There are three main scholarship applications in a single academic year: the First-Year App, Edison International STEM App and the Annual Scholarship App.

The First-Year Scholarship and Edison International STEM applications are separate and both run in the beginning of the Fall Semester. Funds are typically disbursed by the end of the Fall semester within the same academic year.

The Annual Scholarship application runs from late January to mid-March. Funds are disbursed the following academic year. For example, a student applying during the annual cycle in March of 2026, should expect to receive the funds in August of 2026 once enrollment at SCC or a 4-year institution has been confirmed.

The SCC Annual Scholarship Application is open once a year for first-year, continuing and transferring students. This one application hosts 80+ scholarships, so depending on how the student answers on the questions, they will be filtered into a scholarship automatically or not. There are no right or wrong answers. It is typically available for students right before the Spring semester begins and usually closes Mid-March of every year for current SCC students and students transferring from SCC to a four-year institution. Funds are disbursed during the following academic year (August). 

To submit an Annual Scholarship Application, a student must:   

• Have SCC listed as their Home Location with Admissions & Records  

• Have a GPA of 2.0 or higher 

• Be pursing a degree or certificate offered at SCC

• Enrolled in at least 6 units for spring & will enroll in at least 6 units at SCC or a 4-year university for the fall term.

• Have completed at least one term with our college district (RSCCD).

• One letter of recommendation is required.

It is important to note that each scholarship within this general application has different requirements and the above is only the BASIC requirements to be eligible to apply to the Annual Scholarship Application.

The Santiago Canyon College (SCC) First Year Scholarships are awarded to recognize academic and specialized achievement among first year college students attending SCC in the fall and spring semesters. These scholarships are supported by the Waltmar Foundation.  Scholarships are available every fall semester for incoming first years who have completed less than 12 college credits. The application is usually available right before the start of the fall term and during the early part of the fall semester. Funds are disbursed at the end of the fall semester.  

Who can apply?  

• Incoming First-Year SCC Students, including Dual Enrolled students starting as a regular student at SCC this fall. 

• To be considered a first-year student for the purposes of this scholarship, you must have less than 12 college credits completed at the time of application. Dual Enrolled students, starting as a regular student at SCC this fall, are exempt from this criteria.  

• This scholarship is available for students who graduated from a high school or received a GED from an institution located in Orange County (OC). You will be asked to provide a copy of your high school transcripts or equivalency documents in the application.  

 To submit a scholarship application, a student must:  

• Be pursuing a degree or certificate offered at SCC 

• Enrolled in 12 or more units for the fall semester. 

• Have SCC listed as their main campus with Admissions & Records 

• Have less than 12 college credits completed 

• Have a high school GPA of 2.8 or above. 

The Santiago Canyon College (SCC) Edison International STEM Scholarships are awarded to recognize academic and specialized achievement among students majoring in a STEM field attending SCC in the fall and spring semesters. These scholarships are supported by SoCal Edison.  Scholarships are available every fall semester for both incoming & continuing students, and award amounts vary. A special emphasis and priority will be placed on students with leadership, volunteer and/or internship experience within SCC’s STEM Academy or other STEM program. For more information on SCC’s STEM Academy, please visit their page, HERE.

The application is usually available right before the start of the fall term and during the early part of the fall semester. Funds are disbursed at the end of the fall semester.  

To submit a scholarship application, a student must:  

• Be pursuing a degree or certificate offered at SCC in a science, technology, engineering and/or mathematics (STEM) related field. 

• Enrolled in 6 or more units for the fall & spring semesters. 

• Have SCC listed as their main campus with Admissions & Records 

• Have a minimum GPA of 2.5 or above. 

• Involved in SCC’s STEM Academy and/or other SCC STEM program.

The SCC Continuing Education Scholarship Application is open once a year for continuing education students enrolled with SCC’s Continuing Education Division. This one application hosts about 10 scholarships, so depending on how the student answers on the questions, they will be filtered into a scholarship automatically or not. There are no right or wrong answers. It is typically available for students at the start of the Spring semester and usually closes Mid-March of every year for current SCC/OEC Continuing Education students. Funds are disbursed during the following academic year (August). 

To submit a Continuing Education (non-credit) Scholarship Application, a student must:   

• Have SCC/OEC listed as their Home Location with Admissions & Records .

• Have completed at least one term with our college district (RSCCD).

• Be enrolled in one of SCC’s Continuing Education programs.

• One letter of recommendation from a CE instructor, counselor or staff member is required.

• Counselor verification is required.

It is important to note that each scholarship within this general application has different requirements and the above is only the BASIC requirements to be eligible to apply to the Continuing Education (non-credit) Scholarship Application.

Recipients are recognized during a special Scholarship Ceremony at the end of the spring semester (late May). On the same day, there is a donor reception (usually before or after the ceremony) where students have the opportunity to meet and chat with their scholarship donor(s).

It is REQUIRED for students to attend if selected for a scholarship. In cases of an emergency, a student may be exempt from this requirement, however, supporting documentation has to be submitted to our office.

If you have been awarded a scholarship from an outside organization or agency, please visit our office for more information on processing the scholarship.

Our process:

• The scholarship is received either by mail or brought in-person to A-213 by donor/recipient.

• The check is deposited into SCC Foundation’s account.

• The SCC Cashier’s Office is contacted with regard to the student recipient and any outstanding (owed) fees are deducted from the scholarship check.

• A check, with the corresponding fees taken out (if any), is then made out to the student’s name and is cashable by the student with their bank.

• Once a check has been received, the turn around time is usually 1-2 weeks.

Students can apply independently for scholarships offered outside of our campus. Scholarships are offered outside of our campus by a variety of sources, such by local businesses, high schools, universities, employers, and volunteer organizations etc. The SCC Scholarship Program Office provides limited information on scholarships provided by outside organizations or agencies, however, below are some opportunities.

External Scholarships:

Orange County Community Foundation Scholarships

HEEF: Hispanic Education Endowment Fund Scholarship

County of Orange Scholarships List

Scholarship America - List of Scholarships

Scholarship America - Community College students

Kiwanis Club of Orange Scholarship

Aspiring Legacy Scholarship

CA Community Colleges Student Financial Aid Administrators Association Scholarship

Association of Latino Professionals for America (use code: 25STUSCH)

U.S. Federal Government:

U.S. Department of Education

Department of Agriculture (USDA) Scholarships

Department of Defense Scholarship-For-Service Program

Department of Labor Scholarship Finder

Department of Veterans Affairs

State of California:

Cal-HBCU Transfer Grant Program

California Latino Legislative Caucus Scholarship

Chafee Grant (Foster Youth)

Foundation for CA Community Colleges

Middle Class Scholarship

Undocumented Students

Dream Act Service Incentive Grant (DSIG)

Law Enforcement Personnel Dependents Grant (LEPD)

Golden State Teacher Grant (GSTG) Program

Scholarship applications may require applicants to include one or more personal references, or letters of recommendation. A personal reference or letter of recommendation is a formal statement from someone professional who knows you (the applicant) and can describe your qualities and achievements for consideration. Typically, this is a non-family member, and someone who has experience with your work ethic, leadership experiences, and personal characteristics. For example, references and letters of recommendation could be written by an instructor, school advisor, community leader, or employer. 

The SCC Online Scholarship Application allows students to list the name and email address of their references directly on the application. To be considered for a scholarship, students must provide a minimum of one, and up to three references on the SCC Online Scholarship Application.

Private or corporate scholarships processed outside of the campus may have different requirements for personal references or letters of recommendation. Be sure to read all instructions carefully before submitting your application.

Tips:

1. Before asking someone to provide a reference or letter of recommendation, be sure they know you well enough to talk about your character and abilities. An instructor who has only known you for one semester may not be able to provide a well-rounded picture of your qualities, or be able to highlight your non-academic accomplishments. Try to ask someone who has enough knowledge of your work ethic and character to write a compelling recommendation.

2. Ask politely, and don't put them "on the spot." If possible, speak with the individual in person to explain why you are requesting a reference or letter of recommendation. You want them to feel comfortable providing this for you. When speaking with them, be sure to discuss:

• Why you are requesting the letter

• Relevant information about the scholarship and the criteria you meet

• Let them know to whom the letter should be addressed

• Provide the application deadline*

3. Give the author plenty of time to write the reference or recommendation. Telling someone on Wednesday that you need their recommendation by Friday can put unreasonable and excessive pressure on them, and a hastily written letter of recommendation or reference may not serve you well. It is appropriate to give the author at least two weeks to deliver a recommendation on your behalf. When you give a person ample time to "sing your praises" it can really make a difference in the quality of the letter they are able to compose for you.

4. Ask the author if they would mind being a reference for future applications. The SCC Online Application requires a minimum of one, and up to three references for all scholarships listed. But, will you be applying for more scholarships outside of the SCC campus? This will mean that each reference or letter of recommendation might need modifications to fit the criteria of each particular scholarship. If you let the author know in advance that there may be additional applications that you would like to use their reference for, they will appreciate your consideration of their time and effort.

5. Say Thank You! The person who writes your letter of recommendation is using their personal time and effort to promote your success. Regardless of whether or not you are awarded a scholarship, a sincere thank you note goes a long way to maintaining a positive relationship between you and the author of your recommendation. Knowing that you appreciate their time and consideration can be its own reward.