Scholarships

Cleveland State Community College strives to make college affordable to everyone interested in higher education. We provide scholarships not only to high achieving students but also to new high school graduates, transfer students, non-traditional students, and low-income students.

How To Apply

All of our Foundation and Institutional scholarships are available through our online scholarship application. Applicants should complete the general scholarship application for all scholarship opportunities. Students will be matched to scholarships based on answers provided in the application and data pulled from student records, such as GPA, hours enrolled, county of residence, high school alma mater, and more. Students must be accepted to Cleveland State and have access to their CougarNet to apply for scholarships. Students must apply each academic year. Scholarships are awarded for fall and spring semesters. A student must maintain eligibility from fall to spring. Students graduating in December will only receive the fall disbursement. The spring disbursement cannot be moved to the fall semester.

Please click the links below to view the various available scholarships and application requirements in our online scholarship application.

Available Scholarships

Online Scholarship Application

Scholarship Opportunities

Foundation Scholarships

Each year, the Cleveland State Community College Foundation provides a number of scholarships based on academic achievement and need. Students can browse all available Foundation Scholarship awards and requirements by clicking on the “Available Scholarships” link above. Award amounts vary.

Minimum Requirements:

• 2.0 college GPA
  • 2.0 high school GPA for incoming freshmen with 0 college credits.
• Must be degree seeking
• Must be enrolled in at least one class that is in-program
• Recipients must submit a Thank-You Letter to their scholarship donor

Presidential Honors Scholarship

The scholarship provides financial support to academically motivated students by assisting with the cost of books and other educational expenses such as non-mandatory fees. Interested students should complete the supplemental application, which includes short essay questions and requires a letter of recommendation. Recipients of the scholarship will join the Honors College at Cleveland State. Award amount: $1,000 per semester for up to four semesters.

Minimum Requirements:

• 3.5 high school GPA required to apply
• Maintain a 3.25 college GPA
• Commit to joining the Honors College
• Enroll in at least 15 hours each semester, typically with an Honors course, as needed to maintain timely
  progress toward completion of degree
• Be enrolled in at least one class that is within the student’s program of study each semester

The George R. Johnson Entrepreneurship Scholarship

The George R. Johnson Entrepreneurship Scholarship is available to incoming and current Entrepreneurship students at Cleveland State Community College. The scholarship requires the completion of the aid year General Scholarship Application.
Scholarship funds can be used to assist with the cost of books and other educational expenses, such as non-mandatory fees. The scholarship is posted to the student’s account. Applications are accepted online and can be accessed by logging into Cougarnet and navigating to Financial Aid>Financial Aid Info & Links>Scholarship Types>Online Scholarship Application.

The award amount is $500 per semester for up to four sequential semesters, for a total scholarship award of $2,000 over two years.

Requirements for Scholarship – To be eligible for the scholarship, students must

• Major in Entrepreneurship
• Join and actively participate in the Cleveland State Student Entrepreneurship Club
• Maintain full time enrollment status (12 credit hours or more)
• Incoming freshmen students must have a minimum high school GPA 2.50, and a minimum college GPA of 2.50 if dual credits were received at CSCC.
• Current college students must have a minimum GPA of 2.50.

Maintaining the Scholarship – Students earning the George R. Johnson scholarship are required to take a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester and maintain a 2.50 GPA. In addition, membership and active participation in the Entrepreneurship Club each semester is required to maintain eligibility.

If students do not meet the requirements for maintaining the scholarship, either for hours per semester, GPA, or participation in the club, the student can write a letter to the Entrepreneurship committee explaining their situation and ask for a semester to re-establish the minimum requirements. The committee will review the letter and if the request is granted, the student will have one semester to correct the deficiency(s).

Empowerment Grant – Returning students

The purpose of the Empowerment Grant is to enhance the rate of participation, progression, and completion in higher education by a diverse population of students. In general, applicants must meet the following criteria: 25 years or older; low income; majoring in a high-need program; and be a resident of either McMinn, Meigs, or Monroe counties. Award amounts are $500 per semester. The scholarship is not renewable. The funds do not have to be repaid.

Students are required to maintain a 2.0 GPA to remain eligible for the scholarship and be enrolled in at least one course within their program of study each semester, with preference given to students enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours within their program of study. Additionally, students must complete the FAFSA application, must fulfill all outstanding Financial Aid requirements, and must be Pell eligible to receive the scholarship. Preference is given to students who complete the General Scholarship Application.

Empowerment Grant – Incoming Freshmen

This grant is awarded to incoming first-time freshmen who have attained the honor of being the highest ranked student in their high school graduating class. One scholarship recipient from each of the schools within our service area. The recipient will be awarded $1,000 for the academic year ($500 fall and $500 spring). This scholarship is not renewable. The funds do not have to be repaid.

Contact Information

If you have questions or need to turn in scholarship documents to the Financial Aid Office, please visit the Enrollment Services Center in the Student Center or contact us via e-mail at enroll@clevelandstatecc.edu