Scholarship FAQs

What is a scholarship?

A scholarship is a financial award for a student to further their education and is not required to be repaid. These scholarships are intended to be added to other financial support you receive. There are two types of scholarships at Coastline College - awards that are offered by Coastline College (where a committee selects recipients based on the General Scholarship application and "Apply To" opportunities); and external scholarships, where a student applies to an external organization and the funds are mailed to Coastline College for disbursement according to the organization's criteria.

What is the difference between general and external scholarships?

The Coastline General scholarship is funded by Coastline and their various donors directly. It is one general application that applies you to different scholarships that you qualify for. External scholarships are scholarships outside of Coastline's, funded by private donors and organizations. You must search for and apply for them yourself. You can find these scholarships through FREE search providers (like Fastweb, Scholarship America and iGrad).

How do I start looking for scholarships?

Start by completing the Coastline General scholarship. This scholarship includes one application that automatically applies you to various scholarships you qualify for through Coastline. Additionally, Coastline College has "Apply To" opportunities, where a student can read through the list after completing their General Scholarship application and determine which awards they would like to be considered for. Once the Coastline Scholarships are completed, you are encouraged to visit our list of external scholarships to see if you qualify for any of those.

How many scholarships can I apply for?

As many as you are eligible for. There is no limit. Scholarships are awarded independently, so applying for multiple does not decrease your chance for any individual scholarship. You can be awarded more than one scholarship.

My immigration/citizenship status is complicated. Do I still qualify?

Yes, but it depends on your specific status. Undocumented and DACA students are not able to access federal or state grants, but individual colleges and private scholarship providers may be able to help. Coastline College offers all internal scholarship opportunities to students, regardless of their immigration status (unless a donor specifically requests such a criteria for their specific scholarship).

How do I tell if a scholarship is legitimate?

We recommend you follow two main rules to avoid nearly all scholarship scams: never pay to apply for a scholarship, and if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Beware of "guaranteed" scholarships, or any unsolicited offer - scholarship programs will never just offer you money out of the blue! Legitimate scholarship programs will also always have an email address and/or phone number to contact them - if you're in doubt, talk to a real person. Please note the type of email address posted on the opportunity and be mindful if they are legitimate organizational accounts (like a business or non-profit, etc.). It is recommended that students do their research when a personal email account is involved, as these are often red flags for illegitimate opportunities.

What do I do after I win a scholarship?

1. Formally accept the award once you've won a scholarship. Refer to the award email or letter for guidance and note any deadlines to claim the award.
2. Send a Thank You note addressed to the donor of the scholarship or submit any follow-up items requested to claim the award (such as a schedule of your enrolled courses, transcripts, etc.).
3. Save.
4. Confirm your college's scholarship office information. At Coastline College, external scholarships are sent to the Foundation Office and are administered in partnership with the Business Office.
5. Report the scholarship to the college and follow steps outlined to receive the award.
6. Monitor your student accounts at your college or follow up with requests (such as pay tuition or reimbursements for approved educational materials purchased by submitting receipts etc.).

Do I have to pay to search for a scholarship?

No. All legitimate scholarship search providers (like Fastweb) provide their services free. Never sign up or pay for a service that claims it can find you "secret" or "hidden" scholarships - these are another form of scholarship scam.

Will My Scholarships Affect My Financial Aid?

Being awarded this type of financial support could have an effect on a student's overall aid package from the university. According to the College Board, if all of the aid a student receives surpasses the calculated need by more than $300, "The federal government requires the college to reduce the amount of need-based financial aid it awards a student." In such a case, the college or university will decide which elements of the aid package to cut. While this may sound negative, receiving external scholarships is really a benefit since a college's overall aid package is likely to contain at least some loans - which, in contrast to scholarships, need to be repaid.