Any Scholarships for Community College?

I'm considering starting at a community college to save money. Are there scholarships available specifically for community college students, or would I be competing with the same pool as those going to four-year schools?

The great news is, there are indeed scholarships that are exclusive to community college students. Many scholarship providers understand the value of community college as a financially smart pathway to a four-year degree, so they've set up scholarships specifically for community college students.

A few to look into include:

1. Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship: This is one of the largest scholarships for community college students intending to transfer to a four-year institution.

2. The Coca Cola community college scholarship programs: They offer substantial support to excellent community college students.

3. Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society's scholarships: If you're eligible for membership, they offer a number of scholarships to transfer students.

4. A local and state level: Often, state associations and foundations offer scholarships for community college students. Check your local Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, Kiwanis Club, and similar organizations.

5. Institutional Scholarships: Many community colleges themselves also offer a range of scholarships to their students, sometimes even with generous stipulations. Make sure to visit your community college's financial aid page.

When seeking scholarships, remember to target smaller, local scholarships as well as the bigger ones. The large, national scholarships are tempting, but they're also extremely competitive. Smaller, local scholarships often have fewer applicants, giving you a greater chance of winning. Scholarships specific to your college major, like business scholarships, STEM scholarships, and humanities scholarships can also be a good strategy for maximizing your financial aid.

Remember to also use reliable scholarship databases, like Appily, where you can set your filters to match your situation. Be wary of scams and if it feels like a too good to be true offer, it likely is.