Scholarships

Scholarships. The word conjures up star quality--awarded to the best of the best, but that's not true. Sure, some scholarships are awarded based on academic merit, but not all of them--and so many go unawarded. AACC and many other organizations offer scholarships that may be within your reach. They have various deadlines and requirements but it's worth your time to investigate these opportunities. 

A few of our scholarships are only available to graduating high school seniors, but most are open to all entering or returning students. We strongly encourage you to apply for all available AACC and external scholarships. Several hours of time spent on applications could lead to several hundred or thousand dollars in scholarships. The best time to start collecting information is now!

Deadlines: Scholarship deadlines vary from January to May and usually apply to the entire following academic year (fall-spring-summer).



AACC Scholarships

1)   Kathy and Jerry Wood Scholarship

 

AACC will award at least one Wood Scholarship for each Anne Arundel County Public High School. Awards are $1,500 per term for a maximum of four terms. Eligibility Criteria: 

  • 2009 graduate of an Anne Arundel County public high school
  • Or graduated from an A.A. County public high school before August 2006. 
  • Must enroll full-time in an AACC degree or certificate program
  • Must demonstrate some financial need, but do not have to be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant
  • 2.5 High School G.P.A. 

 To apply, complete this application PDF

2)   George E. Revitz Scholarship for Graduates of Meade High School

 

Multiple awards are available. Awards are $1,500 per term for a maximum of four terms. Eligibility Criteria: 

  • Graduate of Meade High School (or graduating senior)
  • Current resident of Anne Arundel County
  • Must enroll full-time in an AACC degree or certificate program
  • Demonstrated academic excellence (G.P.A >= 2.5)
  • Demonstrated involvement in extracurricular activities (i.e.: athletics, clubs, community service)
To apply, complete this application PDF

 3)   The Philip E. and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation Scholarship

  These scholarships provide financial support to students who aspire to start a business and to students who own a business and seek additional knowledge. If you have any interest in starting a business someday, we strongly encourage you to investigate this tremendous opportunity. The scholarship is open to all academic programs and all types of students from graduating high school seniors and to older returning students. You can enroll full-time or part-time. The scholarship funds can be used to pay all the tuition, fees, books and required course materials for both credit and noncredit classes. Total lifetime awards can’t exceed $10,000. The foundation awards $80,000 in scholarships (approximately 24 students) per year. Visit the Entrepreneurial Studies Institute now for more information.

4)    Institutional Scholarship Application

 

Use this application to apply for 140 different scholarships with a wide range of eligibility requirements. Awards range from $50 to $3,000 per year.  Most, but not all of these scholarships require financial need. Apply by May 1 for Fall and Spring scholarships or by November 1 for Spring scholarships. You can apply for these scholarships online, but must wait until you have been offered admission and granted access to MyAACC. To apply:

  • Log on to MyAACC
  • Select "Self Services"
  • Select "Students" (returning or new)
  • Select "Apply for Institutional Scholarships."
AACC automatically assigns a MyAACC login to all students who are offered admission to the college. Your login is listed in your acceptance letter from the admissions office. If you are having trouble with your login, please contact the AACC Help Desk at 410-777-HELP. If you haven't applied for admission yet, please apply through the Admissions Office. To see a full description of these 140 scholarships, see the Student Financial Services section of the college catalog. 

 5)   Departmental Scholarships

  Several academic departments offer and administer their own scholarships. If you are a student athlete or a student in one of these departments, please contact them for more information:

External Scholarships

6)   Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC)

 

MHEC offers at least 14 different aid programs for community college students. To apply for many but not all of these programs you must submit a FAFSA by March 1. Most of them also require an additional application. View a summary of MHEC programs

Some MHEC programs have very broad eligibility criteria. Some require financial need.  Many are based on student or parent membership in a unique group (veterans, Maryland National Guard, foster-care, military service in Iraq or Afghanistan, and other groups). Other programs are targeted toward specific career fields such as child care, education, emergency medical services, gerontology, human services, nursing, physical and occupational therapy, and public service.
View a full description of all available MHEC programs

7)   Search for Outside Scholarships

 

8)   Search for Transfer Scholarships

If you are transferring to another school, contact their financial aid offices and/or Admissions Offices and apply for any transfer scholarships that they offer. Also, review our list of transfer scholarships.

9)  Avoid Scholarship Scams

  Avoid Scholarship Scams. Be very skeptical of any offer that promises to find you scholarships for a fee. Visit the Federal Trade Commission Scholarship Scam Web Site for more information.

Last Updated: May 4 2009 11:05AM