Scholarships
More than $350,000 in Scholarships for Your College Education are Available for New and Returning Students
Don’t let the cost of tuition cancel your college plans. Get help paying for your Carroll education by applying for the wide variety of merit-based and need-based scholarships we offer for college students of all types. All new and current students should apply.
How to Apply for College Scholarships
Follow the steps below to apply. Scholarships are not awarded until all criteria have been met and verified.
- New students must complete the enrollment application to be considered for scholarships.
- If you have not yet filed a 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), please do so today. Students need to complete the FAFSA or the MSFAA on the MDCAPS website to be considered for need-based scholarships.
- Browse available scholarships and submit your application online.
Foundation Scholarships
Scholarship awards for the 2025-2026 academic year will be determined in three application cycles in the spring and summer of 2025. Students who apply during one of these cycles will automatically be included for consideration in the later cycles.
There are both need-based and merit-based scholarships, so we encourage all students to apply.
To be considered for Foundation Scholarships, students must:
- Be registered for at least 6 billable hours in a credit program at Carroll.
- Have a carrollcc.edu email and single-sign-on (SSO) credentials.
- Have a high-school diploma or GED before fall 2025 classes. Students who will be dual-enrolled high school students in 2025-2026 are not eligible.
- Be in good academic standing.
- Students must complete a FAFSA to be considered for need-based scholarships. Scholarship applications can be submitted before/without completing a FAFSA but cannot be considered for need-based until Financial Aid receives their FAFSA.
- Students without a FAFSA can only be considered for merit-based scholarships.
By completing one short online application, students will be considered for more than 150 scholarships with over 350 total awards.
The application includes answering questions regarding your academic and career plans, past experiences, and affiliations. There is a short essay required (600 words maximum). This essay allows you to let the scholarship committee learn more about you, your goals, and why you are a good candidate for a scholarship.
For more information on the application process, please see our Scholarship Guide or contact foundation@carrollcc.edu.
Scholarships are not awarded until all criteria have been met and verified by the Financial Aid Office.
25 or older? New Start Scholarships
Introducing an exciting new option for adult students who are age 25 or older – The New Start Scholarship. Click here for more information.
Merit-Based Awards for Incoming High School Graduates
To be eligible for these awards, qualified applicants must register and enroll as full-time (12 billable hours) students by July 15 for the Fall term immediately following high school graduation.
Rising STEM Scholar Award
Are you seeking an exciting career in the STEM field? Students admitted into our prestigious STEM Scholars Honors program receive $750 per semester for two years—that’s 20% off tuition toward an Associate’s degree. Students who graduate from the Project Lead the Way program offered through the Carroll Career and Technology Center are automatically admitted into STEM Scholars.
Pappalardo Honors Program Award
Students admitted into our prestigious Pappalardo Honors program receive $750 per semester for two years.
Jump Start Award
High school students who, while dually enrolled at Carroll, had earned a minimum of six (6) college credits with a 3.0 GPA or higher are eligible to receive this monetary incentive when they pursue an Associate’s degree at Carroll.
Contact us to learn more about information information about the Jump Start Award.
Special Programs
First in My Family Scholarship
The First in My Family program is designed to support first-generation students at Carroll Community College. To be eligible for this scholarship, neither parent or guardian can have graduated with an Associate or Bachelor’s degree.