Last Dollar Scholarship
What is the Last Dollar Scholarship?
The Last Dollar Scholarship is a need-based “gap” award of $500 to $7,500 for graduates of our high school College Access Program who are enrolled full-time in a 2- or 4-year, non-profit college/university.
We look at a student’s Student Aid Index (as determined by the FAFSA), their college financial aid package total, and the college’s Cost of Attendance. Students can reapply each year up to 6 years from first eligibility as long as the student maintains a minimum 2.0 GPA and other participation requirements are met. Costs we consider are: tuition, housing, meal plan, mandatory fees, and public transportation (commuting students only).
Who is eligible for the Last Dollar Scholarship in academic year 2026-27?
Graduating high school seniors in the Philadelphia Education Fund’s College Access Program in the following schools are eligible for a scholarship up to $7,500 annually:
- BARTRAM HIGH SCHOOL
- FRANKFORD HIGH SCHOOL
- FURNESS HIGH SCHOOL
- KENSINGTON CREATIVE & PERFORMING ARTS HIGH SCHOOL
- OLNEY HIGH SCHOOL
- ROXBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL
Students from any of the schools listed above who will attend Community College of Philadelphia may apply for a $1,000 flat scholarship.
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Application Instructions
All applicants will create a Copilot account.
You will need to upload PDFs or screenshots (be sure these are not blurry or cutting off information) of:
- SAI (from your Student Aid Summary)
- financial aid letter (not the admission letter)
- college ID number
- unofficial transcript with your 25-26 GPA and cumulative GPA.
Start your application early by completing the “About You” sections — you can go back later to complete the uploads when you have them. Deadline: July 8, 2026. Scholarships will be awarded on a rolling basis.
If you have questions, contact Philadelphia Scholars Senior Manager Allison Kelsey. Please do not wait until the last minute.
The application is open from April 1 – July 8 at 5pm.
Don’t stop there: visit PhillyGoes2College.org for other regional and national scholarship opportunities.
“Through PEF, I was connected to resources and prepped for college and work. Most importantly, I was able to build valuable connections with passionate individuals who still support me, 7 years after high school. As I start my journey to a master’s degree, I am sure the support will continue.”
Deliyah C., West Chester University ’22
