Our WorkSystem SupportProviding Financial Assistance and ScholarshipsCalifornia Community Colleges Scholarship Endowment (CCCSE)

California Community Colleges Scholarship Endowment (CCCSE)

Making possibility permanent for Community College students.

In May 2008, the Osher Foundation made a historic pledge to the California Community Colleges, giving an unprecedented lead gift of $25 million to establish the endowment, and committing additional match dollars for amounts raised by the system. The Osher Foundation’s pledge to the California Community Colleges is a shining example of the transformative power of philanthropy. By investing in education and creating a permanent scholarship fund, FoundationCCC has helped to ensure that students from all backgrounds have the opportunity to pursue their academic goals and achieve their full potential.

The California Community Colleges Scholarship Endowment (CCCSE) Osher Scholarship Program is designed to provide financial assistance to students who are pursuing their education at one of the 116 California Community Colleges and who have demonstrated both financial need and academic success.

By providing financial assistance to students who have demonstrated success and commitment in their coursework, the CCCSE Osher Scholarship Program helps to ensure that these students can continue their education and achieve their academic goals.

Over the course of three years, a permanent scholarship fund was established to support students who struggle to afford the ever-rising cost of an education. This endowment will provide more than 6,000 student scholarships every academic year in perpetuity.

For Students

The CCCSE Osher Scholarship Program aims to offer financial support to students enrolled at one of the 116 California Community Colleges. This program specifically targets those who have shown both academic excellence and a requirement for financial aid. If you’re a student curious about this opportunity, click the button below to learn more.

What you need to know

For Colleges

CCCSE Osher Scholarship Instructions and Guidelines

Scholarship instructions and guidelines are available for colleges to use as guidance and are updated annually or more frequently, as needed. Click on the button below to download the most up to date instructions and guidelines, including scholarship amounts for the current academic year.

*FoundationCCC may adjust scholarship amounts in increments of no less than $100 based on inflation, ensuring that students will reap the same benefit in the future economy. FoundationCCC will alert colleges to the updated figure upon adjustment.

Download CCCSE Osher Scholarship Instructions and Guidelines

Scholarship Awards Timeline

Most colleges distribute funding prior to the start of each term, but scholarship deadlines and award periods are different for each college. Students should check with their financial aid office or scholarship office to learn about dates and deadlines on your campus. Click the button below to download the annual timeline.

annual timeline for scholarship administrators

Program Impact

  • 6,563 Total scholarships

    distributed in 2021-22.

  • 4,155 Total scholars

    supported in 2021-22.

  • $3.36M Total scholarship funds

    distributed to schools in 2021-22.

  • $41.75M Total scholarship funds

    distributed since inception in 2008.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

For additional information on scholarship opportunities and other forms of financial aid available for California Community College students, visit your financial aid office, scholarship office, or www.icangotocollege.com.

Resources

Student Testimonial

Daniel T., Allan Hancock College

Thank you all for selecting me to be a recipient for the Osher Initiative Scholarship for the school year of 2021-2022. When I found out that I had received this scholarship I was lost for words. Times have been very tough with the recent pandemic and I know that many others applied for this scholarship as well so to be given this opportunity means a lot to me. I am currently in my last year at Allan Hancock College and am set to graduate with my Associate’s Degree and a few certificates in the Spring of 2022. With the help of your generous donation towards my education it gives me the financial support to offset some expenses of college and be able to further my education. I plan to continue on and pursue my goal of becoming a helping professional such as a licensed Social Worker. I hope to be able to help others and give back to the community and pay it forward for a student in my predicament one day.

Student Testimonial

Jesus S., Coastline Community College

I am truly honored and grateful to have been awarded The Osher Scholars Award. Your generosity will allow me to follow my goal of continuing my academic studies. Getting the best preparatory education to complete a higher education degree requires a significant amount of dedication. In the future, I plan on attending graduate school for a master’s in philosophy and law school. When I was growing up, my family did not enforce education nor educational goals discussed. As the son of a lower-working class Mexican parents, I am excited to continue my academic journey and make my parents proud. The strong family values they instilled in me while growing up provides me with the hard work and determination I need to succeed in school and beyond. I also hope that in receiving The Osher Scholars Award I will inspire my other family members, such as my nephews, to be motivated to pursue their educational goals. Now, I am prepared to reach my academic goals because without this generous scholarship, I would not be able to get further in my education and for that, I thank you.