Scholarships Portal Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Yes, all Central Piedmont students must submit a new scholarship application every year. The portal opens on February 1 for the next academic year's applications.  

The application deadline for the 2024-2025 academic year is August 31, 2024. For those applying only for Spring 2025 and/or Summer 2025, applications are accepted through December 15, 2024. 

No, applications left in draft mode or incomplete applications will not be considered for an award.

The scholarship portal opens on February 1 and will remain open until August 31.

Yes, February 1 marks a new awarding cycle. Therefore, all students will need to re-apply in order to be considered for 2024-2025 academic year scholarships.

You do not have to apply to all scholarships individually. Many of our scholarships are auto-match, which means that if your answers on the General Application (program, GPA, high school details, or other questions) meet specific scholarship opportunity criteria, our system will automatically submit your application for those scholarships. However, there are "apply-to" scholarships which require you to submit additional information not listed in the General Application (answer extra questions, write short essays, provide letters of recommendation, etc.). When you submit your General Application, the system will recommend additional scholarships. Select the scholarship listed, answer the additional questions, and select Apply to be considered for Recommended Opportunities that appear in your account.

Not all scholarships require a completed FAFSA to qualify. However, some scholarships do require it or some documentation of financial need. We recommend that you complete a FAFSA as it can identify additional financial assistance that may be available to you. Note that you can still be selected to receive a scholarship if you are a recipient of a Pell Grant. In most cases, scholarship funds are available only for tuition, fees, and books, while Pell Grant funds can be used for living expenses during your time as a student.

Yes, save periodically using the "Save and Keep Editing" button at the bottom of the application. Once you save, you can continue working on the application, or you can exit the scholarship portal and login later to finish your application. Note that the scholarship portal will automatically log you out after 30 minutes of inactivity, so saving frequently is recommended.

While the criterion for each scholarship is different, we review your program and enrollment, GPA, community service, educational goals, financial need, and answers to open response and essay questions. Some scholarships also require information about where you live and/or the high school you attended.

Recommended Opportunities are scholarships for which you may be eligible. They require additional information to be considered. Click on the scholarship name to review the description and supplemental questions. If you meet the qualifications found in the scholarship description, click Apply to answer the additional questions and submit an application.

Yes, you can update and re-submit your application. We do recommend making every effort to make sure your information is accurate when you first submit. 

You will receive an automatic confirmation email from the scholarship portal system once you have submitted your General Application, the Veterans Application, and any specific apply-to scholarship applications.

We aim to award all scholarships for the upcoming academic year by the end of July. However, we will continue to award scholarships as long as funds are available. Once the scholarship portal closes in January, those who were not offered a scholarship will receive an email encouraging them to apply the following academic year, starting when the portal reopens on February 1.

If your application is matched with a scholarship opportunity, you will receive an email with the name and amount of your scholarship along with additional important details. Read the entire email carefully and save as a reference. If your application is not matched with an award, no email is sent.

Most Central Piedmont Foundation scholarships cover tuition, books, and fees related to your enrolled courses of study. Any scholarship that provides additional financial assistance will be listed in the scholarship description.

Allow 48 business hours for the Financial Aid process to update and reflect your scholarship in your MyCollege account. Visit the Scholarships and Your Bill page to review the steps on how to view your scholarship.

Yes. Receiving a Pell Grant does not disqualify you from receiving a Foundation scholarship. In most cases, scholarship funds are available only for tuition, fees, and books, but Pell Grant funds can be used for living expenses during your time as a student. We encourage you to apply for Foundation scholarships even if you have received Pell.

You can direct any questions about scholarships to us via email.

Scholarship dollars not used for tuition, books, and approved program-related fees within the term awarded may be rolled forward to another term. Email Scholarships to let us know that you wish to roll forward unused funds to another academic term. Otherwise, unspent Foundation scholarship funds will be returned to the Central Piedmont Community College Foundation to support other students. Note, at the end of the Summer term, unused funds can not be carried forward and are returned to the Foundation for a new academic year. It is the Central Piedmont Foundation's goal to be excellent stewards of donor funds, meaning we aim to award all available funds within the budgeted academic year, and we hope that scholarship recipients will use all of the funds they have received. This allows the Foundation to report to donor the meaningful impact of their gifts.

Yes, expenses paid directly to Central Piedmont will automatically process as a reimbursement according to the Financial Aid reimbursement dates. If you have scholarship funds remaining, email Scholarships with receipts for books and approved program-required supplies.