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…
- How to win community college scholarships
- Tips for community college students
- Frequently asked questions about community college scholarships
- Explore these other scholarship lists
How to win community college scholarships
Community college can be a place where you meet a variety of people! Students choose to attend community college for all kinds of reasons, which means you may be competing against a diverse number of people for community college scholarships.
Making sure your scholarship applications stand out is important. This might feel overwhelming to think about, but luckily our site has lots of resources that you can use! Articles like writing about why you deserve a scholarship, how to start writing a scholarship and how to write a winning scholarship essay can help you stand out!
If a scholarship asks for a cover letter or resume, we’ve got you covered there too! Check out how to write a scholarship cover letter and how to write a scholarship resume!
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).
Also see: Starting at community college
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.
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?
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.
Related: How long does it take for the FAFSA to be processed?
Explore these other scholarship categories
- Top scholarships for transfer students
- Scholarships for high school seniors
- Top scholarships for women
- Scholarships for college freshmen
- Easy scholarships to apply to
Join for exclusive scholarships, personalized matching, and application tracking. 0% Spam, 100% Free.