Scholarships & Grants

Scholarships and grants are types of student financial aid designed to assist you with the cost of education beyond the high school level. Unlike student loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be repaid.

Scholarships are merit awards for students with special qualifications, such as academic, artistic, or athletic talents. Some include a need component as well. Scholarships are offered by the state of Delaware, colleges, and many different private sources, such as civic groups, corporatioons, religious organizations, employers, foundations and others.

Grants are need-based and may be awarded to students who are interested in specific fields of study, members of underrepresented groups, or live in certain geographic areas.

There are many sources of scholarships and grants. Federal and state governments fund the largest programs. The Delaware Higher Education Commission (DHEC) administers 23 state-sponsored financial aid programs and 8 private scholarship programs to help Delawareans continue their education after high school. Applicants for all state-funded programs must be Delaware residents and U.S. citizens or eligible noncitizens.

 

Grants

The Federal Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant are the two largest student financial aid grant programs. Both are funded by federal tax dollars and administered by the U.S. Department of Education. Financial need is defined as the difference between a student’s cost of attendance minus the expected family contribution (EFC). The cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, books, supplies, housing, meals, transportation, and personal expenses. The EFC is the amount a student and his or her family is expected to pay. This amount, based primarily on a family’s income and assets, is determined after the student completes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Federal Grants:

State Grants:

 

 

Scholarships

Scholarships originate from many different sources. Today, the best resource for scholarship information is contained on the Internet through a variety of scholarship directory sites. We provided a list of some of the most popular sites at the bottom of this page.  Our advice is to go through the search process on several websites, and then outline a combined list of scholarships that best suit you. There are thousands of scholarships and billions of dollars in financial aid available. Your job is to make your way through the maze of information and options and in doing so, create a scholarship application plan that gives you the highest probability of success with the best scholarship matches available.

 

What is the SEED Scholarship?

The Delaware SEED (Student Excellence Equals Degree) scholarship program provides tuition for full time students enrolled in an associate’s degree program at the Delaware Technical and Community College (DTCC) or the Associate of Arts program at the University of Delaware (UD). The program is for Delaware students who stay in school, work hard, and stay out of trouble.

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for SEED, you must:

  • Meet the residency requirements of the enrolling Institution (either DTCC or UD)
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 2.5 on a 4-point scale or 80% on a 100-point scale as indicated on the student’s official high school transcript
  • Satisfy the admission standards of the enrolling Institution (either DTCC or UD)
  • Not have been convicted of any felonies
  • Enroll full-time at DTCC or in the AA Program at UD no later than the fall immediately following graduation from high school

Application Process

The first step in applying for a SEED scholarship is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which can be done online at www.fafsa.ed.gov

Even if you think you will not qualify for any other financial aid, you must complete the FAFSA to be eligible for SEED money. DTCC and UD both have separate application processes. Please see their websites for eligibility requirements and application procedures and deadlines.

University of Delaware

Delaware Technical and Community College

Remember, in addition to this website, you should check with your high school counselor, college financial aid office, local library, your parents’ employers, and civic organizations in your community for additional funding opportunities.

 

State-sponsored Scholarship Programs

For the programs below that are followed by an asterisk (*), you must complete the Common Merit Application.  These programs include: a)Academic Memorial Scholarships; B)Academic Scholarships; and C)Professional Incentive Programs (both undergraduate and graduate). You can complete the Common Merit Application online beginning December 1, 2009, on DHEC’s secure Student Account Access site at https://www.doe.k12.de.us/high-ed/student/login.aspx. First-time users must establish an account and provide a valid email and mailing address before proceeding to the application.

Academic Memorial Scholarships*
Merit-based awards for graduating high school seniors enrolling at the University of Delaware or Delaware State University. Not repaid.
Academic Scholarships*
Merit-based awards for graduating high school seniors enrolling at regionally accredited colleges in the U.S. Not repaid.
Professional Incentive Programs*
Merit-based recruitment programs. Loan repayment provisions.

Undergraduate

Graduate

Professional Development for K-12 Teachers
Dentistry
Medicine
Health Care
Veterinary Medicine
Private Scholarships Administered by the Higher Education Commission
Academic Scholarship for Superior Performance on the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP)
Merit-based awards for eighth and tenth grade students in Delaware public and charter schools. Not repaid.

 

 

Internet Resources for Scholarships

To assist you with your search for scholarships and grants, we’ve included some of the best Internet resources below.