amount: $10,000
- Deadline: May 31, 2022
$1,000 “A Daring Path” No-Essay Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students and non-students from any field of study who create their ideal life
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: May 31, 2022
$1,000 “Equal Opportunity” Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students from any field of study who have a 2.0 GPA or higher
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: September 1, 2022
HireAHelper Skilled Trade & Technology Scholarships
- Eligibility: Currently enrolled (or planning to) as a high school senior, or in a community college, undergraduate, graduate, technical college, or vocational program
- Amount: $2,000
- Deadline: Deadlines are as follows: Winter: April 16, Spring: July 17, Summer: October 14, and Fall: January 15 at 11:59 p.m. PST of each year!
National Healthcare Heroes Grant for Nurses
- Eligibility: Open to aspiring or current nurses to aid with the cost of their tuition or student loans.
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: May 16, 2022
HelpTeaching.com Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school and college students who submit a educational short story or informational article (400-800 words) for young students
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: June 1, 2022
Sportsletter Sports News Scholarship
- Eligibility: All students who sign up for the Sportsletter
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: June 1, 2022
Ethel Hayes Destigmatization of Mental Health Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to students at every level of education who write a short essay about mental health
- Amount: $4,300 (two scholarships are awarded!)
- Deadline: June 14, 2022
Big Sun Scholarship
- Eligibility: Student athletes who are high school seniors or in college
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: June 19, 2022
Horatio Alger Career & Technical Scholarships
- Eligibility: Students enrolled in eligible technical programs
- Amount: $2,500
- Deadline: June 15, 2022
Delete Cyberbullying Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school seniors, college students, community college students, or graduate students who write an essay about cyberbullying
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: June 30, 2022
“A Bold Life” No-Essay Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students and non-students from any field of study
- Amount: $500
- Deadline: July 31, 2022
Spirit of Giving Scholarship
- Eligibility: Students who display the spirit of giving
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: July 31, 2022
Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship
- Eligibility: All high school students, college students, graduate students, and adult learners
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: July 31, 2022
Michael Moody Fitness Scholarship
- Eligibility: High seniors, college students, and graduate students interested in pursuing a career in health, wellness, or fitness
- Amount: $1,500
- Deadline: August 1, 2022
Lounge Lizard Web Design Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school seniors and college students with an interest in Web Design
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: October 3 and February 20
Cade Reddington Be the Light Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school students who have been personally been impacted by substance abuse, addiction, and mental health struggles
- Amount: $1,300
- Deadline: October 22, 2022
Future Designer Scholarship
- Eligibility: To be eligible for this scholarship, students must be an incoming (graduating high school senior) or college student who designs a holiday greeting card
- Amount: $1,000
- Deadline: November 1, 2022
Food Dreams Scholarship
- Eligibility: Pell-eligible high school graduates interested in Culinary Arts
- Amount: $20,000
- Deadline: Rolling
Tips for community college students
- You should also submit the FAFSA to ensure that you are considered for all need-based financial aid opportunities! This will ensure that you are considered for need-based grants like the Pell Grant that do not need to be repaid.
- Specific community colleges may offer college-specific scholarships too! Check your college’s financial aid website to see what opportunities might be available.
- If you intend to transfer to a four year college, the four year college may also have additional scholarships for transfer students (even specific scholarships for community college transfer students).
Frequently asked questions about community college scholarships
Can you get a full ride to community college?
You can definitely get a full ride to community college if you find the right fit! A great place to start is our list of full ride scholarships. You can also look into community grants and local scholarships. Community college is generally much more affordable than other universities, so even if you don’t get a full ride, there’s a good chance you could secure an affordable financial aid package.
It’s worth noting that the term “full ride” generally means that room, board, and all other associated expenses are paid for. However, most community colleges don’t offer food or housing, so in the context of community college, you might end up with a full-tuition scholarship rather than a full ride.
Also see: Starting at community college
How can I go to community college for free?
Each state has its own programs that help students pay for community college. California residents can attend community college entirely for free through the California Promise program. You must meet certain financial need requirements to qualify for this program. Illinois has a similar program for families below a certain income threshold.
If your state does not have these same programs, you might still be able to go to community college for free through grants. You can combine Pell Grant money, private grants, and institutional scholarships. This can bring your cost down significantly and even end up in you going to community college for free.
Does FAFSA pay for community college?
Yes! When you fill out the FAFSA, you’ll find out your eligibility for all federal and state financial aid. This includes grants such as the Pell Grant, and student loans such as Stafford Loans and PLUS Loans. Any federal money that students use for regular four-year college can also be used at community colleges.
Related: How long does it take for the FAFSA to be processed?
Can you use Pell Grants for community college?
Yes you can! For families with financial need, the Pell Grant is an amazing way to help pay for school. When you fill out the FAFSA, you will receive an EFC number which determines your Pell Grant eligibility.
As of the 2021-2022 school year, you can qualify for up to $6,495 per semester. All you need to do to check your eligibility is fill out the FAFSA.
Upcoming community college scholarships
AICPA Foundation Two-year Transfer Scholarship Award
- Eligibility: Students who are studying at a two year or community college who intend to transfer to a four year college and major in accounting.
- Amount: $5,000
Frame my Future Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school seniors planning to enroll as a full-time students and current undergraduate/graduate students at U.S.colleges and universities
- Amount: $6,000, $2,500, $1,000, and $500 scholarships are awarded, and every winner receives a custom frame
Billy Welu Scholarship
- Eligibility: This scholarship is open to college students who combine outstanding bowling talents with academic excellence
- Amount: $1,000
Scholarship America Dream Award
- Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in higher education programs (two- or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school)
- Amount: Winners receive awards ranging from $5,000 to $15,000. Awards are renewable up to three additional years or until a first bachelor’s degree is earned, whichever occurs first, on the basis of full-time enrollment, satisfactory academic performance, and availability of funding. Each year of eligible renewal, the award will increase by $1,000
Selectblinds $1000 Scholarship
- Eligibility: High school, college, or university students with a minimum GPA of 2.5
- Amount: $1,000
Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to students between the ages of 16 and 26 who submit a video entry about their life’s passion
- Amount: $5,000 to $25,000 per year
Ted Rollins Eco Scholarship
- Eligibility: Open to undergraduate students and high school seniors planning on earning a business or sustainability degree
- Amount: $1,000
Zippia’s Teacher Dream Job Scholarship
- Eligibility: This scholarship is open to any college, university, associates program, junior college, vocational school, or high school students living in the United States who is planning on a teaching career
- Amount: $1,000