Most financial aid is awarded on a first come, first served basis, as students meet our priority deadline dates, (as determined by the date the financial aid file is complete with all required documents submitted and accepted) and the student is pre-registered for the upcoming term. Awards are generally made for the entire academic year (Fall and Spring semesters) and disbursed on the last day of our stated drop/add period of each term.
Funds are disbursed electronically and are applied to tuition, fees and book expenses, and any excess funds are refunded to the student by check within the federal regulations guidelines for cash management.
FEDERAL GRANT PROGRAMS
Chesapeake College participates in the following Federal Grant programs: Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), and the Federal Work-Study Program (FWS). You must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year in order to apply for all Federal Grant Programs.
- Federal Pell Grant - Federal grant awarded to the students with the most financial need who do not already possess a bachelor's, graduate or professional degree.
- Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) - a grant for undergraduate students with exceptional financial need.
- Federal Work-Study Program - Work-study programs offer career-related work experience, allowing you to earn money while working throughout the school year
FEDERAL STUDENT LOAN PROGRAMS
We take great pride in keeping our tuition costs low, so we do NOT participate in the any Federal Student Loan program, including the Direct loan program.
MARYLAND STATE SCHOLARSHIPS
If you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by the March 1st deadline and you (and parents, if a dependent student) are a Maryland resident (in most cases), you will be considered for Maryland State Scholarships. Please note: The March 1st deadline is an annual drop dead-date for FAFSA submittal in Maryland. It is not a preferred date. The State of Maryland offers the following scholarships:
INSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARSHIPS
Chesapeake College offers over 80+ Institutional Scholarships for our traditional and non-traditional students who are residents of our 5-county service area, that will be enrolled in a credit, degree-seeking program. Our scholarships look at academic merit, financial need, and other factors, so there is something for everyone! The Financial Aid Office makes it VERY EASY for you to apply for our Institutional Scholarships...one application for all of our scholarships! Our Annual Application is available online each January with a posted deadline date, generally the April before the Fall semester you plan to attend.
Click here for the Fall 2024/Spring 2025 scholarship application.
If you will be attending Chesapeake College in Fall 2024/Spring 2025 as a Dual Enrollment student, please contact our Admissions Office for funding resources. If you will be attending Chesapeake College for a Continuing Education Program (CDL, CNA/GNA, Dental Assistant, etc.), please research funding resources here. Do not complete the Institutional Scholarship Application if you are a Dual Enrollment or Continuing Education student.
PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIPS
Private Scholarships are scholarships that can be actively searched out from a variety of sources, including foundations, religious or community organizations, local businesses, ethnicity-based organizations, your employer or your parents’ employer, your library, etc. Chesapeake College announces Private Scholarships that we are made aware of via email to students as well as on our Social Media Pages
TRANSFER SCHOLARSHIPS
Transfer Scholarships available from a variety of sources, private foundations, University System of Maryland Regents, and the college or university itself. When it's appropriate, ex. Chesapeake College makes the recommendation for consideration, the transfer scholarship will be announced here. Check out transfer scholarships here http://www.chesapeake.edu/financial-aid/transfer-scholarships.
NON-CREDIT SCHOLARSHIP INFO
For information about scholarships available for non-credit and workforce programs, please visit Paying for CE Courses here.
FEDERAL WORK STUDY PROGRAM
Gain employment experience while working toward your educational goals! You can earn up to $15.00 an hour working on campus to help pay for educational and personal expenses. For more information, please contact Kelly Dove at kdove@chesapeake.edu if you have additional questions.