100 Best Community College Scholarships in 2025
September 22, 2025
Attending community college can be a great way to save money while pursuing higher education. And if you’re searching for scholarships to make community college even more affordable, you don’t have to look very far.
What Are the Best Community College Scholarships in 2025?
The best community college scholarships are typically those offered by your state. There are 35 states that offer free tuition scholarships for students attending community college. They’ll either offer free tuition upfront or cover the gaps between your other financial aid and the price of tuition.
Let’s start this list with those 35 state programs—and then jump into privately funded scholarships later.
State-Funded Community College Scholarships
1) Arkansas
ArFuture (or Arkansas Future) is the newest state grant program designed to help increase the number of STEM workers in the state. The grant covers tuition and fees for certificate and associate degree programs at Arkansas’ public institutions for students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math.
2) California
The California College Promise Grant waives the cost of enrollment fees at eligible public community colleges in the state. You can also apply for assistance with books in a separate application.
3) Colorado
In the state of Colorado, you can attend the following programs free of tuition, fees, and course materials:
- Construction
- Education
- Early Childhood Education
- Firefighting
- Forestry
- Law Enforcement
- Nursing
4) Connecticut
If you’re a Connecticut resident, fill out your FAFSA, enroll in a degree-seeking program at a CT State campus (either full or part-time), and maintain good academic standing, CT State will cover the difference between your federal and state grants and scholarships. That means you’ll end up with free tuition. Save yourself some money in Connecticut!
5) Delaware
The SEED (Student Excellence Equals Degree) scholarship was created in 2005 and expanded in 2021 to include Delawareans who want to pursue a degree or workforce training. The free tuition can be applied to five years of courses. (Course fees and books aren’t covered by SEED.)
6) Georgia
The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) offers free tuition in 18 different fields, such as computer programming, early childhood education, and welding and joining technology.
7) Hawai’i
The Hawai’i Promise Scholarship covers 100% of the cost of attending community college for Hawai’i’s qualified students. The scholarship covers the gap between your other financial aid and the amount remaining to pay for community college. In 2024, the scholarship paid $5.5 million to 3,446 eligible students.
8) Indiana
The Next Level Jobs Workforce Ready Grant pays tuition and fees for specific high-value programs at Ivy Tech Community College, Vincennes University, Indiana Institute of Technology, or other approved community colleges. The programs are:
- Advanced Manufacturing
- Building and Construction
- Health Sciences
- IT & Business Services
- Transportation & Logistics
9) Iowa
The Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship covers the gap between available financial aid and tuition for eligible Iowans. Eligible students must be Iowa residents, have a high school diploma or equivalent, enroll in a program of study at least part-time, and have a Student Aid Index (SAI) at or below $20,000.
10) Kansas
The Kansas Promise Scholarship is a “last dollar” scholarship that covers the costs of an associate’s degree after all other forms of financial aid have been exhausted. Students can attend eligible programs in:
Information technology and security - Mental and physical healthcare
- Advanced manufacturing and building trades
- Early childhood education and development
- One additional program identified by each institution
11) Kentucky
The Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship allows eligible students to earn up to 60 credits in free tuition in certain high-demand fields. There are 2,600 course offerings available.
12) Louisiana
The M.J. Foster Promise Program is named for former Louisiana Governor Mike J. Foster. It pays financial assistance to students who enroll in qualified programs at two-year public colleges or universities.
13) Maine
The Free College Scholarship is available to all Maine students who have earned their high school diploma or equivalent, with no limits on age or income. The scholarship covers 100% of tuition and mandatory fees at the seven colleges across the state.
14) Maryland
The Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship covers up to $5,000 in remaining tuition and mandatory fees after a student has maxed out on federal and state financial aid. High school graduates and GED recipients eligible for in-state tuition can apply.
15) Massachusetts
Community college is free for students of any age and income in the state of Massachusetts. MassEducate is a program that covers the full cost of tuition and fees for eligible students. You can also get up to $1,200 for books and supplies based on your income.
16) Michigan
The Michigan Achievement Scholarship pays in-district tuition, contact hours, and mandatory fees for students in the Class of 2023 and beyond. The Michigan Achievement Bonus pays an additional $1,000 for Pell-eligible students to use for other college costs.
17) Minnesota
The Minnesota State Promise provides free tuition and required fees for all Minnesota students with a family adjusted gross income (AGI) less than $80,000. Minnesota State also promises the lowest tuition in the state, with thousands of scholarships available for different categories of students.
18) Missouri
The A+ Scholarship Program is designed to provide graduates of A+ designated high schools who attend community colleges or vocational/technical schools with scholarship funds. It’s a merit-based scholarship that will pay the remaining unpaid balance of your tuition and general fees.
19) Montana
Montana’s 2+2 Honor Scholarship is a waiver that pays the undergraduate tuition of any four-year program for students who graduate with an associate degree from a two-year campus in the Montana University System or a Montana Community College.
20) Nevada
The Nevada Promise Scholarship is a last-dollar scholarship that covers up to three years of tuition and mandatory fees not covered by your other financial aid. Nevada residents with a high school diploma or GED who haven’t previously earned an associate or bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply.
21) New Hampshire
CCSNH’s Promise Program pays to bridge the gap between grants, scholarships, and the costs of tuition and fees at all seven of New Hampshire’s community colleges. The Promise Program is need-based funding for New Hampshire residents who are enrolled in an academic degree or certificate program.
22) New Jersey
New Jersey residents enrolled at one of the state’s 18 community colleges could be eligible for tuition-free college through the Community College Opportunity Grant. Students simply fill out their FAFSA and are automatically considered for the award.
23) New Mexico
The New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship, the New Mexico Lottery Scholarship, and 25 other scholarships, grants, and financial aid programs mean that New Mexicans can easily attend community college without having to worry about the cost.
24) New York
The state of New York offers a scholarship that covers tuition, books, and fees for Adult New Yorkers ages 25–55 pursuing associate degrees in high-demand fields.
25) North Carolina
The Next NC Scholarship is a financial aid program to help North Carolina residents who make $80,000 or less to pursue higher education. Students who attend community colleges in the state can receive at least $3,000 per year. Students who attend a public university can get a minimum of $5,000.
26) Oklahoma
The Tulsa Achieves Scholarship covers 100% of tuition for Tulsa County high school graduates. All you have to do is apply, fill out your FAFSA, and meet the eligibility requirements.
27) Oregon
The Oregon Promise is a state grant to help cover tuition costs at Oregon community colleges for recent high school grads and students who have earned their GED. Students must be in their senior year of high school or immediately post-GED to apply.
28) Rhode Island
Rhode Island students coming right out of high school are eligible to become Rhode Island Promise Scholars. You simply need to be an RI resident and high school grad, and enrolling in a CCRI associate degree program to be eligible.
29) South Carolina
South Carolina’s Live to Chase Initiative covers tuition for Spartanburg Community College programs, as long as students meet the other eligibility requirements.
30) Tennessee
TN Reconnect is a scholarship that allows eligible adults who don’t have an associate degree or higher to attend community or technical college for up to two years entirely tuition-free.
31) Vermont
The Community College of Vermont and VSAC offer Vermont students with family incomes lower than $100,000 a scholarship to attend the Community College of Vermont tuition-free.
32) Virginia
Community college students in Virginia can attend at no cost through a grant program designed to fund specifically eligible programs, such as Business & Hospitality, Early Childhood Education, and Healthcare.
33) Washington
The Free College Scholarship makes community college affordable for recent high school graduates by paying for tuition and mandatory fees after federal and state grants and scholarships have been applied.
34) West Virginia
West Virginia Invests covers tuition to any WV Community and Technical College (CTC) for the length of your certificate or degree program in an in-demand, high-paying field.
35) Wyoming
The Hathaway Scholarship helps students attend college by funding four tiers: Honors, Performance, Opportunity, and Provisional, each designed to help cover costs either at community college or at the University of Wyoming.
Nationwide Community College Scholarships
38) Jack Kent Cookie Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship for Community College Graduates
39) Obama Foundation Voyager Public Service Scholarship
40) Herb Block Foundation Scholarships
41) Martin Achievement Scholarship
42) Clyde Russell Scholarship Fund
43) Albuquerque Community Foundation Scholarship for New Mexico Students
44) AICPA & CIMA Two-Year Transfer Scholarship
45) Honolulu Community College Native Hawaiian Tuition Waiver
46) Minnesota State Workforce Development Scholarships
47) North Dakota Dollars for Scholars
48) TEXAS Grant Program Funding
49) The Ron and Terri Davis Trades Scholarship
50) AWS Welder Training Scholarship
51) NSHSS Community College or Trade School Scholarship
53) Alliss Opportunity Grant Program for Adults Returning to College
54) American Indian Scholars Program
55) Grants for Dislocated Workers
56) Education and Training Vouchers for Current and Former Foster Youth
57) Minnesota Academic Excellence Scholarship
58) Minnesota Educational Assistance for War Orphans
59) Minnesota Veterans’ Dependents Assistance Program
60) New Hampshire Charitable Foundation Scholarship
61) New Jersey Governor’s Industry Vocations Scholarship to Benefit Women and Students of Colors
62) $40,000 Scholarships for Juniors with BigFuture
63) Sallie $2,000 No Essay Scholarship
64) SoFi $2,500 Monthly Scholarship Giveaway
65) Smarter College A Better Financial Future $2,000 Scholarship
66) Kansas Association of Broadcasters Foundation Scholarship
67) Berrien Community Foundation Scholarships
68) Goldberg-Miller Public Finance Scholarship
69) Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund
70) The PHCC Educational Foundation
71) eQuality Scholarships for Community College Transfer Students
73) Western Digital STEM Scholarships for Underserved and Underrepresented Youth
77) The Herbert Lehman Education Fund Scholarship
78) Bold.org Redefining Victory Scholarship
79) Minnesota Masonic Charities Scholarship
80) Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship
81) HVAC HERO Scholarship Program
82) NC CPA Foundation Scholarship
83) Metal Supermarkets Trade School Scholarship
84) SME Education Foundation Scholarship
85) Florida PTSA High School Scholarship Program
86) Virginia Space Grant Consortium Community College STEM Scholarships
87) Texas Association of Developing Colleges Scholarship Fund
88) Lead Minnesota John and Kathryn O’Brien Scholarship
89) Darrel Hess Community College Geography Scholarship
90) Ron and Linda Smith Family Scholarship
92) Kansas Career Technical Workforce Grant
93) AFCCE Telecommunications Engineering Scholarships
94) Dairy Shrine Youth Scholarships
95) American Occupational Therapy Foundation Scholarships
96) The Maine American Legion Scholarships
97) Wyoming Douvas Memorial Scholarship
98) The Cydni Lawson Morris Memorial Scholarship
99) The Husband and Wife Law Team Scholarship
100) Nissan Scholarship for Mississippi Students
Additional Resources – Best Community College Scholarships
