Scholarships

CT State Manchester is a College of Opportunity

With its policy of open admission, all students - of any age - who possess the desire to pursue a higher education are welcome. For many students, however, the desire to learn is not enough. Scholarships make a critical difference by helping students meet their financial obligations.

WHAT IS A SCHOLARSHIP?

A scholarship is a type of financial assistance that is awarded to students to supplement the cost of their education.

This money does not have to be paid back. Some scholarships are need-based (student must show some financial need), some are merit-based (based on a student's academic performance or special characteristic/skill), and some are a mix of the two. Most scholarships require an application to be submitted. Additional materials may be required.

Scholarship Eligibility and Application

Students who attend on a full-time or part-time basis and are matriculated in a degree or certificate program at CT State Manchester are eligible to apply for scholarships.

Community college student studying at the center's library

Eligibility and Awards

Scholarships are awarded based on a combination of factors, including academic achievement, financial need, service to the college and community, and credit load. To be eligible, students must have a minimum grade point average of at least 2.5. Financial need and academic merit scholarships are available. Awards range from $150 to more than $3,000 and are available for fall, winter, spring and summer semesters.

Review Eligibility Requirements

Please Note

  • All notifications regarding scholarships are sent via email to your college email address. It is important that you check this address regularly.

  • Students who are offered a scholarship are required to submit a thank you letter.

Scholarship Application Information

Funds to Finish Scholarship - Application period is OPEN

The Funds to Finish Scholarship is for students in a degree or certificate program at the Manchester campus who need one or two remaining classes to graduate and need help with their final tuition bill.

Review eligibility, sign in and apply.

Scholarships for Winter and Spring 2025 - Application period is CLOSED. If you need assistance with an outstanding balance, please contact the Manchester campus financial aid office.

How to apply:

  • Check eligibility requirements and sign in to apply.

  • It is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure the application and all supporting documents are completed/uploaded by the scholarship deadline.

  • Remember that all notifications regarding your scholarship are sent to your college email address. Be sure you are checking that address regularly.

Robert and Lena Welensky Endowed Scholarship for English as Second Language Learners -
Application period is CLOSED.

This scholarship is open to English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students who are homed at the Manchester campus and enrolled in credit or credit-free classes at the Manchester campus. The scholarship provides support for tuition, fees, textbooks, personal technology, academic program resources, educational supplies and other needs necessary to support the student's academic success at CT State Manchester. 

Eligibility:

Credit and non-credit students enrolled full-time or part-time and homed at the CT State Manchester campus may apply. Classes must be held at the Manchester campus or affiliated with Manchester if held online. Applicants must be identified as ESOL students with financial need.

How to apply: Complete the general application here, and answer the additional questions for the Welensky Scholarship.

*Funds are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have questions or need assistance completing the application, please e-mail scholarship@mcc.commnet.edu.

Need Help Applying?

General Questions on Completing Your Application

E-mail: scholarships@ctstate.edu

Call Diana Reid at 860-512-2909

Help Writing Your Personal Statement or Essay

Staff at the Writing Center within the Academic Support Center may be available to assist students with completing their personal statement or scholarship essay at no cost. Call 860-512-2610 for hours and to learn more.

Uploading Your Supporting Documents

Some scholarships require documents to be uploaded. If you need assistance with uploading these documents into the scholarship application, please see Deb Herman in the Raymond F. Damato Library.

Scholarship FAQs

  • To be eligible for and MCC Foundation scholarship, students must:

    Complete the FAFSA for the current academic year if eligible to do so. If unable to complete the FAFSA, please contact the Manchester campus Financial Aid office for guidance.

    • Be registered for credit classes at the Manchester campus in the semester for which you are applying for a scholarship.

    • Be enrolled in a degree or certificate program and be homed at the Manchester campus.

    • Have a minimum GPA of 2.5. (Merit scholarships require min. 3.0 GPA).

    • Merit scholarships - students with a min. 3.0 GPA and letter of recommendation from a professor or staff member may apply for consideration.

  • Current and returning students: Scholarship applications are online.

    Begin your application

  • Questions on the Application

    Email scholarships@mcc.commnet.edu or call 860-512-2909.

    Help with writing the essay

    Please contact the Writing Center within the Academic Support Center if you need assistance completing your essay. Call 860-512-2610 for hours and to learn more.

    Help with FAFSA and Financial Aid

    The Financial Aid office can assist students with information on applying for the FAFSA and financial aid. Visit the office in L177, email ma-ma-finaid@mcc.commnet.edu or call 860-512-3380 to learn more.

    General questions scholarships@mcc.commnet.edu

    Please contact the Office of Institutional Advancement for general help and questions about scholarships through MCC Foundation.

    E-mail: scholarships@mcc.commnet.edu
    Call: Diana Reid at 860-512-2909.

  • For tuition assistance scholarships, we work with the financial aid and admissions office to determine a student’s need. For merit scholarships, a scholarship committee reviews merit applications, which are scored based on GPA (min. 3.0 is required), personal statement, community involvement and letter of recommendation (required). We work to match each student with a scholarship that fits the criteria set by our scholarship donors, and the student’s level of need.

  • In many cases, students who are receiving financial aid and have an outstanding tuition balance may be eligible for a scholarship. We work with the financial aid office to determine if a student is eligible for a scholarship and the amount that could be awarded.

    If you have a full Pell Grant, you will want to consider applying for an academic merit-based scholarship. Merit scholarships require a minimum GPA of 3.0 and a letter of recommendation from a professor or staff member. Financial need-based awards are geared towards students with outstanding tuition balances.

  • Students who have exhausted their financial aid resources are encouraged to apply for a tuition assistance scholarship.

  • International students enrolled in a degree or certificate program at CT State Manchester are typically eligible and encouraged to apply for scholarships as long as they have been at CT State for at least one full semester.

  • Scholarships cover a student’s unmet direct need (tuition, fees, textbooks and educational supplies). Most scholarship awards range from $250 to over $3,000. The exact amount is determined by the Manchester campus financial aid office.

  • Some of the scholarships have this flexibility, but not all of them. There are limited funds available for textbook scholarships from the Student Affairs office.

  • If you are enrolled in a degree or certificate program at CT State Manchester, you are encouraged to apply for a scholarship through MCC Foundation, regardless of your previous educational achievements.

  • The Bursar’s office provides us the date when they would like the scholarship checks sent to them. Scholarship funds are generally posted to student accounts within two weeks after financial aid census occurs. However, the bursar’s office is notified when a student is receiving a scholarship and an internal memo is placed on your account with a notification of the scholarship.

  • If the number of credits a student indicates that they plan to take differs from the total credits for which they register, or the student drops classes, this could affect the student’s scholarship award. Please contact the Scholarships office to discuss your situation with our staff.

  • No. Unused funds are returned to MCC Foundation.

  • If your home school is a different CT State campus, or a different college/university you are not eligible for an MCC Foundation scholarship. MCC Foundation scholarships only support students who are enrolled in a degree/certificate program at CT State Manchester and the classes taken at CT State Manchester.

  • Yes however scholarship consideration is limited to students who need a pre-requisite course or for students who have one or more last classes needed to graduate from the Manchester campus.

  • If you have a balance on your account from a prior semester, please contact the Manchester campus financial aid office for assistance.

  • Students who receive PACT funding are not eligible to receive an MCC Foundation scholarship towards tuition and fees. However, students may be eligible for a scholarship that covers unmet direct needs not covered by PACT funding. This may include college fees, textbooks and educational supplies.

Last updated August 4, 2023.