Last Dollar Scholarship

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What is the Last Dollar Scholarship?

The Last Dollar Scholarship is a need-based “gap” award of $200 to $7,500 for graduates of our high school College Access Program and partner high schools who are enrolled full-time in a 2- or 4-year, non-profit college. 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. 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 2024-25?

Graduating high school seniors in the Philadelphia Education Fund’s College Access Program in the following schools are eligible for scholarships up to $7,500:

  • BARTRAM HIGH SCHOOL
  • FRANKFORD HIGH SCHOOL
  • FURNESS HIGH SCHOOL
  • KENSINGTON CREATIVE & PERFORMING ARTS HIGH SCHOOL
  • OLNEY HIGH SCHOOL
  • ROXBOROUGH HIGH SCHOOL

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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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Only graduating high school seniors at the partner schools listed below may be eligible to receive scholarships up to $5,000:

  • PAUL ROBESON HIGH SCHOOL

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Alumni of the high schools below: Only college seniors in the 2024-25 academic year who received a Last Dollar Scholarship in 2023-24 may re-apply for up to $5,000:

  • EDISON HIGH SCHOOL
  • BENJAMIN FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL
  • KENSINGTON HEALTH SCIENCES ACADEMY
  • KENSINGTON HIGH SCHOOL
  • LANKENAU HIGH SCHOOL
  • MASTERY CHARTER AT SIMON GRATZ HIGH SCHOOL
  • PARKWAY WEST HIGH SCHOOL
  • SAYRE HIGH SCHOOL
  • STRAWBERRY MANSION HIGH SCHOOL
  • WEST PHILADELPHIA HIGH SCHOOL

Application Instructions

New applicants will create a Kaleidoscope account. Renewing applicants can log into their existing account.

You will need to have your SAI, financial aid letter, student ID number, and transcript. Start your application early — you can complete it as you obtain the required documents. Scholarships are awarded on a rolling basis until funds are gone (often in early August).

If you have questions along the way, please contact Philadelphia Scholars Senior Manager Allison Kelsey.

The 2024-25 application opens on April 1, 2024 for academic year 2024-25.

Visit PhillyGoes2College.org for other regional and national scholarship opportunities.

“My family has struggled, but the scholarship has given me an opportunity to complete my education and there is nothing greater than that. I can change my situation for myself because of it.”

Kynaisha Cruz, Class of ‘08

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