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.

SCHOLARSHIPS FAQs
Scholarship Eligibility and Application

Scholarship Eligibility and Application

Students who attend on a full-time or part-time basis and are enrolled in a degree or certificate program at the CT State Manchester campus are eligible to apply for MCC Foundation 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. 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.

Apply for a Winter and Spring 2026 Scholarship.
Open through December 5, 2025.

If you need assistance with an outstanding balance from the fall 2025 semester, 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 OPEN.

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 ma-scholarships@ctstate.edu.

CW5 (RET) Tom Bothur Grant for Manchester Campus Students Who Are Veterans

This Fund provides a one-time grant of $500 to support Veteran students enrolled in a degree or certificate program at the Manchester campus of CT State Community College. This grant is designed to help cover expenses not typically included in standard Veteran benefits, such as textbooks, educational supplies, transportation, personal necessities, and living costs. Recipients must demonstrate financial need as determined by the Campus.

How to apply: Complete the application

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

Need Help Applying?

General Questions on Completing Your Application

E-mail: ma-scholarships@ctstate.edu

Call Diana Reid at 860-512-2909

Need Help Completing the Application?

Staff at the Academic Support Center can assist students with completing their scholarship application 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. MCC Foundation can only provide scholarships for classes offered through the Manchester campus. Please take care when selecting your classes.

    • Be enrolled in a degree or certificate program and be homed at the Manchester campus. MCC Foundation cannot extend scholarships to students enrolled in a degree or certificate program at another campus.

    • Have a minimum GPA of 2.0. (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 ma-scholarships@ctstate.edu or call 860-512-2909.

    Help with the Application

    Please contact the Academic Support Center if you need assistance completing the scholarship application. 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 matGenInfoBursars@ctstate.eduor call 860-512-3380 to learn more.

    General questions ma-scholarships@ctstate.edu

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

    E-mail: ma-scholarships@ctstate.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.

    We work with the Campus Student Affairs office to determine your eligibility.

  • We do our best to cover as much of a student’s outstanding balance as we can (tuition, fees, textbooks and educational supplies). We work with the financial aid office to determine the award amounts. Most scholarship awards range from $250 to $3,200.

  • Yes. The application asks what you need help with. Be sure to indicate if you need help expenses such as textbooks, class supplies, art supplies, etc. We work with the Bursar’s office to allocate some funds for a book voucher that can be used at the Manchester campus bookstore. Vouchers can only be used for textbooks and class supplies.

  • If you are enrolled in a degree or certificate program at CT State Manchester, you are encouraged to complete the FAFSA and 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, the student drops classes, or the student does not take all their classes at CT State Manchester, this could affect the student’s scholarship award.

    In these cases, scholarship award amounts may be adjusted or withdrawn and you will be responsible for any outstanding balance due.

    Please contact the Scholarships office to discuss your situation with our staff.

  • No. Unused funds are returned to MCC Foundation. You can always apply again when you are ready to return.

  • 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.

    Each CT State Community College campus has their own affiliated Foundation that awards scholarships. If you are enrolled in a degree or certificate program at another campus, check with the Foundation affiliated with that campus for scholarship assistance.

  • 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. They may have funds to assist you.

  • Students who receive the MAH grant 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 MAH funding. This may include college fees, textbooks and educational supplies.

Last updated October 2025.