Fund the first two years of your STEM degree with the STEM Scholars Program at Johnson County Community College!
Advance your education! As a JCCC STEM Scholar, you can earn up to $10,000 a year, for two years, toward your degree. Additionally, you’ll receive free tutoring as you engage in rigorous coursework, with a dedicated transfer team ready to help you succeed at your chosen four-year college.
Want to learn more? Fill out our interest form
“I believe starting at a community college is the smartest way to pursue a STEM degree.”
— Thomas Buckley, JCCC STEM Scholars graduate and civil engineer
JCCC was awarded a six-year grant of approximately $1.5 million from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to create the JCCC STEM Scholars Program. Through mentoring, research experiences, free tutoring, university transfer workshops, and university and industry field trips, STEM Scholars receive academic distinction and prepare to transfer to 4-year colleges like the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and the University of Missouri–Kansas City.
100% of all JCCC STEM Scholars, who graduate from the program, transfer and graduate with a 4-year STEM degree.
Apply to become a JCCC STEM Scholar! If you are an incoming or current JCCC student with demonstrated financial need who plans to pursue a 4-year degree in a STEM field, including:
- Biological Sciences (except medicine and other clinical fields)
- Computer and Information Sciences
- Engineering
- Geosciences
- Mathematical Sciences
- Physical Sciences
You qualify!
The Spring 2026 Application opens in January. The priority deadline is February 15, 2026, with rolling review through July 31.
How to Apply for a JCCC STEM Scholarship:
- Complete a JCCC application for admission. You must first be an accepted JCCC student for consideration.
- Fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). A FAFSA® is required, as candidates must show financial need based on the FAFSA® results.
- Log in to the JCCC Scholarship Portal and complete the JCCC Scholarship Application for the current year.
- Once you complete the JCCC Scholarship Application, if you meet initial eligibility criteria during the open application period, the STEM Scholarship Application will appear in “My Tasks” on the JCCC Scholarship Portal homepage. Complete that application.
The faculty leading the project select STEM Scholars from the applicant pool based on content and essays from the initial application, an interview and supplemental information.
STEM Scholars then may receive $7,000 or $10,000 a year for two years to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, and other expenses.
The STEM Scholars Program comprises three parts: scholarships, program activities, and research.
Up to twelve scholarships a semester are awarded to eligible incoming or current JCCC students who plan to pursue a 4-year degree in a STEM* field.
An amount of $7,000 or $10,000 a year for two years is awarded.
Academic success is built into the program. As a STEM Scholar, your education includes:
- Community mentoring: Scholars become part of a guided cohort group which includes faculty and peer mentoring and regular meetings throughout the year. After the first year, the scholars act as mentors to the next cohort of scholars, sharing their experiences at JCCC and within the STEM Scholars program.
- Free tutoring: In your first semester of the program, you will visit JCCC’s Academic Resource Centers for free, unlimited tutoring and class assistance.
- Dedicated transfer workshops: You will develop transfer plans to your chosen university, and meet with representatives from the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and the University of Missouri – Kansas City.
- Networking opportunities: STEM Scholars meet throughout fall and spring semesters for enrichment activities, including field trips to STEM-related research labs and businesses. As you build potential job connections, you will also get to know other STEM Scholars and create a social support system.
JCCC’s Institutional Effectiveness, Planning and Research will track the progress of the student scholars and report to the NSF certain key statistics, including whether JCCC STEM Scholars successfully transfer to a four-year school and continue to pursue a STEM degree.
This project is funded by an award from the National Science Foundation (Grant: DUE-2220912). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.