List of commonly asked questions about scholarships. If you cannot find an answer, please contact scholarship staff listed at the bottom of the page.
Click any question below to display the answer.
There are scholarships for almost everyone.
See LCC Online Scholarship System for a full list of scholarships. Search by keyword to filter results.
Available scholarships are based on:
- Program of study – Business, Music, Nursing, STEM, Vocational and many others
- Merit – GPA
- Need – based on Estimated Family Contribution as determined by FAFSA or WASFA
- Community Service and or Leadership
- Enrollment – Part time and full time
Scholarship applications are typically accepted each year during winter quarter, and provide funding for the next academic year (fall, winter, spring quarters).
Yes! All full and part time LCC students (except those students participating in the Running Start program) are encouraged to apply.
Instructions for high school seniors and new LCC students are listed at Apply For LCC Scholarships Now.
All scholarship applicants are required to complete the FAFSA (or WASFA) in order to qualify for need-based scholarships, as well as for Financial Aid. However, you will not have to upload FAFSA (or WASFA) information into your scholarship application.
Complete your application as early as possible. See the Financial Aid Homepage for the most up to date information about dates and deadlines to complete the FAFSA (or WASFA).
School Code: 003782
U.S. Citizens, and eligible non-citizens, such as permanent residents
Undocumented students (estudiantes indocumentados), DACA, or DREAMers, and other select applicants
More information for undocumented students is available at Undocumented Students/DREAMers.
Yes! LCC students who have applied for the WASFA are eligible. Complete the WASFA as early as possible.
See the previous FAQ 'Why do I have to fill out the FAFSA (or WASFA)', or visit Undocumented Students/DREAMers for more information.
Scholarship money can be used for:
- Tuition
- Student Fees
- Books
- Supplies
Some scholarships may also be used to pay for other school related expenses, like transportation or child care.
Important Note: LCC Scholarships are not transferable to other schools.
Yes, but check with the LCC Financial Aid Office to find out how it relates to Financial Aid.
The application takes about an hour to fill out.
The application is integrated with your LCC student account.
You must use your LCC username and LCC password to login to the online scholarship application system. If you do not know your username or password, go to LCC's Online Services and scroll to Student Accounts, then click "Get my Username and Password".
Applicant questions give you an opportunity to describe your life experiences, achievements, challenges, and your personal, academic, and career goals.
Be thoughtful. These are worth the most points in the scoring of your application.
The questions are:
- What is your field of study and how will it contribute to your immediate or future career plans? Please share the importance of your major in today's society, important issues your field is facing and how you see yourself contributing to your field.
- Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. Please share what you learned and how you can apply it to your future.
- The lessons we learn from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. Include how it affected you, what you learned from the experience, and how you will be able to use this experience to enhance your educational path and future career.
- How do you contribute to the improvement of your community through work, school, home, volunteer or other activities?
Essay Tip! Compose your responses beforehand in a Word document and then copy and paste into your online scholarship application. You can use them for other scholarship opportunities!
Essay Tip! Spelling and grammar count! Ask someone to proofread your responses and give you feedback. Your responses help tell the Scholarship Committee who you are. This is your opportunity to show that you're a strong and serious candidate who will make a positive difference of this investment in your future.
Collect electronic versions of your transcripts (or get hard copies and scan them).
Follow the directions in the "attach documents" portion of your online application. If you need help there is a scanner available for student use in the One-Stop Center in the LCC Admissions Building.
Step-by-Step Guide to Obtaining your Unofficial Transcript in ctcLink.
Some scholarships require a recommendation.
The request for recommendations is available on the individual scholarship opportunity. There is also an optional LCC Recommendation Form available in the general application. Recommendations are sent and received via email. Responses will be uploaded directly to your LCC Scholarship application. The recommendation will not be viewable by students, but will show applicants whether the request has been completed or not.
Performing Arts Auditions, including music and drama, are accepted once per year.
Music Students
- Come prepared to perform a solo, song, or etude. Piano accompaniment is not required and may not be provided.
- Learn more at Arts & Entertainment.
Drama Students
- Students interested in acting should come prepared to perform one short (1-2 minute) monologue from a published play.
- Students interested in technical theatre should bring a 'resume-style' list of experience related to set construction, costuming, lighting, props and/or makeup.
- Learn more at Center Stage Theatre.
After the scholarship application deadline, the LCC Scholarship Committee meets to review applications and select scholarship recipients.
Notifications will be sent to your Lower Columbia College student account informing you of the LCC Scholarship Committee's decision regarding the scholarships that you applied for.
You will be notified of your scholarship offer through your LCC student email. LCC Scholarships are awarded using a pool and match approach. One general application uses applicant responses to match criteria of each scholarship opportunity.
Award notification typically begins in June. All scholarship notifications are sent to your LCC student email. LCC uses Gmail for student email accounts. Please check this account often.
For help with your LCC student email account please see Technical Help & Resources/Gmail.
To login to your LCC student email see Email - Students.
The link to login to your student email is accessible from any page on the LCC website. Click the drop down arrow located at the top right of any page and select 'Email - Students'.
Being chosen as a scholarship recipient is a wonderful honor and achievement. Scholarship recipients are required to:
- Respond to your scholarship offer email by accepting or declining the offer using the action buttons.
- Post-acceptance instructions require you to write a thank you letter to the scholarship sponsor.
- Additional instructions will direct you on uploading the thank you letter.
- Attend the LCC Foundation Scholarship Social to meet and thank your scholarship sponsor in person. (More information about this event will be provided to you at a later date. See photos taken at past Scholarship Socials.
- Remain in compliance with the criteria of the scholarship.
Your scholarship award will be credited to your LCC student account for tuition and fees.
If there is any extra money, a voucher may be issued for you to purchase books and supplies in the LCC bookstore. Scholarship awards less than $1,000 are usually paid out in a single quarter. Awards greater than $1,000 are usually distributed over fall, winter, and spring quarters.
If you are looking to use funding from a foundation scholarship to pay for your textbooks, please complete the following online form. An employee from our Finance Department will connect with you after your online submission to help explain the next steps on how to use these funds for an online LCC Bookstore order.