Scholarships

Three student scholars with Catto Scholarship shirts, pose for the camera.

Scholarships

Each year Community College of Philadelphia awards more than $800,000 in scholarships to our students. With our general scholarship application, you can keep complete just one application and be considered for more than 100 scholarships—we'll find the scholarships that are right for you!

We have scholarships for students in every stage of their Community College of Philadelphia journey, whether you are a current Philadelphia high school student, first-time College student, are halfway through your CCP studies or nearing graduation. You can continue to apply for scholarships throughout your time at the College, so please keep your eye out for opportunities each year, and if you aren't matched with scholarhips the first year you apply, try again the next year!

Scholarships are awarded based on financial need, field of study, academic excellence, volunteer service and more.

You can browse our full list of scholarships or read more about our unique opportunities for full and partial scholarships below.

You can also visit our How to Apply for Scholarships page to get help with completing your application. There, you will find resources to help you in your search for scholarships, as well advice on scholarship application best practices.

two catto scholar students smiling at camera

Octavius Catto Scholarship

Our newest and most comprehensive scholarship yet. In 2020 the College teamed up with the City of Philadelphia to make college free and accessible in the city of Philadelphia. The Octavius Catto Scholarship not only eliminates the cost of tuition for full-time, first-time students, but it also provides additional funding for books, food and even transportation. Complete with a specialized team of coaches and advisors, students who experience poverty will receive extensive support and guidance to help eliminate whatever hurdles they encounter on their way to completing an associate degree.

President Dr. Generals poses with 50th Anniversary Promises scholars.

50th Anniversary PROMISE Scholarship

If you’re a Philadelphia high school student who does not qualify for the Catto Scholarship, you may be able to pursue an associate degree at Community College of Philadelphia with no cost for tuition and fees starting with the fall semester immediately following your graduation.

Three student scholars pose for the camera.

Complete with 15

Current, full-time students looking to save money on tuition should look no further. Complete with 15 offers students taking four classes (minimum 12 credits) the opportunity to enroll in a fifth class free of charge. Now you can complete your degree earlier with no added cost. 

Adult student on campus smiles for the camera.

Joseph and Marie Field Foundation Opportunity Scholarship

Finish what you started—debt free. As one of our largest demographics, adult students are a hugely important part of our college community. That’s why we partnered with the Joseph and Marie Field Foundation to encourage Philadelphia high school graduates to come back to school and complete an associate degree. For those who attended Community College of Philadelphia and left before completing an associate degree and those who have yet to take college courses, now is your chance to come back and finish your degree for free. 

Welding student practices with sparks flying.

Workforce Development Program Scholarships

The Community College of Philadelphia Foundation and its donors are pleased to offer scholarships to students enrolling in select Workforce Development courses. To submit your scholarship application, follow the steps in this Workforce Development Program Scholarship Application Guide.

For more information, call the scholarship hotline at 215.496.6182 or scholarships [at] ccp.edu (email).

Meet David Emdin, Jack Kent Cooke Scholar


When recent Community College of Philadelphia graduate David Emdin starts classes at Holy Family University this fall, he’ll have the backing of the Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship.

The Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship is one of the most prestigious higher education scholarships in the nation. Cooke Scholars have access to generous financial support for two to three years, college planning support, ongoing advising, and the opportunity to connect with the thriving community of fellow scholars. The award, which is last dollar funding after all institutional aid, can provide as much as $55,000 per year for two to three years to complete a bachelor’s degree at any accredited four-year undergraduate institution in the U.S.

“So now that I don’t have to worry about this (tuition), I can focus on what has always been my goal—towards medical school,” David said, “and the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, they offer some premedical support as well. So, I really hope to take full advantage of that as I move forward.”

David was also the recipient of multiple scholarships while attending Community College of Philadelphia. The Octavius Catto Scholarship covered the cost of tuition at the College and provided a monthly stipend and during the 2023-24 school year, he received $2,000 through Strong Men, Strong Lives, Strong Futures, $250 through the Black Faculty and Staff Alliance Scholarship, $1,500 through the Donald Slavin Scholarship and $2,960 through the Workforce Development Programs Scholarship.

“You are not making a mistake by going to CCP, especially if you are a high school graduate of Philadelphia,” David said. “Just take advantage of it! It’s a community college, so it’s a community. That’s the key word. They’re there to help you, they want to help you. Everyone wants to help you. All you have to do is show up, choose what you want to do, and just continue.”

Essence Smiling at the Camera
“Without stressing about how I’m going to pay for school, I can focus on other important things...I can concentrate on school and just life in general.”
Essence Gaines | Class of 2021