SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS

Scholarships and grants are types of financial aid that do not need to be repaid and can be an important part of your college financial planning. Our Financial Aid staff will assist you with identifying and applying for the scholarships and/or grants for which you may qualify.

NEW SCHOLARSHIPS FOR FALL 2019 
On-campus and online programs

Columbia College Hollywood is committed to cultivating, inspiring, and empowering new students  with a wide variety of need- and merit-based scholarships and grants. Unlike student loans, these scholarships and grants don’t have to be repaid and are awarded exclusively to Columbia College Hollywood students. 

Each scholarship or grant has specific eligibility requirements, application instructions, and submission deadlines. For example, to be considered eligible for need-based scholarships, a student must first submit a FAFSA. Once awarded, most scholarships can be renewed annually, if qualifications are met. New students are encouraged to apply for all scholarships for which they may be eligible, as some scholarships can be combined up to an award total of $30,000 over the duration of a degree program. The Financial Aid staff is ready to help students identify and apply for all scholarships and grants for which they may qualify. 

Students should contact their Admissions Counselors for instructions on how to submit applications and required materials. 

International students are not eligible for need-based scholarships, including the Opportunity Grant. If awarded a scholarship, an international student must also submit a statement of financial support providing proof of funding that meets or exceeds the minimum amount required cover the cost of attendance.

MERIT-BASED 

• SERVICE + LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP 
• COMMUNITY PARTNER GRANT 
• TRANSFER STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP 

NEED-BASED 

• OPPORTUNITY GRANT 

PROGRAM-SPECIFIC

• FUTURE FILMMAKER SCHOLARSHIP 
• PIXEL PUSHER SCHOLARSHIP 

MILITARY VETERAN SCHOLARSHIPS 

• YELLOW RIBBON GI EDUCATION ENHANCEMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 

SCHOLARSHIP DESCRIPTIONS

SERVICE + LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP 

Value: Up to $20,000 total for a BFA program. Up to $10,000 for an associate degree program. 

Eligibility: To be eligible for the Service + Leadership Scholarship, a student must: 

• Be a new, 1st term student 
• Enroll in a minimum of 8 credit units 
• Submit a Personal Essay of 500 words or more that demonstrates the applicant’s engagement in a significant community initiative that has a positive impact on the lives of others. 
• Submit two letters of recommendation from an appropriate reference, such as an adult supervisor or administrator in the community initiative, teacher, or counselor. Letters of recommendation must be sent directly to the college by the recommender. 
• For continued eligibility beyond the first academic year (AY1), students must maintain a CGPA of 3.0 or higher and enroll in a minimum of 8 credits per term. 

Distribution: The maximum annual award is $5,000 per academic year, awarded in three equal per-term installments. To receive the maximum award, the recipient must enroll in 16 credit hours per term. Awards are prorated for each term in which the recipient enrolls in less than 16 credit hours.

COMMUNITY PARTNER GRANT 

Value: 50% reduction in the cost of tuition 

Eligibility: To be eligible for the Community Partner Grant, a student must: 

• Be a new, 1st term student 
• Enroll in a minimum of 8 credit units 
• Submit two letters of recommendation from the student’s sponsoring community partner organization or individual asserting that the student has the drive, ability, and commitment to successfully complete a college degree program. If the applicant’s high school CGPA falls below the minimum required for admission, the recommender must confirm that the applicant is prepared for the rigor of a Columbia College Hollywood program and help define additional assistance the applicant may need from the college. Letters of recommendation must be sent directly to the college by the recommender. 
• For continued eligibility beyond the first academic year (AY1), students must maintain a CGPA of 3.0 or higher and enroll in a minimum of 8 credits per term. 

Distribution: Awarded each term at the rate of 50% of the student’s tuition cost for enrolled credits.

TRANSFER STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP 

Value: Up to $25,000 per program 

Eligibility: To be eligible for the Transfer Student Scholarship, a student must: 

• Be a new, 1st term transfer student 
• Enroll in a minimum of 8 credit units 
• Successfully transfer 12 or more credit units earned at a prior institution 
• Show a CGPA of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale from the most recently attended eligible institution 
• For continued eligibility beyond the first academic year (AY1), students must maintain a CGPA of 3.0 or higher each term and enroll in a minimum of 8 credits per term. 

Distribution: Awarded on a sliding scale based on CGPA at the time of transfer/admission. 

3.75 – 4.0 CGPA: $25,000 Scholarship awarded at $6,250/yr or $2,083/16 credit term

3.25 – 3.74 CGPA: $22,000 Scholarship awarded at$5,500/yr or $1,833/16 credit term

2.75 – 3.24 CGPA: $20,000 Scholarship awarded at $5,000/yr or  $1,666/16 credit term

Awards are prorated if the recipient enrolls in less than 16 credit hours per term.

OPPORTUNITY GRANT 

Value: Up to $2,000 for the 1st academic year 

Eligibility: To be eligible for the Opportunity Grant, a student must: 

• Be a new, 1st term student 
• Be Pell Grant eligible 
• Show a Post-verification (if selected) Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of 1,000 or below. 

Distribution: Awarded in three equal installments during the 1st academic year. The award is prorated for terms in which the recipient enrolls in less than 16 credits.

ACHIEVEMENT SCHOLARSHIP 

Value: Up to $20,000 total per program for bachelor’s degree students or up to $6,000 total per program for associate degree students. 

Eligibility: To be eligible for the Achievement Scholarship, a student must: 

• Be enrolled as a new, 1st term student 
• Show proof of an unweighted CGPA of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 scale from the most recently attended accredited institution 
• Enroll for a minimum of 12 credits in the first term 
• For continued eligibility beyond the first enrolled quarter, students must maintain a CGPA of 3.0 or higher during each term and enroll in a minimum of 12 credits per term. 

Distribution: Award funds are applied in equal installments during each academic year. Students enrolled for 16 credits per term will receive the full scholarship award for the term. Students enrolled for 12 credits per term will receive 75% of the scholarship award for the term. 

Amounts distributed over four years for a bachelor’s degree program (16 credits per term):

AY1: $2,000 – Maximum term award of $667

AY2: $4,000 – Maximum term award of $1,334

AY3: $6,000 – Maximum term award of $2,000

AY4: $8,000 – Maximum term award of $2,667 

Amounts distributed over two years for an associate degree program (16 credits per term):

AY1: $2,000 – Maximum term award of $667

AY2: $4,000 – Maximum term award of $1,334 

Award amounts are prorated based on any incoming transfer credit. For example, if an incoming student has four quarters remaining to complete an associate program and enrolls in 16 credits per term to successfully complete the degree program, the maximum Achievement Scholarship award amount would be $3,334 ($667 in Q1 funding + $667 Q2 funding + $666 in Q3 funding + $1,334 in Q4 funding).

FUTURE FILMMAKER SCHOLARSHIP 

Eligibility: To be eligible for the Future Filmmaker Scholarship, students must:

• Be new, first term students
• Provide portfolio of samples of their own creative work meeting the published criteria to be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee.
• Enroll for 12 quarter credits per term
• Submit the $250 deposit prior to submission of work samples

Distribution: Award funds are applied in equal installments during the first successfully completed academic year.

Submission Guidelines: Applicants must submit a portfolio that demonstrates creativity, skill, and collaboration in the area of film through work samples that meet below criteria.  Portfolios will be judged based on the student’s vision as evidenced by originality and clarity of story, technical ability, and overall production quality.

Film portfolio submissions must include:

• Minimum one-page write-up that describes the following:
  • The applicant’s specific contribution to the work
  • The inspiration for the piece
  • The aesthetic and creative concepts for the piece
• Five pieces of work submitted according to any of the below specifications:
  • Films: Duration: 10 minutes or under (File format .mov)
  • Still Photographs: (File format .jpg or .PDF)
  • Screenplays, Written Stories, Essays: (File format .PDF)
  • Storyboards accompanied by Shot List: (File format .jpg or .PDF)

PIXEL PUSHER SCHOLARSHIP

Value: Up to $10,000 per first academic year

Eligibility: To be eligible for the Pixel Pusher Scholarship, students must:

• Be new, 1st term students 
• Provide a portfolio of samples of their own creative work meeting the published criteria to be reviewed by the Scholarship Committee 
• Enroll for a minimum of 12 credits per term 
• Submit the $250 enrollment deposit prior to submission of work samples 

Distribution:  Award funds are applied in equal installments during the first academic year. 

Submission Guidelines:

Graphic Design + Interactive Media submissions must include: 

• 7-10 pieces of work 
• File Format: .PPT or .PDF 
• Work must be done by the applicant 
• Can be traditional art, photography, or design work 

VFX submissions must include:

•  7-10 pieces of work 
• File Format: .PPT or .PDF 
• Work must be done by the applicant 
• Can be traditional art, photography, design, or animated work. 
• If the piece is animated, please submit a Vimeo link to a hosted version of the video file. 

SCHOLARSHIP FOR MILITARY VETERAN STUDENTS

Under the Yellow Ribbon Program, the college coordinates with the Veterans Benefit Administration (VBA) to ensure full coverage of a veteran’s institutional charges from the college. 

Value: The college’s scholarship amount ensures that the veteran student’s tuition and fees are covered 100% despite the annual cap set by the VA. 

Eligibility: In order to access this benefit, a veteran student must qualify into the 100% coverage tier of the Chapter 33 Benefits Program. 

For additional information, please visit https://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill/yellow_ribbon.asp. 

FEDERAL STUDENT AID GRANTS

The U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid program awards two grants to eligible students. Please visit the Federal Student Aid website for more information. 

Federal Pell Grant The Federal Pell Grant is awarded to undergraduate students who have exceptional financial need and who have not earned a bachelor’s degree. Unlike a loan, the Pell Grant does not have to be repaid. The amount an individual student may receive is determined by factors including factual information provided on the FAFSA®. A student may receive the Federal Pell Grant for no more than 150% of the average program length. A BFA student may receive a Federal Pell Grant for 18 academic quarters or the equivalent (roughly six years). 

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG) is awarded as a supplement to other sources of financial aid to undergraduate students who have exceptional financial need and who have not earned a bachelor’s degree. Students receiving Federal Pell Grants receive priority in FSEOG awards. The FSEOG does not have to be repaid. 

Financial aid is available for those who qualify. To learn more about the institutional aid offered at Columbia College Hollywood or to receive assistance with completing the FAFSA for federal aid, contact the Office of Financial Aid at 818.401.1030.