Scholarships

Scholarships are gift-aid awarded on the basis of merit, academic excellence, and in some cases, additional criteria such as study in a particular major, leadership, or financial need.

Scholarships opportunities for Pierce College students:

$1500 Transfer Scholarship -- This scholarship is provided Pepperdine University, Encino campus to students who meet the following criteria:

• >= 3.0 cumulative GPA
• >= 60 transferrable units
  • 45 units must be general education units including English Composition and Intermediate Algebra or higher
• >= 3 years full-time work experience
• Must complete Pepperdine BSM program application for January 2010 enrollment
• Meet with a Pepperdine pre-admissions counselor

Application deadline:  Submit the following to Pierce College Financial Aid/Scholarship/Veterans Office by NOVEMBER 30, 2009:

• Resume
• Unofficial Transcripts

Jack Kent Cooke 2010 Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship Program -- This scholarship is sponsored by Jack Kent Cooke Foundation designed to help students of exceptional promise reach their full potential through education.  This scholarship supports high-achieving community college students hoping to transfer from two-year programs to four-year colleges and universities in Fall 2010.  The nomination guidelines are designed to assist institutions in recruiting applicants and selecting nominees who excel academically and inother activities and have significant unmet financial need.  Only accredited two-year institutions in the United States may nominate students.  Please click here for the scholarship requirements, application materials and deadlines.

Pierce College Academic Senate Scholarships -- two scholarships are available to students who demonstrate leadership, campus participation and community involvement.  These scholarships are not based on financial need. 

• Consistent Excellence - $500
  • Requirements:
    • A consistently high grade point average
    • A minimum of 2 semesters completed at Pierce College
    • Currently enrolled in the semester of application
    • Graduating or transferring by the end of this academic year
    • Demonstrate leadership, campus participation and community involvement
    • Any field of study
• Most Improved Student - $500
  • Requirements:
    • A continually improving grade point average
    • A minimum of 2 semesters completed at Pierce College
    • Currently enrolled in the semester of application
    • Graduating or transferring by the end of this academic year
    • Demonstrate leadershp, campus participation and community involvement
    • Any field of study

Application Deadline:   MAY 3, 2010. 

Application documents Required:     Submit required application documents to the Pierce College's Financial Aid, Scholarships & Veterans Office.

• Application Form
• A two to three paragraph typewritten statement about why you deserve this scholarship
• Unofficial transcript (available on-line and in the Admissions & Records Office)

Scholarship Search Engines

There are hundreds of thousands of scholarship opportunities.  The best way to seek and apply for scholarships is through the World Wide Web, which is free.  Students may use the computers in the Financial Aid Lobby during business hours to search for scholarships.  Below are free scholarship search engines you may use:

• FastWeb - www.fastweb.com
• Wired Scholar - www.wiredscholar.com
• College Board - http://apps.collegeboard.com/cbsearch_ss/welcome.jsp
• Next Student - http://www.nextstudent.com/scholarship-search/scholarship-search.asp
• CollegeNet MACH25 - www.collegenet.com/mach25/app

Scholarships are also offered by outside agencies and foundations and are awarded on the basis of merit, academic excellence, and in some cases, additional criteria.

Scholarship Scam Alert

There are many businesses who would like to sell you the opportunity for them to search for scholarships for you.  They will promise to locate several sources of scholarships which you qualify for.  Be aware!  We discourage paying anyone to search scholarships on your behalf.  Below are scholarship scam warning signs:

• The fee.  The best rule of thumb:  financial aid should never cost you.  Never invest anything beyond the cost of a postage stamp in seach for scholarships.
• The "money-back guarantee" - especially if the company tries to 'guarantee' that you will win an award.
• Credit card verification - if they ask for a checking account or credit card information for 'verification' or to 'confirm eligibility', stop listening.  Scammers use this ploy to get your financial information and then drain your account or run up charges on your credit card.

Disclaimer:  Some websites to which the Financial Aid Office provide links are for the convenience of users and are not managed or maintained by Pierce College Financial Aid Office.  The college and the Financial Aid Office do not review, control, or take responsibility for the contents of those sites.