How to Apply for Scholarships

Current SMC Students

• Declare a major and have an educational goal. Click here for instructions on updating your major and goal in the Corsair Connect (opens in new window) .
• Complete at least six (6) SMC units and have an overall 2.5 GPA by the scholarship deadline.
• Enroll in at least six (6) units for the current Fall term and at least six (6) units for the Spring term.
• Must be in good standing with the SMC Code of Conduct Administrative Regulation AR4410 and AR4411.
• Students who already have a Bachelor’s degree are not eligible.

High School Seniors (Incoming First-Year)

• Minimum of 2.5 GPA
• Incoming First-Year at SMC for the upcoming 2025-2026 academic year
• Enrolling in a minimum of 6 units for Fall 2025 and Spring 2026.
• US citizens, permanent residents, or AB 540.

1. If you are a high school senior, the first step is to apply to SMC. Apply to SMC today.  Current SMC students who meet the minimum qualifications skip to step #3.

2. Confirm your SMC Corsair Connect account. After you submit your admission application, SMC will send your student ID# to the email address that you provided in your application (subject line shows “Congratulations, you are ADMITTED to SMC!”). Click on the “Verify My Email” button in that email. SMC will then send you your Corsair Connect username and temporary password (subject line shows “SMC Account Information”). You must log into the Corsair Connect to confirm your SMC account.

3. The majority of SMC Foundation scholarships require students to have financial need. It is highly recommended that prospective scholarship applicants submit a FAFSA or Dream Act Application prior to completing the scholarship application to establish financial need.

   • US citizens or US permanent residents will complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) (opens in new window)

   • AB 540 students will complete the California DREAM Act Application

   Current SMC students: submit the FAFSA or Dream Act Application for the 2024-2025  academic years.

   Incoming First-Year: submit the 2025-2026 FAFSA or Dream Act Application for the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year.

   International students: International students who meet the minimum qualifications may be considered for SMC Foundation scholarships that do not require students to show financial need.

1. Remember to review the “Minimum Qualifications” and only submit the scholarship application if you meet the minimum qualifications.

2. The SMC Scholarship Application is located within the Corsair Connect Financial Aid portal. Log into the Corsair Connect, then click on the “Financial Aid” link. In the Financial Aid section, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the “Scholarship Online Application” which will open the application.
   

3. Please note, the scholarship application is not saveable and will only record your answers after you submit the application. We recommend you work on the required personal statement and any written answers outside of the application through a separate word processing program such as MS Word. Then, once you are ready to work on the application, copy and paste your answers into the application.

4. You cannot return to the application after you submit it. If you would like to keep a record of what you submitted, we recommend you take screenshots of your answers before you submit the application.

5. After you submit your scholarship application, you will receive an email confirmation.

The Incoming First-Year Scholarship Application is located within the Corsair Connect.

1. Visit the SMC website: https://www.smc.edu/
   
   
2. Log into the Corsair Connect.
   
   
3. From the main screen, select the “Financial Aid” link to enter the Financial Aid portal.
   
   
4. In the Financial Aid portal, select aid year “2024-2025”. Please note scholarship awards are for the 2025-2026 academic year, but the application is located within the current 2024-2025 academic year.
   
   
   
   
5. Scroll down to the “Types of Aid” section, then click on the “Scholarship Online Application”.
   
   
   
   

6. Review the Minimum Qualifications. Proceed with the application only if you meet the minimum.

7. Please note, the scholarship application is not savable and will only record your answers after you submit the application. We recommend you work on the required personal statement and any written answers outside of the application through a separate word processing program such as MS Word. Then, once you are ready to work on the application, copy and paste your answers into the application.

8. You cannot return to the application after you submit it. If you would like to keep a record of what you submitted, we recommend you take screenshots of your answers before you submit the application.

9. After you submit your scholarship application, you will receive an email confirmation.

10. Scholarship awardees will be notified via SMC email in August.

Scholarship review committees will review the applications during the months of February to April. Only completed applications will be reviewed.  Some SMC scholarships require an additional interview.  Students selected for an interview will be contacted during the review period.

Students selected for a scholarship award will be notified beginning mid-April, 2025. Students will be notified via their SMC email.

A list of scholarship winners will be sent directly to the SMC Foundation. All scholarships are granted to assist in tuition, fees, books, supplies, and any other educational expenses.