Scholarship Resources

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There are both Yavapai College scholarships and outside scholarships available to YC students. The Yavapai College Foundation has established 250+ student scholarships that could be based on one or more of the following:

  • Academic merit
  • Specific educational goals
  • Financial need
  • Other criteria defined by the scholarship donor

Awards range from $100 to $4,000 per academic year. Students who complete the YC scholarship application will automatically be considered for all the scholarships for which they meet the minimum qualifications.

How do I apply for the YC Scholarship?

  1. Apply for admission at Yavapai College

    If you are a new student, apply for admission at www.yc.edu/admissions.

  2. Complete the online YC Scholarship Application by logging into https://www.yc.edu/ > Click on the “Hamburger Menu” (three lines) on the left side of your screen > Academics/Students > YC Scholarship Application

  3. Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to receive consideration for YC scholarships.

The YC scholarship application is typically available as early as December 1st for the coming award year.

Students must be in at least 6 credits to be eligible for a YC scholarship.

Award Notification

You will be notified via your scholar email regarding any YC scholarship awards for the coming award year. Your scholar email can be located by logging into https://www.yc.edu. If awarded a scholarship, you will be asked to complete a thank you note to the scholarship donor. Your award will not be released to your account until this requirement is satisfied.

Check the academic calendar for the priority deadline for scholarship.

Visit our FAQ page to learn about the difference between Scholarships, Loans, and Grants. Or for more information see the Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid.

If you have questions about the YC scholarship , please contact: scholarship@yc.edu  

Outside Scholarships

FastWeb Scholarship Search - the most complete source of local scholarships, national scholarships and college-specific scholarships. Search and compare detailed college profiles.

Gates Millennium Scholars Program

Arizona Community Foundation Arizona-based scholarship database and instructions for Verde Valley Students

All-USA Academic Team scholarship application for students who combine academic excellence with leadership and service.

Scholarship America  YC receives several scholarships from this foundation

The Mike Rowe Works Foundation  - good options for career and technical education scholarships

The U.S. Department of Labor's free online scholarship search – has scholarships for any student

Tribal Scholarship Resources

Native American students interested in applying for tribal scholarships must complete a FAFSA and be awarded eligible federal financial aid. Students must also complete all of their tribal scholarship requirements. Grant applications are only available from the education officer of the tribe in which you are affiliated or possess membership. Please call your tribe for more information (see list of Tribal Addresses below under Additional Resources).

The following documents are required by most tribal scholarship offices:

  • Academic transcripts
  • Tribal Financial Need Analysis (FNA)
  • Letter of admission for new students
  • Verification of enrollment for continuing students
  • Certificate of Indian blood

BIE Higher Ed Grant Program Scholarship Information Packet

Tribal Addresses

Bureau of Indian Education Scholarship Opportunities

American Indian College Fund

Scholarship FAQ

What information should I include in my essays?

It should be well organized, grammatically correct, spellchecked, and no more than 500 words.

Things to highlight might be:

  • The motivational reason you are pursuing your chosen degree or certificate (make sure to expand on this topic and not just state the degree/certificate you are pursuing)
  • Experience as a first-generation college student, single parent or caregiver for a disabled child, parent or spouse
  • Overcoming a learning disability or physical/health challenges
  • Service to our country as a military veteran, reservist or National Guardsman
  • Description of volunteer and community activities

Am I scholarship material?

Anyone can be scholarship material. YC has many different scholarships with various qualifications, however, more scholarships tend to go to students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Who makes scholarship decisions?

Scholarship award decisions are made by the Yavapai College Scholarship Committee.

When are scholarship decisions made?

A student’s FAFSA information must be received and assessed prior to completing the scholarship decision/awarding process. We understand that financial aid is a crucial aspect of your education, and we want to assure you that our team is working diligently to process your applications as quickly as possible.

Will I be notified if I don't receive a scholarship?

All applicants are notified via email only if they are selected to receive a scholarship. Students that are awarded will receive an email with award details and final steps that must be completed by the student in order to have their scholarship disbursed.  Please make sure to check your YC email regularly.

Why didn't I receive a scholarship?

Supply and demand does not afford the ability to grant each applicant a scholarship.

Scholarship Criteria Guidelines

The criteria for most outside scholarships fall into just a few categories: field of study, grade point average, test scores, financial need and group membership. Some scholarships are awarded based on a combination of criteria. Even if you do not have outstanding grades or significant financial need, don't let that stop you from researching and applying for scholarships.

Scholarship Documentation

Each Scholarship donor may require different documents to apply for their scholarship. Assemble the most common documents in advance to speed the application process.

These may include:

Disclaimer:

Every attempt has been made to verify the accuracy of this information. However, before applying for any scholarship, verify the criteria, application requirements and deadline information directly with the sponsoring agency. Yavapai College is not liable for errors or omissions.

General Scholarship Tips

Establish a system for gathering and organizing all of your scholarship search paperwork: applications, recommendations, essays, test scores, transcripts.

When writing your essay, understand the purpose of the writing and the motivation of those asking. Create goals for the writing, develop a theme, outline your response.

Asking for letters of recommendation:

  • Provide all requested information.
  • Whenever possible, ask one person to write 1 letter that can be sent with multiple scholarship applications.
  • Provide a copy of your essay.
  • Give your letter writers as much time as possible.
  • Provide a list of recommendations
  • Check in with your letter writer at some point in the process to be sure he or she has everything needed.
  • Be sure to ask that the writer use official letterhead if possible.
  • After you receive the letter, write a note of appreciation.

Learn more scholarship tips here