3.6 Institutional Scholarships

(Revised 5-12-2008; Revised 7-14-2014)

The East Central College institutional scholarship program, funded through the general fund of the College, is intended to provide access to East Central College to students who demonstrate academic or performance excellence or could not otherwise attend due to the lack of necessary financial resources. The number of scholarships awarded each year will be contingent upon funding, as determined by the College during its budget development process.

Scholarships (Revised 7-14-2014, 11-6-2017, 12-6-2021, 11-3-2025)

The following scholarships are approved by the Board of Trustees for funding through the general fund of the College.

Board of Trustees Scholarship
This award is for full-time students and recognizes high academic achievers who reside in the East Central College taxing and service district and who have graduated within the last five calendar years. Awards will not exceed the amount equal to the in-district tuition and general fees charge.

New Recipient Eligibility

New recipients must meet one of the following criteria:

  1. High school graduates with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or who rank in the top 10% of their high school class.
  2. High school equivalency completion – HiSET students who have made a minimum total scaled score of 75 on the examination.
  3. Home-schooled students who have completed a course of home study and score in the 90th percentile on a nationally recognized test measuring academic achievement.
  4. Currently enrolled East Central College (ECC) students who have completed at least 12 credit hours of coursework numbered above 100 at ECC and have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5.
  5. Transfer students who have completed at least 12 credit hours of coursework numbered above 100 at ECC and have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5. These courses can be completed at the transfer institution or at ECC.

Renewal Recipient Eligibility

  1. Recipients must maintain a 3.3 minimum cumulative grade point average.
  2. Recipients must complete at least 24 credit hours annually.
  3. Recipients may be awarded for up to five terms, including summer, if eligible.

President’s Scholarship
This award is for students enrolled less than full-time, but at least half-time, and recognizes high academic achievers who reside in the East Central College taxing and service district and who have graduated from high school within the last five calendar years. Awards will not exceed the amount equal to in-district tuition and general fees charge.

New Recipient Eligibility

New recipients must meet one of the following criteria:

  1. High school graduates with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.75 or who rank in the top 10% of their high school class.
  2. High school equivalency completion – HiSET students who have made a minimum total scaled score of 75 on the examination.
  3. Home-schooled students who have completed a course of home study and score in the 90th percentile on a nationally recognized test measuring academic achievement.
  4. Currently enrolled East Central College (ECC) students who have completed at least six credit hours of coursework numbered above 100 at ECC and have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5.
  5. Transfer students who have completed at least six credit hours of coursework numbered above 100 at ECC and have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5. These courses can be completed at the transfer institution or at ECC.

Renewal Recipient Eligibility

  1. Recipients must maintain a 3.3 minimum cumulative grade point average.
  2. Recipients must complete at least 15 credit hours annually.
  3. Recipients may be awarded for up to ten terms, including summer, if eligible.

Non-traditional Student Scholarship
This non-renewable award is for students over the age of 23 whose family income makes the student ineligible for need-based federal financial aid. To be eligible, the student must be enrolled in no fewer than six credit hours and have completed a minimum of 15 credit hours at East Central College with a 3.0 grade point average. Awards will not exceed the amount equal to the in-district tuition and general fees charge.

Targeted Recruitment Scholarships
Targeted recruitment scholarships will be utilized to help realize the College’s recruitment goals. 

  1. Music
    Awards will not exceed the amount equal to the in-district tuition and general fees charge.

    Scholarship awards are provided for music majors and for students who may not be music majors but who participate in musical group performances. Eligibility criteria will be determined by faculty from the discipline. Scholarships will be awarded based on faculty recommendations.
  2. Art
    Awards will not exceed the amount equal to the in-district tuition and general fees charge. 

    Scholarship awards are provided for art majors. Eligibility criteria will be determined by faculty from the discipline. Scholarships will be awarded based on faculty recommendations.
  3. Theatre
    Awards will not exceed the amount equal to the in-district tuition and general fees charge.

    Scholarships are provided for theatre majors and/or students working in and on theatre productions. Eligibility criteria will be determined by faculty from the discipline. Scholarships will be awarded based on faculty recommendations.

Athletic Scholarship
A limited number of scholarships are available for full-time student athletes competing in the following sports: women’s volleyball, women’s softball, women’s soccer, men’s soccer, and men’s baseball. Scholarships will be awarded based on recommendations from the Athletics Department.    

Academic Pathway Scholarship
This award is for full-time students. Each academic division will be approved for an equal number of one-year, non-renewable awards. Faculty and deans in each academic division recommend students for the awards.

Harrison M. Eaton Scholarship
This waiver of tuition and general fees is provided for an education major and is renewable if a 3.3 grade point average is maintained on at least 24 credit hours completed annually.

Technical Skills Scholarship
This full scholarship award is available to students from any high school in the East Central College taxing and service district pursuing an AAS degree in an area where they have demonstrated exemplary skills by scoring either first, second, or third in a state-level (or higher) technical skills competition in a program area articulated from their high school or area career center to a degree program at the College. The scholarship is renewable for a second year if a 3.3 grade point average is maintained on at least 30 credit hours completed annually.

A partial scholarship award is available to students from any high school in the East Central College taxing and service district pursuing an AAS degree in an area where they have demonstrated high potential in their chosen career field by scoring either first, second, or third in a district-level technical skills competition in a program area articulated from their high school or area career center to a degree program at the College. The scholarship is renewable for a second year if a 3.3 grade point average is maintained on at least 30 credit hours completed annually.

College Completion Scholarship
This award is for students who are within 12 credit hours of degree or certificate completion. Awards will not exceed the amount equal to the in-district tuition and general fees charges for one course. 

Recipient Eligibility

  1. Must be 12 credits or less away from degree completion.
  2. Must have a cumulative grade point average or 2.0 or above.
  3. Must not receive federal or state grants or loans, nor third-party forms of payment

Operation: Graduation! Scholarship
This one-time, $500 award is for students who are meeting the 15 to Finish timeline toward degree completion within the first two years of college coursework following high school graduation.

Recipient Eligibility

  1. Student must complete 30 credit hours during a one year period at ECC.
  2. Must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.3 or above.

Additional scholarships are available through the ECC Foundation. Information is available on the Foundation website at https://www.eastcentral.edu/foundation/.

Procedures (Revised 7-14-2014, 11-6-2017, 6-13-2018,12-6-2021, 11-3-2025)

3.6.1 Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of merit and/or need as defined by the scholarship type.

3.6.2 All award processes will abide by federal and state statutes and regulations concerning non-discrimination.

3.6.3 A full tuition award is the cost of no more than 15 credit hours, plus general fees, per semester at the Tier I rate. Course fees and books are not covered. With administrative approval, full awards may be divided into partial awards and divided among students.

3.6.4 A limited number of supplemental awards are provided by the East Central College Foundation. These awards can be used for special fees, books, or summer tuition.

3.6.5 Scholarships not used in the semester in which they are awarded will be forfeited.

3.6.6 Unless otherwise noted, all scholarship award recipients must enroll full-time for at least 12 credit hours per semester or the number of credit hours available per their academic program if less than 12.

3.6.7 Institutional scholarships, with the exception of athletic scholarships, require applicants to have a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on file. Information on financial aid, scholarships, the application process, and relevant deadlines is available on the ECC website.

3.6.8 Institutional scholarships awarded by East Central College will not exceed the cost of in-district tuition and standard general fees. These scholarships will be applied after all other tuition-specific awards have been applied and are not refundable.

3.6.9 Scholarships will only pay for courses required for a student’s degree or certificate. General eligibility for scholarships is terminated when a student completes 66 or more credit hours at ECC (students are allowed to change degree or certificate program one time and, in such cases, will no longer be eligible at 96 credit hours); when a student completes the requirements for an ECC degree, regardless of whether or not they apply for graduation; or when a student obtains a degree from ECC.

3.6.10 Unless otherwise noted, scholarships may be awarded to new or returning students.

3.6.11 Students found to be in violation of a Code of Conduct may lose scholarships as a consequence.

3.6.12 All scholarship awards, whatever the source of funding, must be awarded and monitored by the Office of Financial Aid.