Community College Scholarships 2026: Complete List

60 CC students just won $55K/year from Jack Kent Cooke. Find every scholarship open now, plus CalKIDS, state programs, and how to prep for 2027.

By Jorbi TeamMay 29, 2026

On May 12, the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation announced 60 community college students as recipients of the largest private scholarship in the country exclusively for two-year transfer students: up to $55,000 per year. Those 60 winners came from a pool of more than 1,300 applicants, a 4.6% acceptance rate that's tighter than most Ivy League schools. If you're a community college student searching for scholarships in 2026, this post is your consolidated answer.

I've pulled together every major award currently open, the state programs most students never hear about, and a step-by-step guide for California students sitting on unclaimed money right now. Bookmark this page.

Why Community College Students Are the Most Underserved Scholarship Audience

Here's a number that should make you angry: about 80% of community college students aspire to earn a bachelor's degree. Aspen Institute and Community College Research Center data shows only 16% actually do within six years.

That gap isn't an intelligence gap. As the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation's persistence research puts it directly: "For many community college students, failure to complete a bachelor's degree is not a measure of their own academic ability, but rather the result of insufficient financial resources, transfer advising, and/or limited course planning." Students from the top family income quartile are five times more likely than those from the bottom quartile to earn a bachelor's degree by age 24 (58% vs. 12%).

Among Black community college students, the six-year bachelor's completion rate is 9%. For students 25 and older, it's 6%. These are motivated people, not underprepared ones. CUNY Professor Alexandra Logue described it as a race against time: "Can they get through before something goes wrong that will stop them from being able to finish?"

Scholarships change that math. Here's where the money actually is.

The Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship: What the 2026 Results Tell You

The 2026 Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is worth up to $55,000 per year, structured as last-dollar funding after all institutional aid is applied. It fills gaps rather than displacing grants you already have. It also comes with personalized advising and access to a network of over 3,900 Cooke Scholars.

The 2026 cohort shrank to 60 winners from 90 in the 2025 class. The award is more competitive now. The per-winner dollar amount is unchanged.

The 2026 winners spanned 23 states, with California producing 14 scholars (nearly 1 in 4), followed by New York with 9 (7 from CUNY schools) and Florida with 5 (3 from Miami Dade College alone). Illinois placed 4 scholars, and City Colleges of Chicago placed 15 semifinalists, the most of any single community college system in the country.

One of this year's winners, Pamela De León Berroa from CUNY Queensborough Community College, is graduating with an Associate in Applied Science in Criminal Justice. She emigrated to the U.S. at age 17 and is a first-generation college student. She'll now receive up to $55,000 per year to finish her bachelor's degree.

Who Actually Gets Selected

The 2025 JKCF scholar profile is the clearest picture we have of what "competitive" looks like, since 2026-specific demographic data hasn't been published yet. The benchmarks that mattered:

Average community college GPA: 3.92
70% participated in honors programs or honors coursework
66% held campus leadership roles
Median family adjusted gross income: $19,000
60% were first-generation college students

The income ceiling is $95,000 in annual family gross income. If you're under that number and your GPA is heading toward 3.5 or above, you belong in this applicant pool.

How to Prepare for the 2027 Cycle

The next application opens August 19, 2026. The 2026 cycle closed January 7, so you have roughly three months to prepare. Per BigFuture's listing, you'll need to be a current community college sophomore or a graduate within the last five years, planning to enroll full-time at a four-year school in fall 2027.

What to do before August 19:

Get involved in one or two campus leadership roles now, even informally
Identify at least two faculty members who know your work well enough to write a strong letter
Start a personal statement draft that focuses on the obstacles you've navigated alongside your accomplishments

PTK: The Most Underused Scholarship Pathway for CC Students

If you're not a Phi Theta Kappa member, this is the most actionable thing I can tell you: join. PTK is the international honor society for two-year college students, and it unlocks over $37 million in scholarship funding annually across more than 800 partner four-year institutions.

Membership costs roughly $60 to $90 in chapter fees. That investment connects you to awards that would otherwise require separate applications with no overlap. The Hites Transfer Scholarship offers up to $7,500. The Guistwhite Scholarship offers $5,000. At the university level, some schools like the University of Alabama automatically award $5,000 to $10,000 per year to PTK members who are admitted, with no extra essay required.

The Pearson Scholarship for Higher Education adds another $5,000 for PTK members enrolled at a community college and planning to continue at a four-year school (10 awards per cycle). Check the City Colleges of Chicago scholarships page for a solid overview of how these stack together.

PTK scholarships have rolling and institution-specific deadlines. Your next step is to look up whether your college has a PTK chapter and check the specific deadlines for schools on your transfer list.

CalKIDS: California Community College Students, Check This First

In March 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom and State Treasurer Fiona Ma announced a direct outreach effort to connect 40,000 community college students with $20 million in unclaimed CalKIDS funds.

That money already has your name on it. No application, no essay, no income verification.

CalKIDS automatically created savings accounts for California public school students in certain eligibility categories. San Fernando Sun reported that more than 60% of California public-school students in grades 2 through 12 qualify. The accounts earn interest while they sit unclaimed.

Who Qualifies

You're eligible if you attended a California public school and were enrolled in grades 1 through 12 during the 2021-2022 school year, and you were identified as at least one of the following: low-income (CalFresh, CalWORKs, Medi-Cal, National School Lunch Program, or similar), an English Learner, a foster youth, or a homeless or unhoused youth.

Award amounts:

$500 for low-income or English Learner students
An additional $500 for foster youth status
An additional $500 for homeless or unhoused status
Maximum: $1,500 per student

You must be between ages 17 and 26 to use the funds. The money can be used at any eligible higher education institution in the country, including community colleges.

How to Claim Your CalKIDS Funds (Step by Step)

Go to CalKIDS.org and open the student eligibility tool.

Find your SSID (Statewide Student Identifier), a 10-digit number on your high school transcript, report card, or school portal. If you applied to a UC, it may also be on that application. If you can't find it, call your former high school directly.
Enter your SSID, date of birth, and the county where you were enrolled in school on Census Day.
The system will confirm whether a CalKIDS account exists in your name.
Create or claim your account online.
Log in, click "Request Distribution," and provide your institution's name and address, self-certification of enrollment, self-certification of California residency for the prior 12 months, your student ID number, and the amount you're requesting.
Funds go directly to your school. Allow 10 to 14 days for the funds to reach your institution, then up to an additional 6 to 12 weeks for processing through financial aid.

UCLA's financial aid office and Cal State Fullerton both have helpful CalKIDS guides specific to their campuses if you're transferring to either system.

State Programs Worth Knowing About

Most state-level aid for community college students goes unclaimed because students assume these programs only apply to four-year schools. They don't. Here is how major state programs compare for community college and transfer students.

StateProgramKey DetailTexasTEXAS Grant / TEOGCan cover full tuition and fees at TX public universities; TEOG is specifically for CC studentsTexasTX State Transfer Scholarships$4,000 to $8,000/year for 2 years based on GPA (3.9 to 4.0 for top tier)New YorkExcelsior ScholarshipFree tuition at all SUNY/CUNY schools for families earning under $125,000/yearNew YorkTAP (Tuition Assistance Program)Need-based grant layered on top of ExcelsiorNew YorkSUNY Transfer Merit ScholarshipsUp to $32,000; deadline July 15, 2026FloridaBright Futures (Academic Scholars)100% of tuition and fees at in-state public colleges including CCFloridaUF Machen Florida OpportunityFull tuition and fees for Pell-eligible CC transfers to UFIllinoisMAP GrantsOne of the largest state need-based programs in the country; covers CC studentsNew JerseyNJ STARS ProgramDesigned specifically for CC-to-four-year transfer studentsArizonaASU Transfer Scholarships$2,000 to $12,000/year based on GPA

Seven of the nine JKCF 2026 winners from New York came from CUNY schools, which tells you something important: stacking Excelsior, TAP, and a national scholarship like JKCF is a proven combination. These programs compound.

For a broader state-by-state breakdown, Edvisors maintains a solid state scholarship directory.

Scholarships Open Right Now: June Through December 2026

Here are verified awards with deadlines between now and the end of 2026 that community college students can apply for. Here is a consolidated view of currently open awards and their deadlines.

ScholarshipAmountDeadlineNotesHearts for Community Service$5,000June 30, 2026Residents of AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NC, SC, TN, TX, or WI; min 2.75 GPAHoratio Alger CTE ScholarshipVariesJune 15, 2026Associate degree or certificate programs; nontraditional students eligibleArizona BPW FoundationVariesJune 15, 2026Female AZ residents returning to an AZ community collegePrism Foundation$1,000 to $5,000July 3, 2026API and/or LGBTQIA+ community; CC, university, and trade school studentsSUNY Transfer Merit ScholarshipsUp to $32,000July 15, 2026Transfer students to SUNY institutionsPedro Zamora Young Leaders$5,000August 1, 2026Undergraduate students ages 27 and underTYLENOL Future Care$5,000 to $10,000August 1, 2026Healthcare career track; leadership and community involvement requiredGoodRx Students for Healthcare Equity$5,000 (renewable 3 years)August 2, 2026Vocational school, CC, or university; healthcare and allied health focusTheDream.US National ScholarshipVariesRollingImmigrant and DACA students at community collegeWestern Digital STEM$5,000Opens December 2026CC students planning to transfer; BS in Math, Engineering, CS, or Sciences; min 2.7 GPA

For a regularly updated master list, Scholarships360 maintains a verified directory of 67+ community college scholarships with live deadlines.

Coming Up: Fall and Winter 2026

Per Scholarship America's community college page, these programs are opening in the second half of 2026:

Pega Scholars Program: June 2026
Chick-fil-A Community Scholarship: August 2026
Brave of Heart Scholarship: August 2026
Scholarship America Dream Award: Fall 2026
Burger King Scholars Program: October 2026
Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship: December 2026
TIAA First-Generation Scholarship: January 2027

These are legitimate national programs, not obscure micro-awards. Bookmark Scholarship America's page and check back monthly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What GPA do I need to qualify for community college scholarships?

It depends on the award. The Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship requires a minimum 3.5 GPA, and winners typically average a 3.92 in JKCF's own profile data. The Western Digital STEM Scholarship only requires a 2.7. The Hearts for Community Service Scholarship requires a 2.75. Many PTK member scholarships have their own GPA thresholds set by partner universities, typically around 3.0 to 3.5. There are real opportunities across the GPA range. The high-dollar awards are simply more competitive.

Can community college students apply for transfer scholarships before being admitted to a four-year school?

Yes, for most of them. The Jack Kent Cooke Transfer Scholarship accepts applicants who are still enrolled at their community college and planning to transfer the following fall. You apply during your second year. The same goes for PTK scholarships and most state programs. You don't need an acceptance letter in hand to start applying.

Do community college scholarships affect my financial aid?

Possibly. Because the Jack Kent Cooke award is structured as last-dollar funding, it's designed to fill gaps rather than replace grants. Other scholarships can reduce your unmet need as calculated by your institution, which sometimes affects your aid package. The general rule: always report outside scholarships to your financial aid office and ask explicitly how they'll be treated. The answer varies by school.

What is CalKIDS and how much money is available?

CalKIDS is a California state program that automatically created savings accounts for eligible public school students. Up to $1,500 per student is available with no application or essay required. In March 2026, a statewide effort was announced to connect 40,000 community college students with $20 million in unclaimed funds. If you attended a California public school and were identified as low-income, an English Learner, a foster youth, or homeless at any point in grades 1 through 12 during or after 2021-2022, there may be funds in your name right now. Claim them at CalKIDS.org.

Is the Jack Kent Cooke scholarship only for students transferring to elite universities?

No. Cooke Scholars transfer to a wide range of four-year institutions, not exclusively selective ones. The requirement is that the school be accredited and that you enroll full-time. That said, many scholars do transfer to highly selective schools because the scholarship's advising support helps them navigate that process. The foundation doesn't restrict your choice of institution.

What to Do Next

If you're in California: Go to CalKIDS.org today and check whether there's an account in your name. This takes about 10 minutes and requires your SSID. There is no downside to checking.

If your GPA is 3.0 or above: Join Phi Theta Kappa this semester if your college has a chapter. The roughly $75 membership fee opens access to $37 million in annual scholarship funding. Look up your transfer schools' specific PTK partnership awards before you apply.

If your GPA is 3.5 or above and your family income is under $95,000: Put the Jack Kent Cooke 2027 application opening (August 19, 2026) on your calendar right now. Spend the summer building one meaningful campus leadership role and identifying two faculty members who can speak to both your academic ability and your personal story.

Regardless of state: File or update your FAFSA. Most state grant programs (TEXAS Grant, Excelsior, Bright Futures, MAP Grants) require it, and many institutional transfer scholarships use it to verify need.

For open deadlines in the next 60 days: The Hearts for Community Service Scholarship (June 30) and the Horatio Alger CTE Scholarship (June 15) both close soon. Review the eligibility criteria in the table above and apply if you qualify.

I'll update this guide as new deadlines open through the rest of 2026. Come back in August when both the JKCF application and several Scholarship America programs go live.