PCC Foundation scholarships

The PCC Foundation awards hundreds of scholarships every year to students who may not otherwise be able to afford an education.

Scholarship application dates

The next PCC Foundation scholarship opens on November 1, 2025. Applications will be due February 1, 2026.

High school students

Are you graduating from high school this year? A scholarship application cycle for recent high school grads will be open May 1-15, 2025. High school students are encouraged to prepare their two required essays ahead of the application cycle. The link to apply will be posted here on May 1.

  • April 21 – May 15: virtual scholarship workshops and help sessions: dates and times TBD
  • April 16: deadline to apply for admission to PCC to make sure your account will be ready for the May cycle
  • May 1 – 15: PCC Foundation scholarship application for incoming high school students is open!

How to apply

Applying is easy! Follow these steps to be automatically considered for hundreds of scholarships.

  1. Get a MyPCC account

    If you’re not already a PCC student, apply for admission. Applying is free and does not commit you to coming to PCC.

  2. Complete the scholarship application

    Use your MyPCC account to log in to the scholarship application beginning November 1, 2025. Applications are due February 1, 2026. The application button will be on this page. If you want to get started early, start writing your essays (see “how to prepare” tab).

    Complete the FAFSA or ORSAA

    Complete the FAFSA or the ORSAA as soon after October 1 as possible. If you are an international student or not eligible to complete the FAFSA, complete the financial worksheet for international students [pdf] and upload it with your application.

How to prepare

Start working on your essays so you’ll have them ready when it’s time to submit your scholarship application. If you are a currently enrolled PCC student, it’s a good idea to work one-on-one with a PCC Reading and Writing tutor (in-person or online). The tutors have extensive experience with scholarship essays and can support you at any stage of the writing process.

Essay topics

Each essay can be up to 350 words. (Some scholarships will ask for additional essays on the application.)

  • Essay 1: What is your career goal and educational plan to meet this goal? What inspired you to choose this field of study and career?
  • Essay 2: What is your greatest strength or characteristic, why is this a strength and how will this help you to be successful at PCC?

Where to get help

students meeting around tableAttend a scholarship workshop

Our free scholarship workshops will help you create a competitive scholarship application.

Get help online

The scholarship application guide is a step-by-step website that helps with essay writing, asking for references, and more.

Take a College Success class

Our College Success classes will help you thrive while at PCC and beyond. For example, Scholarships: $$ for College is offered almost every term and will take you through the entire process of searching for scholarships.

Work with a tutor on your scholarship essays

The scholarship essays are a key  part of your application. If you are a currently enrolled PCC student, you can work one-on-one with an experienced, supportive a PCC Reading and Writing tutor to make sure your essays really stand out and capture your character and goals.

Resource documents

Who can apply?

Any student who plans to attend PCC can apply. We have scholarships for students of all ages, backgrounds, and majors! All PCC scholarships are open to anyone regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law in any area, activity, or operation of the college.

What happens after I apply?

We let applicants know the results in early June. We will send notifications to your MyPCC email. Scholarship money will be available to use at any time during the academic 2025-26 year. You can use foundation scholarships to pay for tuition, fees, and books. See more about paying with a scholarship.