Scholarships for Community College Students: Top 30 Verified Scholarships for 2026

Looking for scholarships for community college students? This verified 2026 guide covers 30 real scholarships, transfer awards, workforce scholarships, nursing scholarships, and tuition programs with official links, award amounts, and deadlines.

Community college can save students a lot of money, but it is not automatically cheap enough to ignore scholarships. The smartest move is to stack school affordability with outside scholarships, transfer awards, workforce scholarships, and state programs. The list below focuses on official scholarship pages and the most recently posted deadlines I could verify as of March 2026.

Some deadlines below have already passed for the current cycle, but they are still worth tracking because many of these programs return every year on a similar calendar. That is why this list is sorted month by month starting in January.

Top 30 Scholarships for Community College Students

January

1) Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the biggest and most respected awards in the community college world. It is built specifically for top community college students who want to transfer to a four-year college, and the funding is large enough to meaningfully cut tuition, fees, books, and living costs. For a strong student with financial need, this is not a side scholarship. It can completely change what kind of transfer options are realistic.
Amount: Up to $55,000 per year for two to three years.
Deadline: January 7, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.jkcf.org/our-scholarships/undergraduate-transfer-scholarship/

February

2) TheDream.US National Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a standout option for undocumented students, including students planning to start at a community college or continue toward a bachelor’s degree through a partner college. The award can cover a very large amount of tuition and fees, plus extra money for books, supplies, and transportation. For Dreamers who do not have access to federal aid, this is the kind of scholarship that can open the whole college path instead of just helping with one semester.
Amount: Up to $33,000 for a bachelor’s degree, plus up to $6,000 for books, supplies, and transportation.
Deadline: February 28, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.thedream.us/scholarships/national-scholarship/

March

3) Wells Fargo Stacey Milbern Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Community college students with disabilities should have this on their radar because it is national, officially open to community or technical college students, and designed around career preparation rather than a super narrow major. That makes it useful for students in transfer tracks, career programs, and practical workforce pathways. It also stands out because the sponsor clearly centers accessibility and postsecondary success.
Amount: $1,250 to $2,500.
Deadline: March 20, 2026.
Apply/info: https://scholarshipamerica.org/scholarship/pwdscholarship/

April

4) Scholarship America Essential Visionaries Fund
Why It Slaps: This one is a strong fit for community college students headed into nursing, psychology, counseling, or education. Those are practical, high-demand pathways, and this scholarship is large enough to matter, especially for students balancing tuition with books, transportation, and clinical or practicum costs. Because community and technical colleges are directly listed as eligible institutions, it is not just a four-year-school scholarship pretending to be broader than it is.
Amount: $5,000 to $10,000.
Deadline: April 15, 2026.
Apply/info: https://scholarshipamerica.org/scholarship/essentialvisionaries/

5) Wells Fargo Veterans Scholarship Program
Why It Slaps: Veterans, military-connected students, and adult learners often choose community college because it is flexible, local, and career-focused. This scholarship is useful because it is open nationally and specifically includes community and technical colleges, two-year colleges, and trade programs. If a student is rebuilding their education path after service, this is exactly the kind of broad, practical funding source worth targeting.
Amount: $5,000.
Deadline: April 10, 2026.
Apply/info: https://scholarshipamerica.org/scholarship/wellsfargoveterans/

May

6) Bower-Delta State University Transfer Nursing Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Nursing students at community colleges often need money at the exact moment they are trying to move into the BSN stage, and this award is built for that bridge. It is especially attractive because it is renewable and tied to a defined transfer route into Delta State’s nursing program. For Mississippi students or working RNs looking to level up, this is real pipeline money, not just a nice extra.
Amount: Up to $4,000 per semester, renewable for up to five semesters.
Deadline: May 1, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/bower/

7) Chime Workforce Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the better official scholarships for students in certificate and workforce programs at two-year colleges. A lot of scholarship lists over-focus on transfer students, but this one directly supports career and technical education and gives priority to students with financial need. If a student is using community college to move straight into the workforce, this is the exact kind of scholarship page they should bookmark.
Amount: Up to $1,000.
Deadline: May 15, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/chime-workforce-scholarship/

8) Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a classic early-stage community college scholarship for newer PTK members. It is especially useful because it targets students still in the middle of their associate degree, which is when many students need help staying enrolled and building momentum. If someone joined Phi Theta Kappa recently and has strong grades, this is one of the most natural next scholarships to pursue.
Amount: Up to $1,000.
Deadline: May 15, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/coca-cola-leaders-of-promise-scholarship/

9) Coca-Cola Military Leaders of Promise Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This award is a smart niche opportunity for community college students who are military members, veterans, spouses, or dependents. That matters because military-connected students often juggle school with work, family, and transition issues that traditional scholarship programs do not fully reflect. For PTK students in that category, this is one of the cleaner, more targeted official opportunities on the board.
Amount: Up to $1,000.
Deadline: May 15, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/coca-cola-military-leaders-of-promise-scholarship/

10) Global Leaders of Promise
Why It Slaps: International students and students without FAFSA-eligible residency status are often left out of mainstream U.S. scholarship advice. This PTK award is different because it directly names that group and is designed for students still working through an associate degree. For community college students who feel like most scholarship pages quietly exclude them, this one is refreshingly direct and usable.
Amount: Up to $1,000.
Deadline: May 15, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/global-leaders-of-promise/

11) Dr. Mary Hood Texas Region Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Texas community college students who are active PTK members get a region-specific opportunity here, which can make the competition pool more realistic than a massive national scholarship. It is aimed at students still enrolled in an associate program, so the timing is good for students who need money before transfer rather than after. Regional scholarships like this can be easier to overlook, which is exactly why they can be worth pursuing hard.
Amount: Up to $1,500.
Deadline: May 15, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/dr-mary-hood-texas-region-scholarship/

12) Kevin and Rosa Byrne Family Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Students with foster care experience face some of the toughest college completion odds, so a scholarship that clearly prioritizes that background is worth serious attention. This one also works well for current community college students because it is aimed at students still in the associate-degree stage rather than only at seniors or transfer applicants. It is not the biggest award in the list, but it is unusually targeted in a helpful way.
Amount: Up to $1,000.
Deadline: May 15, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/kevin-and-rosa-byrne-family-scholarship/

July

13) DeLuca ADN Nursing Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the most directly useful scholarships on the list for ADN students because it is built around two-year nursing programs in Florida and Connecticut. The award range is strong, the fit is narrow, and narrow-fit scholarships are often where serious applicants can do well. For ADN students who need help covering the cost of staying in program, this is a very real opportunity.
Amount: $2,500 to $5,000.
Deadline: July 31, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/deluca-adn-nursing-scholarship/

Rolling / Year-Round

14) Oberndorf Lifeline to Completion Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the best scholarships for students who are at risk of stopping out because of a real-life emergency. Instead of rewarding only top test scores or perfect resumes, it is meant for PTK members facing an unexpected financial barrier that could block degree completion. That makes it incredibly practical for community college students dealing with transportation problems, childcare costs, housing shocks, or other disruptions.
Amount: $1,500.
Deadline: Rolling; applications are reviewed quarterly.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/how-our-scholarships-work/need-based-scholarships/

September

15) NJ STARS
Why It Slaps: For New Jersey students planning to attend their home county college, this is a major tuition program to know because it can cover tuition at the community college level. That makes it one of the strongest state-level opportunities for students who want the community college route without taking on as much out-of-pocket cost. It is especially powerful for high-achieving students who want to start local and then transfer later.
Amount: Tuition at the home county college, up to five semesters.
Deadline: September 15, 2026, for non-renewal applicants for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027.
Apply/info: https://hesaa.org/Documents/FactSheets/NJSTARS/FactSheetfor2026HSGrad.pdf

December

16) All-USA Academic Team Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the most prestigious official scholarships in the community college space. It rewards the full package: grades, leadership, and service, and it is open to both transfer and workforce students through college nomination. If a student has a strong campus record and wants a resume line that also comes with money, this one hits both goals at once.
Amount: Up to $3,000.
Deadline: December 1, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/all-usa-academic-team-scholarship/

17) American Medical Student Association Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Pre-med students at community colleges often get ignored in scholarship roundups, which makes this one especially valuable. It is tailored to PTK members in pre-med or related pathways who plan to transfer and eventually attend medical school. For students trying to prove that community college can absolutely be a launchpad into medicine, this scholarship fits that story perfectly.
Amount: Up to $5,000.
Deadline: December 1, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/american-medical-student-association-scholarship/

18) Christopher Calhoun Transfer Scholarship
Why It Slaps: South Carolina students sometimes do better with state- or region-limited scholarships than with giant national competitions, and this is a good example. It specifically recognizes high-achieving community college students in South Carolina who plan to transfer. If a student already has PTK involvement and strong academics, this is a very sensible target rather than a long-shot generic scholarship.
Amount: Up to $1,000.
Deadline: December 1, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/christopher-calhoun-transfer-scholarship/

19) Coca-Cola Academic Team Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a highly recognizable award tied to one of the best-known scholarship brands in the U.S., and it is aimed squarely at high-achieving college students with leadership and service. For community college students, it is valuable not just for the money but also for the prestige that can strengthen transfer applications and scholarship stacks. Gold, silver, and bronze levels also make the award structure feel more reachable than a single-winner scholarship.
Amount: Up to $1,500.
Deadline: December 1, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/coca-cola-academic-team-scholarship/

20) Coca-Cola World Impact Scholars
Why It Slaps: This is a cool specialized scholarship for workforce students at two-year colleges in selected World Cup metro areas. The best part is that it supports real career pathways tied to large-scale events, hospitality, security, communications, tech, and operations. For students in career and technical programs who are not planning a traditional transfer route, this is one of the smartest niche awards on the list.
Amount: $2,500.
Deadline: December 1, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/world-impact-scholars/

21) Dr. Adam James Pre-Medical Student Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Community college students who want to become physicians often need proof that their route is legitimate and competitive. This scholarship sends exactly that message because it is built for community college pre-med students aiming for transfer and medical school. It is even better for first-generation students because the program specifically gives them priority.
Amount: Up to $1,500.
Deadline: December 1, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/dr-adam-james-pre-medical-student-scholarship/

22) Gordon Graham Leadership & Ethics in Criminal Justice Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Criminal justice and public safety students at community colleges do not always see scholarships targeted to their field, so this one stands out. It rewards academically strong students in criminal justice, law enforcement, homeland security, and similar majors. That makes it a strong match for students using community college as the first step into a public service career.
Amount: Up to $1,250.
Deadline: December 1, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/gordon-graham-leadership-and-ethics-in-criminal-justice-scholarship/

23) Guistwhite Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is a major transfer scholarship for PTK members with strong grades and real chapter involvement. It is especially good for students who have not only performed in class but also shown leadership and engagement, which is exactly what selective transfer scholarships look for. For a student trying to move from community college into a bachelor’s degree with less debt, this is one of the core PTK awards to chase.
Amount: Up to $5,000.
Deadline: December 1, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/guistwhite-scholarship/

24) Hites Transfer Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is one of the biggest PTK transfer awards, which automatically makes it a high-priority target for top students at community colleges. It rewards academic rigor, leadership, and engagement in both college and community activities, so it favors students who have built a strong all-around profile. If someone is serious about transfer and wants a scholarship with real financial weight, this one belongs near the top of the list.
Amount: Up to $7,500.
Deadline: December 1, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/hites-transfer-scholarship/

25) New Century Transfer Pathway Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This scholarship is impressive because it names high-achieving students in each state, which gives it both scholarship value and strong recognition value. It is built for students intending to transfer after community college, so it lines up perfectly with the goals of many associate-degree students. State-based selection also means students are not competing in one giant undifferentiated national pile.
Amount: Up to $2,750.
Deadline: December 1, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/new-century-transfer-pathway-scholarship/

26) New Century Workforce Pathway Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Community college is not only about transfer, and this scholarship gets that. It is designed for students planning to enter the workforce after finishing a two-year credential, which makes it one of the strongest options on this page for workforce-bound students. If someone is in a practical career pathway and wants a scholarship that actually respects that goal, this one deserves attention.
Amount: Up to $1,500.
Deadline: December 1, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/new-century-workforce-pathway-scholarship/

27) Pacific Region Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Region-specific scholarships can be sneaky good because the eligibility pool is smaller and more defined. This award is aimed at PTK members in the Pacific Region who are pursuing an associate degree and planning next steps in the region. For eligible students in Hawaii and the broader Pacific area, that narrower lane can make this a smart strategic application.
Amount: Up to $1,000.
Deadline: December 1, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/pacific-region-scholarship/

28) Richard L. Resurreccion Public Safety Scholarship
Why It Slaps: This is another strong field-specific pick for students pursuing public safety careers. Because it is focused on life safety, technology, and emergency management pathways, it is a good fit for community college students in practical service-oriented majors that are often underrepresented in scholarship articles. If a student’s goal is public safety leadership, this is a targeted official page worth visiting.
Amount: Up to $1,250.
Deadline: December 1, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/richard-l-resurreccion-public-safety-scholarship/

29) Ronny J. Coleman Fire and Emergency Services Leader of the Future Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Fire and emergency services students do not get nearly enough targeted scholarship coverage, and this scholarship speaks directly to that pathway. It is a smart fit for community college students using two-year study as preparation for emergency services leadership and public safety careers. Highly targeted scholarships like this can be some of the best opportunities because fewer casual applicants qualify.
Amount: Up to $1,250.
Deadline: December 1, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/ronny-j-coleman-fire-and-emergency-services-leader-of-the-future-scholarship/

30) TEK Productions Scholarship
Why It Slaps: Students in production, event management, theater tech, graphics, and similar creative-operations fields rarely see scholarship roundups that include them. This award fixes that by directly naming majors tied to production and event work, and it is open to both transfer and workforce students. For community college students in hands-on creative or live-event pathways, it is a refreshingly specific opportunity.
Amount: Up to $1,000.
Deadline: December 1, 2026.
Apply/info: https://www.ptk.org/scholarships/tek-productions-scholarship/

Quick Take

If you want the strongest overall picks from this list, start with Jack Kent Cooke, TheDream.US, Hites Transfer Scholarship, Guistwhite Scholarship, New Century Transfer Pathway Scholarship, and All-USA Academic Team Scholarship. If you are staying workforce-focused instead of transferring, Chime Workforce, New Century Workforce Pathway, and Coca-Cola World Impact Scholars are especially strong fits.