Community College Scholarships for International Students

Scholarships and awards
Community college scholarships for international students may be available to new students based on criteria including academic success, artistic merit, athletic excellence, community involvement, references from instructors or employers or financial need.

The main types of community college scholarships for international students in the USA include:

Entrance (new student) scholarships

International entrance scholarships

Academic scholarships

Athletic "incentive" scholarships for international students

Program-specific scholarships

Many community colleges in the USA offer internally and externally administered scholarships for incoming students, although resources are more limited than at universities. Sometimes international students can apply for the same general entrance awards as US students (although some are restricted to US residents), and there may be specific entrance scholarships reserved solely for international students. In some cases, international students are automatically considered for these entrance scholarships when they apply. In other cases, scholarships are competitive and you must apply by a specific deadline. Eligibility and application requirements vary from one institution to another; therefore, it's important to consult the international student section and/ or the scholarship and financial assistance section of each community college website. Some scholarships are available to students--sometimes specifically international students--entering a particular program of study (such as medical technology or fine arts), so check with the program department as well. Scholarship and award programs for international students are also administered by external organizations such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs), cultural groups, professional associations and even community groups in the college's city or town.

Financial assistance
Bursaries are also sometimes available for international students who demonstrate financial need and reasonable academic standing. Bursaries may be given out as emergency assistance for basic educational expenses if the student's original financial sources have fallen through.

Visa students are not eligible for the US Federal student loan program, but should look at what assistance may be offered through their own country. Loan assistance is often available through the International Education Finance Corporation (IEFC).