Navigating Chipola College Scholarships: A Comprehensive Guide

For students aspiring to pursue higher education at Chipola College, understanding the landscape of available scholarships and their respective requirements is crucial. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to navigate the various scholarship opportunities offered by Chipola College and the Chipola Foundation, outlining eligibility criteria, application processes, and important considerations for prospective and current students.

Understanding Financial Aid at Chipola College

The Financial Aid Office at Chipola College is committed to assisting students in meeting their demonstrated financial needs through various available resources. However, it's important to acknowledge that fulfilling the entire financial need may not always be possible, and students might need to cover some educational expenses using personal funds. All financial aid awards are estimates and are subject to change based on factors such as funding availability and individual circumstances.

Given the limited funding for most financial aid programs, it is highly recommended that students apply for financial aid as early as possible, ideally after October 1st for the following academic year. The online application can be accessed at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Financial assistance at Chipola College may include a combination of scholarships, grants, and part-time employment opportunities. Students must reapply for financial aid each year to determine their continued eligibility. While some scholarships are based on financial need, others are awarded based on academic achievement. However, the continuation of all aid is contingent upon meeting the Financial Aid Satisfactory Progress Standards, which are detailed in the "Standards of Academic Progress" section of the college catalog.

Students receiving Federal Student Aid (Title IV) should be aware that withdrawing from or ceasing attendance in all courses before completing 60% of the term may require them to repay all or part of the Title IV Financial Aid received for that term. It is strongly advised to consult with the Financial Aid Office before withdrawing from any class to understand potential financial liabilities.

Key Federal and State Financial Aid Programs

Chipola College students have access to several federal and state financial aid programs, including:

Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG): This grant is provided by the federal government to students who demonstrate exceptional financial need. Priority is given to Pell Grant recipients with the lowest Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Students must be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible.
Federal Work-Study (FWS): This program provides federal funds for students to engage in part-time employment. Applicants must submit a FAFSA and employment application and demonstrate unmet financial need based on their cost of attendance, EFC, and other aid received. Work is typically limited to 15-20 hours per week and paid at minimum wage.
Florida Student Assistance Grant (FSAG): This need-based grant is funded by the state of Florida and is available to eligible Florida residents who submit a FAFSA by the Chipola College financial aid deadline and meet the criteria established by the Florida Department of Education.
Florida Student Assistance Grant - Certificate Education (FSAG-CE): Similar to FSAG, this grant is specifically for Florida residents enrolled in certificate programs who meet the eligibility requirements set by the Florida Department of Education.
Florida First Generation Matching Grant (FGMG): This grant is jointly funded by the state and Chipola College and is available to "first generation" college students who meet the eligibility criteria determined by the Florida Department of Education and submit a FAFSA.
Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program: This state scholarship is awarded to Florida high school graduates who demonstrate high academic achievement. Students must meet initial eligibility requirements during their senior year of high school and apply for the scholarship through the Florida Department of Education. The program includes various awards such as Florida Academic Scholars, Florida Medallion Scholars, Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars, Florida Gold Seal CAPE Scholars, and Florida Top Scholars.
Honorably Discharged Graduate Assistance Program (HDGAP): This need-based program provides supplemental living expenses to Florida veterans during semester breaks.
Scholarship for Children and Spouses of Deceased or Disabled Veterans (CDDV): This scholarship provides funding for tuition to dependent children and un-remarried spouses of qualified Florida veterans. Applicants must submit a completed Florida Student Application by April 1st, and eligibility is determined by the Florida Department of Veteran Affairs.

Chipola Foundation Scholarships: Opportunities and Application Process

The Chipola Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Chipola College and its students, offers a variety of scholarships funded by alumni and friends. These scholarships may be designated for specific majors, counties of residence, or high schools attended.

General Scholarship Application:

The majority of scholarship opportunities offered by the Chipola Foundation are auto-matched through the applicant’s submitted General Scholarship Application. Students will not see which/how many individual scholarships they matched to. However, if based upon your submitted General Scholarship Application, you are eligible for additional scholarships that require supplemental information, these will display for you once you have completed and submitted the General Application. These are identified as Recommended Opportunities.

Applying for Scholarships:

Applications can be found on the Chipola College Foundation webpage www.chipola.edu/foundation by clicking on the Foundation Scholarships heading and then clicking the specific Chipola Academic Works link on the page.

Important Notes Regarding Applications:

Students do not have to be admitted into Chipola College to apply for scholarships, but they must be admitted to receive scholarships.
The Chipola Foundation is accepting scholarship applications for the Spring 2026 semester at Chipola College.
Current Students- You may sign in using the same username and password you use to access myChipola (i.e.
New/Prospective Students- Please note that you must have applied for admission to Chipola College prior to applying for scholarships.

Accessing the Application:

Students without a personal computer or cell phone can visit the Chipola library to use one of their computers or visit the Foundation Office to use the computer in our student workstation. If a student would like to use the computer in the student workstation at the Foundation Office, please call us at (850) 718-2404 to reserve a time to use the computer.

Navigating the Application Portal:

Once signed in, students will click the My Applications tab to view their applications. Non-submitted scholarship applications will have a “Finish” button and submitted applications will have an “Update” button. Non-submitted applications will not be considered for funding.

Login Credentials:

The username will be the first initial of first name + first initial of last name + Jenzabar ID (AKA Chipola student ID).

If a student has not already set up a password, then their default password is the month (mm) and day (dd) of their birthday followed by the FIRST four numbers of their Social Security Number. Example: Joe User’s birthday is January 6, 2008, and his social security number is 123-45-6789, then his default password would be 01061234.

Post-Acceptance Requirements:

After accepting the scholarship, students will be asked to complete an online post-acceptance form where they will write a thank you letter to the donor of their scholarship.

Additional Information:

If a student has a question that is not on this list, Foundation staff will be happy to help.

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Specialty Scholarships:

In addition to the scholarships on this page, if available, you can apply for one or more of our specialty scholarships such as the McLendon Educational Trust Scholarship and Tyndall Federal Credit Union Scholarship, by clicking specialty scholarships .

Required Documents:

2 letters of recommendation - These letters should be written by someone who can write positive words about the applicant and why they should receive a scholarship.
Copy of the high school transcript - IF the student has earned LESS than 24 credit hours in COLLEGE.

Specific Scholarship Examples:

McLendon Extended Two-Year Scholarship: This scholarship is specifically for students who have previously received a McLendon Educational Trust Scholarship at Chipola College and have demonstrated excellence in both academics and leadership activities.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

Besides the general and specialized scholarships offered through the Chipola Foundation, students may also find opportunities through specific academic departments:

Athletic scholarships: Offered in men’s basketball and baseball and women’s softball, basketball, and cross-country.
Science or math lab assistant scholarships: Awards are recommended by a committee of the Natural Science and Mathematics faculty.
The Papoose: Awards are made to outstanding leaders of The Papoose (student newspaper) staff.
Theatre scholarships: The Theatre Department recommends these awards.

Veterans Affairs (VA) Benefits

Chipola College is committed to supporting student veterans and eligible dependents in accessing their VA educational benefits. The college's policies and procedures apply to all eligible students who apply for and receive VA Educational or Training Assistance/Benefits under Chapters 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 1606, and 1607 while enrolled in an approved program of study.

All degrees, certificates, and courses offered by the college must be approved by the Florida State Approving Agency (SAA) to allow payments to eligible students. Student veterans or dependents planning to enroll at Chipola College and wishing to receive VA educational/training benefits should consult with the college’s VA Services Office well in advance of registering for classes.

The School Certifying Officer (SCO) will guide the veteran through the required applications and forms needed for VA benefits and/or enrollment certification. The veteran assumes responsibility for all fees at registration. However, veterans attending the college under Chapter 31 (Vocational Rehabilitation) who have approval from the VA will have registration fees paid directly to the college by the VA. Training time is computed differently for the summer term.

Students may be able to attend Chipola College while payment to the institution is pending from the VA under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill® (Ch.33) or Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment (Ch. 31) benefits.

To utilize VA benefits, veterans must provide documentation that they currently reside in Florida. Those members stationed in or living in Florida should qualify for residency under the Office of Admissions.

Important Considerations for All Students

Excess Hours Surcharge: Section 1009.286, Florida Statutes, establishes an “excess hours” surcharge for students seeking a baccalaureate degree at a state university. Students should be aware of the potential for additional course fees if they exceed 120% of the hours required for their degree program. It is crucial to enroll in and successfully complete required courses on the first attempt.
Attendance Policy: Regular attendance is expected of all students. Students who are absent from classes for any reason other than official college activities must provide satisfactory evidence of illness or unavoidable circumstances to the instructor. Chipola policy allows each instructor to specify the attendance policy in the course syllabus. Students who will be off campus for official college business or activities must notify instructors in advance and obtain permission to miss class.
Course Enrollment Limitations: Students are permitted to enroll in the same college preparatory course or college credit course a maximum of three times. According to Administrative Code 6A-14.0301, students will be assessed 100% of the full cost of instruction on the third attempt unless the College grants a one-time exception due to extenuating circumstances or financial hardship. A fourth attempt may be granted by the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, but students will be assessed the full cost of instruction.
Grade Forgiveness: As per Florida Rule 6A-14.0301, grade forgiveness applies when students repeat the same college developmental or college credit course in which they earned a “D” or “F” grade. Students may not repeat the same college credit or college course to improve a “C” grade or better. Students may repeat a course for grade forgiveness twice. Upon the third attempt in the same course, the grade earned is a final grade and cannot be forgiven. If there are three or fewer attempts, only the grade from the last attempt will be used to compute the grade point average. If a fourth attempt is granted, both the third and fourth attempts will be calculated in the student’s grade point average. Grades will not be forgiven if a degree has been issued. The number of total attempts allowed per course may be restricted for students enrolled in limited enrollment programs. Institutions to which subsequent transfer is made may not necessarily honor this policy. As a result, student’s grade point average may change when they transfer to another institution.
Withdrawal Policy: Students may withdraw from or change to audit status a college preparatory or college credit course anytime prior to the withdrawal deadline published in the college calendar. Students may not audit courses in limited access programs. Students may resign from the college by withdrawing from all coursework anytime prior to the resignation deadline published in the college calendar. Students are responsible for the completion of the formal withdrawal/resignation process. Students are permitted a maximum of two withdrawals in the same course. A withdrawal does count as an attempt of a course. Classes that begin after the start of the semester or end prior to the completion of the semester will have as their “drop without penalty” date, the class meeting that represents 70 percent of the meeting time of that class.
Chipola College is an Equal Access/ Equal Opportunity Institution.

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