Stuck on FAFSA?

For students stuck in the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) process, scholarships, low-cost education and career programs, employer tuition support, and other opportunities provide college aid for everyone, including students who aren't eligible for federal financial aid.

Colleges Offering Full Funding

Several colleges are dedicated to making high-achieving students’ college dreams come true. These colleges meet 100% of students’ demonstrated financial need with grants, student employment, scholarships, and, in some cases, student loans.

Check out this list of the most generous colleges and universities—many admit students on a "need blind" basis, meaning they don't take family income or financial assets into account when choosing who to admit.

In addition, QuestBridge Match Scholarships help students who aren't U.S. citizens or permanent residents study at dozens of colleges and universities nationwide.

Affordable Tuition at Maricopa Community Colleges

MesaCAN Matching Accounts

MesaCAN Individual Development Accounts (IDAs) are matched savings accounts supporting students at any Maricopa Community College campus. The program matches your savings eight to one—if you save $500, you receive $4,000.

Matched funds can be used for tuition and fees, textbooks, school supplies, and any approved course materials for credit, credential, certificate, and clock hour programs. 

Eligibility: Applicant’s income is below 200% of the federal poverty limit; net worth is below $10,000 in assets; must have earned income, be 16 years or older, complete a financial-wellness workshop, and save at least $25 per month for at least 6 months, up to $500. Maximum yearly renewable matched funds are $4,000.

MesaCAN IDAs are open to all who meet eligibility, including DACA and Dreamers. For more information, contact Tania Lopez :Phone (480) 833-9200, email talopez@turnanewleaf.org

MCCCD Clock Hour Programs

Maricopa Community College Clock Hour Programs offer affordable options for quick career training. Clock-hour costs range from $5-$6 per clock hour for all students, including DACA and Dreamers.

Review Clock Hour Programs and start dates at various MCCCD sites.

For more information, contact Arnold Torres at arnold.paul.torres@gatewaycc.edu or 602-286-8212. 

Apprenticeship Programs

Registered apprenticeship programs open to everyone provide training in fields like child care, construction, manufacturing, and much more.

Tohono O'odham Community College

Year Up

Year Up is a DACA-friendly intensive, one-year program for college students ages 18-24 that combines professional coaching, hands-on skill development, and internships at some of America’s top companies.

About 85% of Year Up graduates are employed or attending college full-time within four months of completing the program. Those employed earn an average starting wage of $18 per hour—$36,000 per year for salaried employees. 

For more information, contact Gaspar Mata at GMata@YearUp.org or 480-498-7396 x2154. Or visit the Year Up website.

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

Funding is available to disconnected youth ages 16-24. A student is considered disconnected if they are not enrolled in a post-secondary institution or working. Most of our students would be considered disconnected the day after they graduate high school.

DACA, permanent residents and citizens can qualify for $3,000 per year. Refer to the three City of Phoenix providers:

Jewish Family and Children Services Real World Job Development
9014 N. 23rd Ave., Building 2, Suite 3 Phoenix, AZ 85021
602-279-0084 
www.jfcsaz.org 

Chicanos Por La Causa
1112 E. Buckeye Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85034
602-257-0700 
www.cplc.org

YMCA
3825 N. 67th Ave. Phoenix, AZ 85033
602-688-5332
www.valleyymca.org 

SCHOLARSHIPS

University Scholarship Portals 

Arizona universities let you review and apply for scholarships from central portals. Click the links below to start applications for the schools you're interested in.

Arizona State University

Northern Arizona University 

University of Arizona

Grand Canyon University

Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation Scholarship Application (Publicly Funded)

Hundreds of scholarships, one application. The Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation offers two primary scholarship cycles in February and September of each year. Only a small percent of eligible students apply. 

Completing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an essential part of applying for scholarships through the program. You also may use your FAFSA to apply for other types of financial aid funds and other scholarships. You will not be disqualified for a scholarship because you completed a FAFSA. In many cases, scholarship funds, reduces the borrowing of federal education loans and never cancels federal grants.

Begin your Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation scholarship application.

MCC Foundation Scholarships (Privately Funded)

The Maricopa Community College Foundation offers two primary scholarship cycles in March and September of each year. Scholarships are open to all MCCCD students, but only a small portion apply.

Begin your MCC Foundation scholarship application.

Students Inspiring Students Scholarship at GCU

This Grand Canyon University scholarship program is open to PXU students. Admissibility requirements: 3.5 unweighted GPA; 19 ACT, or 1000 SAT (math and reading only) on a 1600 point scale; attending one of GCU’s neighborhood, participant schools.

Student must complete a minimum of 100 hours of study time at the GCU Learning Lounge prior to the application deadline. Hours can begin as early as freshman year. Open to all PXU students. DACA/Dreamer students are encouraged to apply for The Dream Scholarships. Open to various partners’ districts and schools. Competitive scholarship.

Start your application for a GCU scholarship.

Alcanzando Un Sueño Scholarship Fund

Funded by Cruz and Associates, the program helps the next generation of Hispanic students achieve their post-secondary education goals. The scholarship is open to exemplary high school seniors of Hispanic descent residing in metro Phoenix who’ve overcome extraordinary challenges in order to achieve academic success.

Start your application for an Alcanzando Un Sueño Scholarship:

Arizona Community Foundation

The Arizona Community Foundation is the state’s largest provider of private scholarships—more than 90 total. Some scholarships are DACA- and Dreamer-friendly. All are competitive and open to students statewide.

Begin your application for an Arizona Community Foundation scholarship:

Phoenix Union Foundation Scholarship Fund 

Established to provide college scholarships to students of the Phoenix Union High School District who are pursuing a post-secondary education. The Phoenix Union Foundation Scholarship is located in the ACF Scholarship portal here. For more information about this scholarship, download the PDF.

Hispanic Scholarship Fund

Hispanic Scholarship Fund awards are open to Hispanic students (including DACA) who have 3.0 GPAs or better and plan to attend public universities. Highly competitive and available to students nationwide.

Apply for a Hispanic Scholarship Fund award. 

College Depot Scholarship Portal

College Depot provides a database of scholarships for everyone – including those with DACA/Dreamer status. Plus free, full-service college planning located inside Burton Barr Library.

Bilingual college planning advisors and assistants offer one-on-one appointments and workshops on college admissions, financial aid, and scholarships. To schedule an appointment, call 602-261-8847.

Web LINK

Tuition Reimbursement

Many companies offer tuition reimbursement to all of their employees. See below for examples. For eligibility requirements, follow up with the employer.

• Amazon
• Anthem
• Arizona Federal Credit
• AT&T
• Bank of America
• Best Buy
• Chipotle
• City of Phoenix 
• Comcast
• Dignity Health
• Edward Jones Phoenix
• Fidelity
• Home Depot
• Liberty Mutual
• McDonalds
• Oracle
• PayPal
• Publix
• Silicon Valley Bank
• UPS
• Verizon
• Walmart
• Wells Fargo & Co.

Tuition Assistance Program