Are you thinking about going to school? Eager to enroll in your next semester’s worth of classes but worried about paying for your classes? Put the hammer down and spare your piggy bank: there are alternatives like grants, financial aid, and scholarships that can help cover your tuition and textbooks. If you’re looking to cast a wide net for funding help, the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation’s Spring 2027 General Scholarship Application is now open. Applications will be considered from now until Oct. 31, 2026.
When you submit an application for the MCCCF’s General Scholarship, you aren’t just applying for one scholarship: the application submits you for consideration to a pool of hundreds of scholarships. Many of these scholarships have different eligibility requirements and award amounts, so casting a wide net could improve your chances for success.
Apply Now
What To Know Before You Apply
Unlike applying for financial aid, you don’t need to have your FAFSA info on hand before filling out your general scholarship application. Keep in mind many other scholarships do require a completed 2026-2027 FAFSA, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get that information ready before you start your application.
There is no minimum GPA requirement for applying to the general scholarship, nor do you need to demonstrate financial need before submitting your application.
One very important thing to keep in mind: you must be currently admitted to Rio Salado College in order to apply for scholarships through this portal. All active students can apply.
Remember that scholarships are not financial aid: you do not have to pay them back.
How It Works
There are two kinds of scholarships you can find on the Foundation’s extensive scholarship database: auto-match and apply-to scholarships. A completed and submitted MCCF general application is enough to apply to any auto-match scholarship for which you are eligible. That can save you a LOT of time with not having to individually apply to each one of those scholarships.
Some apply-to scholarships may have additional requirements and supplemental questions you’ld need to answer in order to apply for them.
What If I Already Applied During The Last Cycle?
If you applied during the Fall 2026 application cycle, you don't need to apply for the Spring 2027 application cycle. You'll automatically be considered for Spring 2027 scholarship opportunities. If you need to edit your Fall 2026 application, you can submit a request here.
When Will I Know If I’m Funded?
Notifications and awarding will begin in December 2026.
Rio Specific Scholarships
It can be a bit daunting navigating the scholarship portal on the Foundation site. There’s a LOT of scholarships on there. If you’re interested in seeking out scholarships that are specific to Rio Salado students, search for these by title or by the numbers in parentheses. You can find more information about specific eligibility requirements for all the Rio specific scholarships on this page.
Rio Scholarships:
- Dr. Jo Jorgenson Community Development Fund (4311-1)
- Dr. Larry Celaya Memorial Scholarship (5466)
- Hazel Davis Literacy Legacy Endowment Scholarship (5758)
- James P. Hornburg Memorial Scholarship (5429)
- Melody Layne Miller Memorial Scholarship (4388-1)
- RSC Adult ACE Scholarship (4827)
- RSC General Student Scholarship (4083)
- Spot 127 Carstens Family Funds Scholarship (4218-1)
- The Rio Salado College Insurance Programs (4397-1)
- The Thor Family Endowed Scholarship (5062)
- Winston and Dr. Jean Tease Social Justice Scholarship (5701)
Learn More
Need more information about applying for scholarships through the Maricopa Foundation? Check out this page for an FAQ, tutorial videos, and a link to schedule a session with a scholarship coordinator.
Scholarship Stories
From ways to pay for college to getting your FAFSA and letters of recommendation in order, here’s a few of our blog stories that could help you on your funding journey.
- Planning How to Pay for College? Here are a Few Resources to Help You Save Money & Time
- A Few Things to Help You With FAFSA
- How To Prosper With Financial Self-Care
- Get Professional References That Can Get The Job Done
Article by Austin Brietta