Normandale Community College makes scholarship funds available to students through endowment earnings, gifts to the college and grants from outside foundations. The scholarship program recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding academic, leadership, service and extracurricular achievements. Scholarships also recognize financial need, programs of study and other accomplishments.

Scholarships generally range in value from approximately $750 to $2000 annual award and are primarily available for full-time students. Awards are for use during Fall and Spring semesters of the academic year and are usually divided equally between each semester.

New Student Scholarships
Normandale Community College makes scholarship funds available through endowment earnings, gifts to the college and grants from outside foundations to students who have no earned credits at Normandale.

Current and Returning Student Scholarships
Normandale Community College makes scholarship funds available to current and returning Normandale students through endowment earnings, gifts to the college and grants from outside foundations.

Information on scholarships available from sources other than Normandale can be found in the Mahendra Nath Career and Academic Planning Center, SC1032, or visit FASTWEB, a scholarship search on the web.

A good time to start searching for private scholarship funds is in the winter. Contact your church and other organizations to which you or your family belong and your parents' employers to learn of any scholarship programs for dependents of employees as well as your employer. Review the reference section in the Mahendra Nath Career and Academic Planning Center at Normandale, your high school and local public library for schoarship books. Watch for announcements in the local and on-campus news. Perhaps the best scholarship resource is the Internet. Web sites specializing in scholarships and colleges have proliferated in recent years, and many are free for users. We recommend FASTWEB .

Considering study abroad?
You can research available study abroad funding opportunities at www.studyabroadfunding.org .
International Business Majors may want to review www.johnpettersfoundation.org for scholarship opportunities.

As you research outside scholarship opportunities, keep these tips in mind:

1. Make sure you meet all eligibility criteria before you submit an application.
2. Complete the application in its entirety. Don't leave any item blank. Make a note on the application why it may not apply to you or indicate "Not Applicable".
3. Follow directions and provide everything that is requested.
4. Write a concise essay. Be as personal and specific as possible. Be creative.
5. Neatness counts. Make copies of the forms you receive and use them as working drafts. Once you have the final version, type it or print it neatly and legibly.
6. Keep track of deadlines.
7. Proofread the entire application before mailing it.
8. Make a copy of the entire application for your records.
9. Be wary as you search the Internet, and be careful of solicitations you receive in the mail from places that "guarantee" you'll receive scholarships if you pay a fee. Each year many families fall prey to scholarship fraud and scams. The Federal Trade Commission warns consumers to be alert for companies that make guarantees or ask for money or credit card numbers. If they are promising something that seems too good to be true, it could be a scam.

To find out how to spot, stop or report a scholarship scam, visit the FTC Web site at www.ftc.gov/scholarshipscams or call (877) FTC-HELP.