Scholarships
Thanks to the generosity of our community members, students, employees, and HCC Foundation, HCC offers a variety of scholarships for our students.
******Fall Scholarships open until August 8, 2025******
How to Apply for Fall 2025
- Enroll to HCC
- Apply for financial aid using the FAFSA Application
- Complete your Scholarship application
- Our system will automatically match you to scholarships you qualify for, making this process simple for our students.
Scholarship Types
Continuing Education
Several scholarships are available for students interested in workforce continuing education. These scholarships may pay for tuition, fees, books, supplies and in some cases transportation and childcare. To apply for any of these scholarships, please complete the Continuing Education Scholarship Application.
Tools & Technology
Tools & Technology funds are set aside to specifically help students that need to purchase books, computers, or special kits or tools for their program.
Tools & Technology Application
Lavender Fund
HCC cares about our students. We have designated funds available for students facing a financial need. With our Lavender Fund, if you are a first year-second semester or later student, you can apply for funds to help cover one-time emergency needs.
Typical funding needs that students request include:
- Transportation needs (public transportation, gas, etc.)
- Child Care
- Heating and utility assistance
- Housing
- Food and Hunger assistance
Submit completed form and invoice copies to hcc-scholarships@haywood.edu, or in person at HCC Foundation Office Balsam (110) Building, 185 Freedlander Dr., Clyde, NC 28721.
Haywood Strong
The community is dedicated to support those impacted by the mill closure. From employees to households and local businesses, support is available!
HCC has established a scholarship for 2023 mill employees. Haywood Strong offers financial assistance for those looking to return to the classroom.
How to Apply
1. Enroll to HCC
2. Complete Haywood Strong Application
Haywood Strong Application
3. If you want to be eligible for other HCC Scholarships and Financial Aid, you must
apply for financial aid using the FAFSA Application and complete the HCC Scholarship application haywood.awardspring.com .
Our system will automatically match you to scholarships you qualify for, making this
process simple for our students.
If you have questions about this scholarship, please reach out to: Hylah Birenbaum at hebirenbaum@haywood.edu or 828-627-4544.
SECU Bridge to Career Scholarship
**FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES ONLY
In 2018, the State Employees Credit Union (SECU) Foundation established the SECU Bridge to Career Program to help remove financial barriers for students seeking to obtain state-regulated or industry-recognized credentials through the workforce/continuing education division for their local Community Colleges that lead to sustainable wage careers within their local communities. Amount is $500. Please complete the SECU Student Data and Consent Form AND the Photo Release. Email to HCC-scholarships@haywood.edu
Tuition Free Guarantee
The HCC Tuition Free Guarantee will pay for up to four semesters at the in-state tuition
rate for any 2025 qualifying high school graduate (public, private, homeschool, or
HCC High School Equivalency graduate) from Haywood County who does not obtain the
full amount needed through federal financial aid (Pell and FSEOG), State (NCCCG, NCELS,
NC Long Leaf) and/or any scholarships. The guarantee will be applicable for up to
two years (fall & spring semesters only) of enrollment as long as the student continues
to meet our predefined criteria.
The HCC Tuition Free Guarantee will not cover program/course specific fees, out of
state tuition costs, or books/materials.
The guarantee is subject to approval from the scholarship committee and availability
of funds.
If you have questions about this scholarship, please reach out to us at hcc-scholarships@haywood.edu.
In order to qualify for the Tuition Free Guarantee, students must complete the following steps before Friday, July 18, 2025 for the Fall 2025 semester.
Initial Qualification Criteria for HCC’s Tuition Free Guarantee
- Be a 2025 high school graduate from Haywood County (public, private, or homeschool) or HCC High School Equivalent graduate.
- Hold a minimum high school GPA of 2.8.
- Enroll in a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester (full-time status) at HCC.
- Each year students must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Applications can be found at fafsa.gov.
- Annually complete the HCC scholarship application. This can be found at haywood.awardspring.com.
- Meet with your HCC Success Coach prior to enrolling in courses. Have a question? Reach out to our team at hcc-advising@haywood.edu
Continued Qualification Criteria for HCC’s Tuition Free Guarantee
- Each year students must complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Applications can be found at fafsa.gov.
- Maintain a GPA of 2.0 at HCC.
- Continue enrollment of 12 credit hours per semester (fall & spring).
- Complete the HCC scholarship application. This can be found at haywood.awardspring.com.
Pop and Marj Kelly Merit
The Pop and Marj Kelly Merit Scholarship is open to all students who will graduate in 2025 from Pisgah High School, Tuscola High School, Central Haywood High School, Bethel Christian Academy, Haywood Christian Academy, Shining Rock Classical Academy or Haywood County Homeschools. He/She must be planning to attend Haywood Community College and have a 3.5 or better GPA. There will be five $10,000 scholarships available. Selected recipients will be awarded $2,500 a semester for up to four semesters.
Eligibility Criteria
- 2025 High School Graduate of Pisgah High School, Tuscola High School, Central Haywood
High School, Bethel Christian Academy, Haywood Christian Academy, Shining Rock Classical
Academy or Haywood County Homeschools
- 3.5 or better GPA (Unweighted)
- Have completed the 2025-2026 FAFSA
- Participation in extracurricular activities and involvement in community service
- Scholastic Achievement
- Financial Need
Submit your application by Friday April 4, 2025
Pop and Marj Kelly Merit Application
HCC PIVOT
The HCC PIVOT is a scholarship that will pay towards tuition, fees, books and supplies for any student entering into a Certificate, Diploma or Associate’s degree within selected High Demand, High Skills, High Wages Fields who does not obtain the full amount needed through federal financial aid and/or scholarships. PIVOT will be applicable for up to NINE Semesters -awarded on a semester to semester basis (some programs have summer course requirements) of enrollment as long as the student continues to meet our predefined criteria (listed below).
Selected Programs: Automotive Systems Technology, Collision Repair and Refinishing Technology, Computer-Integrated Machining, Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Electrical Systems Technology, Industrial Systems, Information Technology, Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration, Welding Technology.
The HCC PIVOT will cover specific program/courses for tuition, fees and books/supplies. Initial Qualification Criteria – Interested Students Must:
- Enroll in a selected High Demand, High Skill-Level, and High Pay Programs listed above.
- Enroll in a Minimum of 6 Credit Hours per Semester at HCC as required by program.
- Annually Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
- Annually Complete the HCC Scholarship Application https://haywood.awardspring.com/
- Have a Career Planning Meeting with a High School Career Coach, the Dean of Transitional Studies and High School Partnerships or one of our Success Coaches before enrollment.
Continued Qualification Criteria for HCC’s PIVOT:
- Maintain a GPA of 2.0 at HCC.
- Continue enrollment of at least 6 credit hours per semester in selected program
(Scholarships subject to approval by Scholarship Committee and Availability of Funds)
Outside Opportunities
Community members and partners also provide opportunities for our students to apply for scholarships provided directly by the business or entity. HCC works to keep this list of opportunities updated as frequently as possible. Please review the below list for scholarships that might be applicable to you:
- PatriotFoundation.org Scholarships
- Asheville Latin Americans Achieving Success Scholarship
- Scholarship America
- College Foundation of North Carolina
- NC Assist Scholarship Contest
- Watermark Community College Scholarship
- Fastweb
- Sallie Mae Completing the Dream Scholarship
- PNC Student Solutions Scholarship $10,000
- The Mensa Foundation Scholarship Program
- PNC Student Solution Scholarship
- Hispanic Scholarship Fund
- Jeanette Rankin Foundation Scholarship
- State Employees Association of North Carolina Scholarship
- American Welding Society Scholarship
- Remembering a Life Scholarship
- Scholarship Guide for Women
- Horatio Alger National Career and Technical Scholarship Program (Technical programs)
- Financial Aid and Scholarships for Hispanic Students
- Baron and Budd Attorneys Mesothelia Cancer Victims scholarship
- Nursing Scholarships for veterans
- RushOrderTees Young Entrepreneurs Scholarship
- Prime Mailbox Women in STEM Scholarship
- Calvin Rosser Scholarships
- Chairish Scholarship
- Goal Getter Scholarship
- Fort Liberty AUSA Scholarship
- www.finaid.org
- www.ncseaa.edu
- http://www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/college-scholarships-for-minority-students/
- www.finaid.org/loans/privatestudentloans.phtml
- http://www.moneygeek.com/education/scholarship-search/
- https://www.purdueglobal.edu/blog/student-life/scholarships-minority-students/
- Red Cross Leaders Saves Lives Nursing Scholarshp
- NC Society of Daughters of the American Revolution Scholarship
- George H.V. Cecil Scholarship
- One Dozen Who Care - Prescott Academic Scholarship for Higher Education
Students are required to report any aid received from a source other than the school’s financial aid office. This includes any aid received at another institution during the current academic year. Types of aid that should be reported include the previously mentioned sources as well as any scholarships not awarded by HCC or tuition assistance from an employer. Failure to report such assistance could result in a reduction or cancellation of your financial aid.
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