The Nation’s oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships to military children.
The Nation’s oldest and largest provider of need-based scholarships to military children.
What does CTE stand for?
CTE is the abbreviation for Career & Technical Education.
What is financial support for CTE?
The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation provides financial support to those students who meet need-based eligibility to further their education. Awards are not required to be repaid and they can be combined with other financial supports you may receive.
I’d like to attend career training or trade school for a non-degree certificate program. Am I eligible?
Yes! Our Career & Technical Education (CTE) program provides financial support to students planning to attend a non-degree certificate program or vocational training of any length at a school eligible for federal funding and listed on https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator.
What are the eligibility requirements for the CTE application?
In short, all applicants must be the child of a Marine or a Navy Corpsman, Chaplain or Religious Programs specialist attached to a Marine unit, have a cumulative unweighted GPA of 2.00, and have an adjusted gross income at or below the financial eligibility threshold determined by the Foundation on an annual basis.
For more information about eligibility requirements, visit www.mcsf.org/eligibility.
What programs are considered CTE?
In addition to traditional vocational trades such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), plumbing, and cosmetology, CTE also encompasses programs in the agriculture, construction, A/V Tech, education, hospitality, and many other fields. For more detailed information about what may be considered a CTE program, visit https://careertech.org/what-we-do/career-clusters/ .
I am pursuing a degree-granting program. Am I eligible?
Our CTE program is limited to non-degree certificate programs or vocational training. However, our undergraduate scholarship application is open from January 1 to March 1 each year and can be accessed at https://www.mcsf.org/apply/.
Is this a competitive program?
No, we award to all who qualify! All eligible applicants must submit complete applications with all correct documentation.
I am not a recent high school graduate. Am I still eligible to apply?
This program has no age requirement. We welcome applicants regardless of age or educational journey.
How much financial support is awarded to each student?
Financial support awards are $2,500, $5,000, $7,500, or $10,000 per academic year. Award amounts are based on factors including financial need, GPA, and available funding. The awards are renewable for up to four paid awards if your program is longer than one year, but you are required to re-apply and meet our eligibility criteria each year.
How do I know when to apply for CTE financial support?
The CTE application is available all year, and applications are processed on a monthly basis. We encourage you to submit your application approximately two months prior to your program start date to account for the processing period.
Below is an example of the application timeline:
Can my award be used to pay for school-related costs beyond tuition?
Yes, awards can be used towards the total cost of attendance, as determined by your school or program. Cost of attendance can include but is not limited to: tuition/fees, room/board, supplies and books, transportation, and other school-related expenses as defined by your school. You should discuss directly with your school’s Financial Aid Office about their reimbursement/disbursement policies and how you wish to use your scholarship funds.
Can I use funds from this program to pay towards the cost of an apprenticeship program?
Yes, if the apprenticeship program is administered through an accredited institution. For a list of accredited institutions, visit College Navigator.
What schools can I attend?
We will send your award to any school eligible for federal funding and listed on https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator.