WHO CAN APPLY?
You must meet all of the following requirements to apply:
- Be age 24 or older at the time of college enrollment in the fall after being awarded a scholarship;
- Reside in 1 of the following 6 counties: Cass, Clay, Jackson and Platte (MO) or Johnson and Wyandotte (KS);
- Earned at least 12 college credits previously at an accredited, Title IV postsecondary institution OR have earned an associate’s and will complete a bachelor’s degree;
- Not been enrolled in a postsecondary institution during the 2018-2019 academic year;
- Be lawfully present in the U.S. or DACA eligible and DACA applied/approved; and
- Be considered low- or modest-income. Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) calculation on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forecaster must be 12,000 or less. The calculation is based on household income, number of members in the family and number of family members that will be in college at the same time. It is the amount of annual financial support a family can be expected to pay toward the student’s college education
HOW TO APPLY
- You will need to create an account on this website
- You will complete the application on-line, including:
- Answering essay questions
- Providing official or unofficial transcripts from all colleges or universities you attended and from which you earned college credits
- Providing names and emails of 2 individuals who will complete an online recommendation form (letters of recommendations are not accepted but must be completed online)
Consider attending one of the Scholarship Application Workshops
For a detailed checklist click Adult Learner Checklist
WHERE CAN THE SCHOLARSHIP BE USED AND FOR WHAT PROGRAMS?
The scholarship may only be used at one of the 17 colleges and universities in the KC Scholars Postsecondary Network.
Returning adult learners receive up to 5 years of support to complete a credit-bearing credential, associate’s degree, and/or bachelor’s degree if a recipient remains program eligible. Click here for List of Colleges and Universities
ADULTS - THIS IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO FINISH COLLEGE IF YOU HAVE SOME COLLEGE BUT NO DEGREE OR HAVE EARNED AN ASSOCIATE'S AND NOW WANT TO COMPLETE A BACHELOR'S DEGREE
In the 6 counties served by KC Scholars, there are 281,000 adults with some college and no degree and 96,000 with an associate's but not bachelor's degree.
Many may believe they will never have the opportunity to return to and complete college. KC Scholars provides that opportunity. Become one of the adults working to achieve their college dream and be a role model for their children. Get ready to have your life changed!
The Adult Learner scholarship is given to adults with some college, but no degree, or to associate’s degree earners who will be supported to complete a bachelors. Adult learners can receive up to $5,000 per year for up to 5 years and can enroll full-time or part-time. To qualify, they must be at least 24 years old at the time of college enrollment in the fall semester of 2019 and have previously earned at least 12 college credits.
If this describes you, watch the video and read further!
WHAT PREVIOUS ADULT LEARNER SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS ARE SAYING
KC Scholars now has 228 Adult Learner Scholars, and 8 have already completed their degrees.
Awardees have shared that:
- Nothing will stop them from completing their degree this time
- They want to complete the degree to be a role model for their children
- They thought they would never go back and complete college and now they CAN and are
- They want to increase their job opportunities and earning potential to make a better life for their family
- Some are back in college at the same time as their children who received 9th or 11th grade awards
HOW DO YOU REMAIN ELIGIBLE UP TO 5 YEARS?
To remain eligible once enrolled in college, students must meet minimum annual requirements and complete a short renewal application each year.
Exact requirements are found in the KC Scholars Program Guidelines.
FAQs
You must fill out the Free Online Application for Federal Student Aid forecaster: FAFSA4caster. You will need information regarding your family’s income and assets to complete the forecaster. If your Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) on the forecaster is 12,000 or less, you are eligible to apply for KC Scholars. For assistance in completing the FAFSA4caster, KC Scholars has created the following guide: FAFSA4caster
You must live in the six eligible counties to receive the KC Scholars Adult Learner Scholarship.
The adult learner scholarship is up to $5,000 a year, renewable for up to 5 years. To remain eligible once enrolled in college, adult learners must meet minimum annual requirements and complete a short renewal application each year to determine continued eligibility. To remain eligible, adult learners must also maintain continuous enrollment, either full-time or part-time, with summer enrollment optional.
Each year, up to 200 adult learner scholarships will be awarded.
Application materials will be reviewed, evaluated and scored to select scholarship recipients.
Scholarships will be paid directly to one of the colleges and universities in the KC Scholars Postsecondary Network where you are enrolled.
KC Scholars is targeted toward adults who have not yet returned to college and is not for current college students. To be eligible to apply in January 2019, you must not have been enrolled in college in the 2018-2019 academic year. KC Scholars’ support organizations have other scholarship information for adult learners currently enrolled in college.
Yes, you can apply to KC Scholars if you meet all the minimum eligibility requirements, including having previously earned at least 12 college credits at an accredited, Title IV postsecondary institution. Your selected college or university will determine if your credits can transfer, but it is not required that your credits transfer to receive the scholarship.
Yes, we realize that most adults will be balancing a busy life. Recipients of the adult learner scholarship may go to college part-time or full-time.
Yes! We want to ensure you are successful going back to college and completing your degree. KC Scholars has partnered with support organizations and with 17 colleges and universities to provide assistance such as one-on-one and group advising, assistance with college admissions and scholarship applications, FAFSA completion assistance, and campus tours.
Yes. In order to receive the KC Scholars scholarship, you must attend one of the 17 colleges and universities in the KC Scholars Postsecondary Network.
You must continuously attend college, either full-time or part-time, to remain eligible for KC Scholars. Continuous enrollment does not include summer, but it does include fall and spring semesters each academic year. KC Scholars’ staff will only consider an exception for an unavoidable and extenuating circumstance.
Yes, if the courses count toward a credit-bearing credential or degree and are offered by any of the 17 colleges and universities in the KC Scholars’ Postsecondary Network.
Applications open in early January annually. Watch the website for the exact date!
The deadline to apply is in early March annually. Watch the website for the exact deadline date!
Notifications to both recipients and non-recipients are made in early May annually. Watch the website for the exact notification date!
Click here for an application checklist (what you need to do and what materials you will need each step of the application process).
All questions should be directed to info@kcscholars.org. Please allow up to two business days for a reply.
Please review the Program Guidelines carefully for any additional questions.
Applications closed midnight March 1, 2019.