You Could Qualify for a Scholarship

More than $2 million in student scholarships available each year

With hundreds of scholarships available, you could be eligible to receive funding for tuition, books and supplies. Scholarships are based on more than just financial need – you can also be rewarded for pursuing degrees in specific programs of study, academic achievement, athletics, and more.

It’s easy to find out if you qualify for any of the scholarships that we offer. Just complete the Foundation Scholarship Application and you'll be automatically matched with any scholarships for which you are eligible to apply!

You can apply for St. Petersburg College Foundation Scholarships at any time throughout the year. Awards are applied to specific semesters depending on when you apply.

  • Summer 2024: This application is now closed.
    • Scholarship applicants are notified via SPC email regarding the outcome of their application in May.

  • Fall 2024: Applications will be accepted from April 1, 2024 to May 23, 2024. All materials, including application and reference questionnaire, must be submitted by 5:00pm on May 23, 2024 to be eligible for Fall 2024 scholarship consideration.

  • Spring 2025: The application will open in August 2024.

Please read the following information carefully before you apply. If you are not an SPC student, you'll need to complete the SPC Admissions Application before you can apply for Foundation Scholarships. You will need an SPC student email address to complete the Foundation Scholarship Application.

All St. Petersburg College students are encouraged to submit an application for Foundation Scholarships, regardless of immigration status, financial need, academic program or achievement.

How to Apply

    1. Sign in
      To start the application, sign in with your SPC email address and your SPC password (This password is what you have set up to log in to MySPC).
      TIP: Save your work as you go. The application has a 60-minute time out. If you don’t click the save button within that time frame, you will lose everything you have typed in the application to that point. You do not have to complete the application in one session and can return and login later as needed.

    2. Answer all the questions on the General Application
      Although not all questions on the general application are required, skipping questions can reduce your chances of being matched to all possible scholarships. You will want to provide as much accurate information as possible to ensure you are considered for every opportunity for which you qualify.

    3. Answer each of the following two essay questions:
      • What impact would this scholarship have on your educational goals and why should you be selected?
      • Describe a significant setback, challenge, or opportunity in your life and how it has shaped your short- and long-term academic and career goals.

      The maximum length provided for each essay is 350 words. While there is no minimum length, make sure your answers are thoughtful and fully address the question.

      TIP: When you get to the essay question portion of the application, it is best to save the application and type the answers to the essays in a word processing software. Copy and paste them into the application once you have saved the file to your computer and proofread them for errors.

    4. Secure one completed reference questionnaire
      All Foundation Scholarships require a minimum of one completed reference questionnaire. You will need to provide the name and e-mail address for the individual you wish to submit a recommendation on your behalf. Your reference will receive an email asking them to complete the reference questionnaire once you’ve added their information and saved your application. Your recommendation must be submitted online through the link emailed to the person you listed to serve as a reference. Any letters that are sent to the Foundation office via e-mail or USPS will not be accepted. Your reference questionnaire should come from an individual who knows your academic ability, involvement on campus, in the community, or who can attest to why you should be a scholarship recipient.
      Your recommendation must be received by 5 p.m. on the day of the deadline.

      TIPS:
      • When requesting a recommendation from SPC Faculty or Staff do not send requests to the individual’s MyCourses email address. All Faculty and Staff emails should end in “@spcollege.edu.” The correct email address can be found using the SPC Directory.
      • Pay special attention when entering email addresses in the online application. Double check to make sure the addresses are correct. Your recommender will not receive an email if the address is incorrect.
      • Contact your recommender prior to putting their name and email address into the application. Let them know they will be receiving an email requesting a recommendation to avoid the email being overlooked.
      • Check on your recommendation frequently. It is your responsibility to keep in contact with your recommender and make sure the Foundation receives one completed reference questionnaire for you. If they have not responded, you can send them an e-mail reminder. Additionally, if a recommender has not replied, you can request another person completes the reference questionnaire instead. You can manage your references from your application.
      • When submitting your application, only the reference that is currently selected on your application will be reviewed. Prior to the deadline, ensure the selected reference is in a “Submitted” rather than “Requested” status.

    5. Submit the Scholarship Application
      After completing all of the requested information, click “Finish and Continue” in the bottom right hand corner of the application. Once the application has been submitted, you can make changes up to the given deadline. Any changes made after the deadline, will not take effect for this review period but will be considered during the next review selection.

    6. Review Additional Scholarship Opportunities
      Once you have submitted your general application, you will have the ability to apply for additional scholarship opportunities. These opportunities will require additional information – please keep in mind these are “recommended” and do not constitute qualification, so only apply for those which pertain to you.

      TIP: You will be required to re-apply to these additional opportunities each term.

    7. Submit a Thank You Letter
      If you are a Foundation scholarship recipient, we feel it is important to understand that behind every scholarship there is a person or people who have donated the funding to make your scholarship possible. Your “Thank You” reminds the donor why they gave in the first place and often helps secure scholarships for future students. Find out more about our “Thank You Letter” form and how to submit a recent picture of yourself in the tab below.

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online. This information is used to determine if you are eligible for need-based scholarships. While not all of the scholarships we offer are based on financial need, it is highly recommended that all students complete the FAFSA.

All St. Petersburg College students are encouraged to submit an application for Foundation Scholarships regardless of immigration status, financial need, academic program or achievement. To be considered for our over 350 different scholarships, you only have to complete the one online application. Our intuitive matching system will automatically match your application with any scholarships for which you meet the eligibility criteria.

Foundation scholarships are made possible by generous individuals, community groups and businesses who support the educational success of students like you.

They typically ask for nothing in return but receiving a well-written thank you letter or video lets the donor know that their scholarship was appreciated. Your thank you reminds the donor why they gave in the first place and often helps secure gifts for future students. Please read the instructions below before writing your thank you letter.

  • Foundation Scholarship Thank You Letter Submission Form Instructions:
  • Complete and submit your thank you letter online
  • If you are selected for more than one scholarship, please write a separate thank you note for each scholarship you received.
  • The thank you letter should describe how your scholarship will help you achieve your academic goals and provide a little bit of information about yourself. A few tips for writing your note:
    1. Write clearly and concisely.
    2. Check for spelling and grammar errors.
    3. Be sincere.
    4. Express enthusiasm.
    5. Email a recent photograph of yourself. Donors like to see who the finalists are for their scholarship.
  • Need some help getting started?
    • State what degree program you’re in and what inspired you to go into that field
    • Elaborate on your challenges this semester
    • Explain how the financial assistance made a difference in your life
    • Share your goals for once you earn your degree

Review a Sample Thank You Letter.

**Please note: Thank you letters, videos and quotes may be used for college marketing materials.

  • Do I need to apply for each Foundation scholarship individually?
    No, you only need to fill out our general Foundation application. Once your application is complete our system will automatically match your application to any scholarships for which you immediately qualify and suggest additional scholarships that you may qualify for after providing additional information.

  • How many credit hours do I need to take in order to be eligible for a Foundation scholarship?
    If you are chosen to receive a Foundation scholarship you must be enrolled in classes at St. Petersburg College for the term for which you have been awarded the scholarship. Foundation scholarship awards are valid only for the term for which you receive the award. If you have not registered for classes by the add/drop deadline, the scholarship cannot be posted to your account and you will forfeit your award for that term. Unfortunately, scholarships are not transferable to another term or institution.

    Some Foundation scholarships have enrollment requirements. For example, during the fall and spring terms, part time students must be enrolled in six or more credit hours and full time students for twelve or more credit hours. For awards that have an enrollment requirement, you must meet the minimum credit hours for it to be posted to your account.

  • Do I need to complete the FAFSA to be considered for a Foundation scholarship?
    Some Foundation scholarships require students to have demonstrated financial need. Need is determined based on the information submitted in your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Awards that are need based cannot be posted to your account if you do not have financial need as determined by the FAFSA. All students are encouraged to complete a FAFSA for the most current academic year to broaden their scholarship eligibility as much as possible.

  • I am graduating in the Fall semester. Can I still apply?
    All students are encouraged to apply even if they are graduating in the Fall term. When completing the general application indicate that you only wish to be considered for Fall scholarship opportunities. Students may do the same if they plan on attending only the Spring or Summer terms – simply check the corresponding boxes when completing your application for the terms which you would like to be considered.

  • How do I submit a Reference Questionnaire?
    At the bottom of your application you will be prompted to enter the name and e-mail address for the individual you wish to submit a recommendation on your behalf. Ask your reference if they would be willing to complete a reference questionnaire for you prior to putting their name and email address into the application. Once you have provided the necessary information, your reference will receive an email asking them to complete the reference questionnaire which must be submitted online through the link emailed to the person you listed to serve as a reference. Any letters that are sent to the Foundation office via e-mail or USPS will not be accepted.

  • Who should I ask to complete my Reference Questionnaire?
    Your reference questionnaire should be completed by an individual who knows your academic ability, involvement on campus or in the community, or who can attest to why you should be a scholarship recipient. This can be an SPC faculty or staff member, high school instructor, mentor, advisor, employer/supervisor, member of your community, etc. (Do not use MyCourses email addresses for SPC Faculty/Staff). Pay special attention when entering email addresses in the online application. Double check to make sure the addresses are correct. Your recommender will not receive an email if the address is incorrect.

  • How do I know if the Reference Questionnaire was completed?
    Check on your recommendation frequently. It is your responsibility to keep in contact with your recommender and make sure the Foundation receives one completed reference questionnaire for you. If they have not responded, you can send them an e-mail reminder. Additionally, if a recommender has not replied, you can return to your application and request another person completes the reference questionnaire to broaden the chances of completing that requirement before the deadline.

    Keep in mind when submitting your application only the reference you currently have selected will be reviewed. You can manage your recommendations from your application. Once your reference completes and submits the prompted online reference questionnaire, your application will automatically update – your references’ status will change from “Requested” to “Submitted”. Please make sure you have a “Submitted” reference questionnaire attached to your application before the said deadline or your application will remain incomplete.

  • Can I make changes to my application after it is submitted?
    Once the application has been submitted, you can make changes up to the given deadline. Any changes made after the deadline, will not take effect for this review period but will be considered during the next review selection for that academic year.

  • Typically, what are the deadlines for scholarships?
    Application dates and deadlines vary. Fall term scholarship applications are typically accepted between April and May; Spring term can be August into late September; Summer term applications are typically accepted between January and February. Applications submitted after the deadline are not considered. Deadlines can be found on our website.

  • Who makes the scholarship awarding decisions?
    Foundation scholarship decisions are made by over 100 on- and off- campus committees. These committees are comprised of SPC faculty, staff members, club officers and representatives from our local community.

  • How will I know if I have been selected for a scholarship?
    All scholarship applicants are notified via SPC email regarding the outcome of their application. Decisions are not given over the phone.

  • How can I check the status of my scholarship?
    To check the status of your scholarship, login to MySPC and select the “View My Financial Awards” link. The award will be posted to your account after you have satisfied the scholarship requirements.

  • I have been selected to receive a Foundation Scholarship in addition to my financial aid, how will this affect my other aid?
    If you are chosen to receive a Foundation scholarship and you are a Federal Work Study student, or you have student loans, you may have your hours or loans reduced in order to be eligible to receive your scholarship.

  • How can I ensure I remain eligible for scholarships for future terms?
    Foundation scholarships are made possible by generous individuals, community groups and businesses. If you are selected to receive a scholarship you will be asked to either record a thank you video or write a thank you letter to your donor to express your gratitude. Submitting your letter or video will ensure that your award is disbursed and that you remain eligible for future awards. You may become ineligible or forfeit your award for subsequent terms if you do not submit anything.

    The General Foundation Scholarship application must be completed each academic year (academic years begin with the fall term and end with the summer term) in order to be considered for Foundation Scholarships. We encourage all students to return to their application each term to complete additional opportunities questions.

  • What can my scholarship be used for?
    Foundation scholarship awards are first applied to tuition and fees, unless the award is in the form of a Foundation Book Line of Credit. If you receive a Book Line of Credit an account will be established at the college bookstore in the amount of your award for you to make purchases.

    Some scholarships allow for any remaining credit balances, after tuition and fees are paid, to be refunded to the student with BankMobile Disbursements, a technology solution, powered by BMTX, Inc. Visit https://disbursements.bmtx.com/refundchoices/ for more information. Disbursements begin at the end of the fourth week of your classes. If you are enrolled only in Express or Second Eight-Week Mod classes, your funds will be disbursed at the end of the fourth week of that term. However, not all scholarships allow for remaining credit balances to be given to the student; some scholarships are only for tuition and fees.
Scholarships