Welcome to your future!

Our mission is to provide access to opportunities for education and skills training that lead to household-sustaining jobs with benefits. By providing access to college scholarships to colleges in the Kansas City region and tuition-free skills training with training providers in the Kansas City area, we strive to enhance the workforce in our region by placing our Scholars in high-paying Kansas City jobs with benefits. By completing one of our skills training or scholarship programs, we hope to impact the economic landscape of Kansas City by improving the lives of the individuals we support.

Available to adults 17+ looking for a career in a high-demand field.

Skills Training

Tuition-Free Skills Training Program

Applications are accepted year-round. Training is offered in a variety of career paths. The opportunities for training are dependent on the county you live in. Click LEARN MORE below to find the programs available to you.

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College Scholarship Programs

Are you a high school student looking to go to college? We offer $50,000 in scholarship funds for 11th-grade students. You can apply for scholarships online yearly starting in January. For adults 24 and older, we offer an Adult Learner program. 

APPLYING IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK

Here’s how to get started. 

11th-Grade College Scholarship

The 11th-Grade College Scholarship application is closed. Please click GET STARTED to be added to communication reminders on when to apply during the next open cycle. The 2026 application window is January 7, 2027 at 8:00 a.m. through February 26, 2027 at 5:00 p.m.

Need help deciding which of our KC Scholars College Network partners is right for you? Click here to find your school.

Adult Learner
College Scholarship

The Adult Learner Scholarship application is closed. Please click GET STARTED to be added to communication reminders on when to apply during the next open cycle. The 2027 application window is October 20, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. through November 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

Need help deciding which of our KC Scholars College Network partners is right for you? Click here to find your school.

Applicants with visual impairments or other disabilities that may preclude them from applying online may contact the applicationhelp@greatjobskc.org to make other arrangements to apply for a scholarship.

11th-Grade College Scholarship

Program offers:

  • Up to $50,000 paid directly to the college over the course of up to six years
  • Once awarded, the scholar can enroll full-time in the fall semester following on-time high school graduation.
  • Access to Scholar Support Resources to assist with needs that may arise during college or the job search process. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

 
  • Be a current 11th grader during the application cycle;
  • Live in and/or be home-schooled or attend a public, charter, or private high school in the following six counties: Cass, Clay, Jackson and Platte (MO) or Johnson and Wyandotte (KS);
  • Have at least a 2.5 cumulative high school unweighted GPA or at least a 16 on the ACT or at least an 800 on the SAT) All applicants must provide proof of grades and credits from five semesters (9th grade to the fall semester of 11th grade). If transcript or grade report documentation does not include the cumulative unweighted GPA, KC Scholars will calculate during application review.
  • Be income eligible (FAFSA Student Aid Index of 12,000 or less).
  • US Citizenship/Residency is not required to apply.

See College-Specific Education Packet for further guidance on College-Specific eligibility.

If you need more information on program details, please find our FAQs HERE

Adult Learner College Scholarship

Program offers:

  • Up to $25,000 paid directly to the college over the course of up to six years.
  • Once awarded, the Scholar can enroll full or part-time the fall semester following awarding.
  • Scholarship can be used at any of our college partners. See our current list of partners HERE.
  • Scholarship can be used towards an associate’s degree, bachelor’s degree, or a credit-bearing credential. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

  • Be a high school graduate or GED holder (24 years or older).
  • Live in one of the six eligible counties. (Kansas: Wyandotte, Johnson; Missouri: Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte)
  • Be income eligible. (FASFA Student Aid Index of 12,000 or less)
  • Have not previously earned a bachelor’s degree.
  • Have not previously been awarded a KC Scholars Scholarship (Traditional or Adult Learner).
  • Is not currently enrolled in a Great Jobs KC Skills Training Program.
  • US Citizenship/Residency is not required to apply.

If you need more information on program details, please find our FAQs HERE

A group of graduates in caps and gowns celebrating outdoors. Text on the image reads "Over $12 million in scholarships being awarded." These scholarships are paving the way for promising careers.
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Stephanie underwood - Chief financial Officer

Stephanie Underwood serves as Chief Financial Officer at Great Jobs KC, where she leads the organization’s financial strategy in support of its mission to create economic mobility through education and workforce opportunities. With more than 17 years of experience in nonprofit finance, Stephanie brings deep expertise in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance. She is passionate about using her career as a platform to serve and support mission-driven organizations, helping them maximize impact through strong financial stewardship.

Prior to joining Great Jobs KC, Stephanie served as Chief Financial Officer for Griffith Centers, a behavioral and mental health organization, where she oversaw financial operations for a multi-million-dollar organization spanning residential, educational, and community-based programs. She also spent nearly a decade as Vice President of Accounting Services at NFP Partners, providing CFO-level leadership to nonprofit organizations across the country, with a focus on strategic growth, audit readiness, and governance.

Outside of her professional role, Stephanie volunteers her time at her church and serves on the board of a local nonprofit. She is known for her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to aligning financial strategy with mission impact. She holds a Master of Science in Accounting and is proud to be a first-generation college graduate.

 

 

 

Jimmy Swift - Chief Operating Officer

As the Chief Operating Officer, Jimmy Swift is responsible for overseeing our core programs, our adult workforce development program, Great Jobs KC tuition-free job training, and our KC Scholars Scholarship Program, which includes 11th Grade Traditional Scholarships and Adult Learner Scholarships. 

Jimmy has a career in education that spans more than 25 years and is built around supporting and improving the performance of career training programs and leading the operations of degree-granting institutions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in management and has served as Campus President, Vice President of Career Services, and Executive Director of various career schools.  

Most recently, Jimmy served as the Vice President of PLA University at Phalen Leadership Academies, bringing access to job skill training to the parents and families of the Scholars served by Phalen Leadership schools across the country.  Beyond his higher education experience, Jimmy serves as the Executive Board Chairman for Project Safety Net NY, a nonprofit community-based agency delivering a broad range of health, education, and prevention services to the New York Community. As the Chief Operating Officer for Great Jobs KC, he and his team are poised to make a substantial impact on the economic stability and future of Kansas City.

Great Jobs KC
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