Student Scholarships

The OCCC Foundation offers scholarship opportunities for current OCCC students.  During the time the scholarship process is open, a student can log in to the system to complete the universal General Application . The system will help determine the various scholarships for which a student is eligible. Please read the Scholarship Questions and Answers section below before beginning your application.

Scholarship Questions and Answers

How do I get into the scholarship system? When the scholarship application process is open, start the General Application and use your OCCC email and password to log in to our system.

If I am awarded a scholarship, how and when will I get the money? These scholarships are for the Fall 2021 semester. Funds will be deposited into the student's Bursar's Office account at the beginning of the semester after drop and add. We typically do not give scholarships directly to students.

Do I have to be enrolled in a certain number of hours to receive a scholarship? You must be enrolled in at least three credit hours to receive a scholarship. If you are awarded a scholarship for next semester, your enrollment will be checked before scholarships are applied to your account at the Bursar's Office. If you are not enrolled in at least three credit hours, you will not receive the scholarship.

Is the amount listed for the scholarship good for part-time, as well as full-time students? Scholarships listed at $500 or less are awarded for the whole amount, regardless of the number of hours a student is enrolled in. For scholarships listed above $500, the amounts listed generally are for full-time students (12 hours or more per Fall or Spring semester). Students who are part-time (11 hours or less) will have their scholarship pro-rated based on 12 hours and the number of hours enrolled. For example, if you are taking six hours, you would receive one-half of the scholarship (six hours is one-half of 12 full-time hours). If you are taking three hours, you would get one-fourth of the scholarship amount listed (three hours is one-fourth of 12 full-time hours).

Can I get a scholarship if this semester (Spring 2021) is my last semester? No, this particular group of scholarships is for Fall 2021 students.

Can I apply if I am in high school taking OCCC classes through concurrent enrollment? All scholarships offered in this round are for current students, including concurrent enrollment students who will be graduated from high school by next fall. The system we use to manage scholarships requires an OCCC email and password.

Do my references have to be OCCC faculty or staff? Scholarships require either one or two letters of reference, and at least one has to be from an OCCC faculty or staff member. Check each scholarship for specific reference requirements.

If a scholarship requires that I have completed a certain number of hours at OCCC, does that count the current semester? Yes, when you answer the question about how many hours you have taken at OCCC, include the hours you are currently enrolled in. We will confirm next semester before scholarships are paid that you have completed the required number of credit hours. If you have not completed the required number of hours, you will not be awarded the scholarship.

How do I submit my essay? After you complete and submit your General Application, the scholarship system will return a list of scholarships that you qualify for. Then you can click on each of those scholarships to see additional requirements. Most scholarships require that you copy and paste your essay into the long-form answer, so have your essay typed in a format such as Microsoft Word so you can paste it directly into the application form.

What should I include in my essay? Most scholarships require 500-750 words (which is equivalent to 2-3 typed pages, double-spaced, 12 pt. font, 1” margins). Check with each scholarship you apply for, as they may have a scholarship-specific question. Most reviewers like a paragraph introduction about you, then a compelling case as to why you need the scholarship. Have a friend or family member review your essay for content, grammar and punctuation.

Can I use the same essay for each scholarship I qualify for? It depends! Read each scholarship qualification and see if the essay requirements are the same. If the questions are different, you should answer each question.

Are there scholarships for my specific degree? There are many scholarships for a wide range of degree programs as well as non-degree-specific ones. Submit your General Application and you will receive a list of those you qualify for. There are several general scholarships that are not related to any specific program of study.

How do I get letters of recommendation? First, ask your references for approval to include them in the scholarship application process. If they are willing to write a letter of recommendation, include their name and email address on your General Application. This is a step that disqualifies many applicants because they don't secure their references! Letters of recommendation must be entered into the system by the date scholarships close. Your reference will get an email from the system asking them to submit the letter online. Some scholarships allow you to upload the letter. If they have any trouble submitting the letter, have them contact Rolonda Robinson at 405-682-1611 xt 7709 or  rolonda.r.robinson@occc.edu . Note that your reference does not have to have an OCCC email and password to submit a letter of recommendation.

How can I stay updated about scholarships? Check the OCCC scholarship webpage https://www.occc.edu/scholarships/index.html.

For questions about scholarships, please contact Rolonda Robinson in Financial Aid at 405-682-1611 xt 7709.