Charter Oak State College Scholarships (2026–2027)

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Last Updated on September 28, 2026
What This Page Covers:
  • Tuition, housing, and average family net price
  • Automatic merit ranges and qualifier benchmarks
  • Flagship and hidden-gem awards
  • Honors and stacking strategy

📊 Admissions Snapshot

  • Acceptance Rate: ~100%
  • Middle 50% ACT: N/A
  • Middle 50% SAT: N/A
  • Average GPA: N/A
Why the admissions numbers above say N/A

Charter Oak has open admission, so there’s no test score or GPA cutoff to report. It’s also a very different kind of college from most of the schools on this site. It’s Connecticut’s public online college, every class is online, and the average undergraduate is 36 years old. Only about 2% of new students are traditional full-time freshmen straight out of high school. Most people show up with credits already in hand from a community college, the military, work training, or an earlier run at college.

So when does it make sense for a family? Usually when your student is finishing an associate degree at a CT State community college, or has stacked up a lot of dual-enrollment or exam credit and wants a low-cost way to finish a bachelor’s. And honestly, it’s worth a look if you’re the parent who never got to finish your own degree.

Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →

📌 Charter Oak State College at a Glance

Average Net Price
$15,815/year (in-state estimate)
Average paid for residents.
Automatic Merit
None (Foundation awards only)
No separate application.
Scholarships Tracked
20 opportunities
20 hidden gem
Typical Qualifiers
Open admission, no GPA or test cutoffs
Entry-level benchmarks for automatic merit.
Testing Policy
Not used (open admission)
No superscore.
Key Deadlines
Priority: May 1 • FAFSA: TBD
Financial Aid Forms
FAFSA Only
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Charter Oak State College (Read This First)

  • There’s no automatic merit money. Scholarship dollars come from the Charter Oak Foundation, most awards average around $850, and almost all of them take an application.
  • Most Foundation scholarships are for students who are already enrolled. There’s one window each spring (April 1 to May 1 in myCharterOak), and awards come out by July 30 for fall. A brand-new student usually can’t apply yet, so budget the first semester without it.
  • Tuition discounts don’t stack. If your student qualifies for the CT State Tuition Match plus a military, veteran or alumni discount, Charter Oak applies only the single best one.
  • The Tuition Match has a clock on it. CT State graduates have to enroll within 12 months of finishing the associate degree to get community college tuition rates.
  • The “net price” you see online looks scary. The federal figure ($15,815) folds in estimated food, housing and transportation. The actual Charter Oak bill for a full-time year is $8,506.

FAQ

Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Charter Oak State College is test-optional for admission.

What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: N/A; SAT: N/A.

Average net price? About $15,815/year after aid.

Does this school use waivers/reciprocity? No broad regional reciprocity path.

Sources:
Charter Oak State College: CT State Community College Tuition Match: https://www.charteroak.edu/community-college/tuition-match/
Charter Oak State College: Community College Transfer Scholarship: https://www.charteroak.edu/community-college/scholarship-info.php
Charter Oak State College Foundation: Scholarships and Endowed Funds: https://www.charteroak.edu/foundation/scholarships-endowed-funds.php
Charter Oak State College Foundation: Habits of the Mind Endowed Scholarship: https://www.charteroak.edu/foundation/habits-of-the-mind-endowed-scholarship.php
Charter Oak State College Foundation: Ram Lal Seekri Endowed Scholarship: https://www.charteroak.edu/foundation/ram-lal-seekri-endowed-scholarship.php
Robert & Margaret Patricelli Endowed Scholarship: https://www.charteroak.edu/foundation/patricelli-endowed-scholarship.php
CollegeScorecard / Admissions: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

💰 Cost of Attendance at Charter Oak State College: 2026–2027 Rates

Figures verified against official sources in September 2026.

📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Charter Oak State College has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.

Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $200 to $400 more than the total below.

✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.

All students: billed cost per year
$8,506
Partial total. One cost has not been published yet.
Tuition & mandatory fees $8,506
Housing & meals (typical) Not yet published
Total billed cost $8,506

Average federal net price: $15,815 per year. This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, for in-state students only, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.

Where the real savings are at Charter Oak

Since everyone pays the same rate, there’s no reciprocity program or out-of-state waiver to chase. The money you save here comes from three places. First, CT State graduates can pay community college tuition rates through the Tuition Match. Second, credits your student already has (transfer, exams, training, military) mean fewer classes to pay for. Third, federal aid: about half of Charter Oak undergraduates receive a Pell Grant.

FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Charter Oak State College

Do out-of-state students pay more at Charter Oak?
No. For 2026-2027, every undergraduate pays $329 per credit whether they live in Connecticut or anywhere else. That’s why the in-state and out-of-state columns in the table above are identical.

Why does housing show $0?
There’s no campus to live on. Classes are 100% online, so Charter Oak never bills for a dorm or meal plan. The financial aid office still counts estimated living costs in the federal aid budget, which affects how much a student can borrow, but you won’t see those costs on a Charter Oak bill.

How is the $8,506 full-time number figured?
It assumes 12 credits in the fall and 12 in the spring. That’s 24 credits at $329 ($7,896), plus a $230 student services fee and a $75 technology fee each semester. A student taking fewer classes pays less, since tuition is charged per credit.

Are there costs that aren’t in that total?
Yes. There’s a course materials fee of $18.75 per credit, which works out to about $450 for a 24-credit year. Budget for books and supplies, too, plus the $50 application fee when your student applies.

Why is the federal “average net price” $15,815 when tuition is only about $8,500?
Two reasons. The federal number includes estimated food, housing, transportation and personal expenses, not just the Charter Oak bill. It’s also based only on full-time students starting college for the first time, and Charter Oak has very few of those. For most families, the tuition-and-fees figure is the more useful number.

Can part-time students get financial aid?
Yes. Most Charter Oak undergraduates (about 64%) study part-time, and the aid office adjusts each student’s budget to match the credits they take. File the FAFSA every year using Charter Oak’s school code, 032343.

Can credits my student already has lower the cost?
Often, and this is the biggest money saver at Charter Oak. The college is known for giving credit for prior learning: transfer credit, exams like CLEP, professional licenses and certifications, workplace training, military training, and portfolios. Every course your student doesn’t have to take is $329 per credit you don’t pay.

Sources:
https://www.charteroak.edu/prospective/tuition/
https://www.charteroak.edu/current/sfa/whatwillitcost.php
https://www.charteroak.edu/current/sfa/apply.php
https://www.charteroak.edu/aboutus/profile.php
https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=128780

📅 Charter Oak Scholarship Calendar (Simple Version)

  • April 1: The Charter Oak Foundation scholarship application usually opens in myCharterOak.
  • May 1: Deadline for Foundation scholarships and the Community College Transfer Scholarship.
  • By July 30: Foundation award decisions go out for the fall semester.
  • Within 12 months of an associate degree: The window for CT State graduates to use the Tuition Match.

Parent rule of thumb: Charter Oak has six start dates a year, but the scholarship calendar only has one window. If your student is starting in the summer or fall, the spring before is when the money gets decided.

Automatic Merit Scholarships at Charter Oak State College

Charter Oak does not offer automatic merit scholarships based on GPA or test scores. Admission is open and test scores aren’t used at all, so there’s no grid of “hit this number, get this award.” Charter Oak keeps the price low for everyone instead of discounting a high sticker price. The closest thing to automatic money is the CT State Tuition Match for recent community college graduates, which you’ll find in the Hidden Gems section below.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.

This institution does not offer designated Automatic Merit scholarships at this time.

Note: For most Charter Oak families, the “automatic” help is federal aid. About half of Charter Oak undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, and the only way to get it is to file the FAFSA.

Automatic Merit: FAQs (Charter Oak State College)

Does Charter Oak give automatic merit scholarships?
No. There’s no automatic award tied to GPA or test scores. Nearly all scholarship money comes from the Charter Oak Foundation and takes an application.

Do ACT or SAT scores matter for scholarships here?
No. Charter Oak has open admission and doesn’t use test scores for admission or scholarships. Some Foundation awards do look at college GPA, usually 2.8 or 3.0.

What’s the closest thing to automatic money?
The CT State Community College Tuition Match. A student who finishes an associate degree at a CT State campus with at least a 2.0 GPA and enrolls at Charter Oak within 12 months pays community college tuition rates instead of $329 per credit.

Can a high school senior get a Charter Oak scholarship?
It’s limited. Most Foundation awards are for current students. A few are open to incoming students, including the Habits of the Mind and Rebeka Scalia Leadership scholarships, but a student straight out of high school should plan on Pell and low tuition, not scholarships.

Does my student have to go full-time to get aid?
No. Federal aid is adjusted to the number of credits, and most Charter Oak students are part-time. The Community College Transfer Scholarship is the exception: it requires at least six credits in both fall and spring.

Sources:
https://www.charteroak.edu/foundation/scholarships-endowed-funds.php
https://www.charteroak.edu/community-college/tuition-match/
https://www.charteroak.edu/aboutus/profile.php

🏆 Flagship Scholarships (Competitive Scholarships)

Charter Oak does not have big flagship awards. There are no full-tuition or full-ride scholarships, no interview weekends, and no National Merit, Stamps or QuestBridge programs. That fits the school: it’s built for working adults finishing a degree, not for recruiting top high school seniors. The scholarships that do exist are smaller Foundation awards, covered in the Hidden Gems section.

✅ Can You Stack Aid at Charter Oak?

Aid Type Stacks? Charter Oak Parent Translation
Pell Grant and federal aid Yes This is the foundation of most students’ aid. Everything else gets layered on top of it.
Foundation scholarships Usually These post to the student account on top of federal aid. The aid office may adjust other aid and will tell you if it does.
Tuition discounts (Tuition Match, military, CT veterans, alumni) No, pick one If your student qualifies for more than one, Charter Oak applies only the single discount worth the most.
Community College Transfer Scholarship Usually $1,000 in the fall and $1,000 in the spring, applied to tuition and fees alongside federal aid.
Employer tuition benefits Yes Charter Oak accepts company billing (third-party letters of credit). The student pays whatever the employer doesn’t cover.

If your student is chasing a big competitive scholarship, Charter Oak isn’t the place to find one. The math still works for a lot of families, though, because the starting price is low. A full-time year is about $8,500 in tuition and fees, and a Pell Grant can cover a large share of that.

This institution does not offer designated Competitive scholarships at this time.

❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs

Does Charter Oak offer full-tuition or full-ride scholarships?
No. There are no full-tuition or full-ride awards. Most Foundation scholarships average around $850 a year.

Is Charter Oak a National Merit, Stamps or QuestBridge school?
No. Charter Oak doesn’t take part in any of those programs.

Can my student use the Tuition Match and a military discount together?
No. Charter Oak’s catalog says a student who qualifies for more than one tuition reduction gets only the one worth the most.

Do Foundation scholarships reduce Pell?
Pell is a federal grant and generally stays put. The aid office may adjust other aid, like loans, if total aid would go over the cost of attendance, and it will notify the student if it does.

What if my employer pays for college?
Charter Oak can bill your employer directly if the employer sends a letter of credit that meets the college’s requirements. It’s worth asking HR before you borrow anything.

Sources:
https://www.charteroak.edu/catalog/current/fees_financial_aid_scholarships/billing_policies.php
https://www.charteroak.edu/foundation/scholarships-endowed-funds.php
https://www.charteroak.edu/community-college/scholarship-info.php

🧠 Parent Strategy: Charter Oak’s “One Window” Rule

Almost every Charter Oak Foundation scholarship runs through one application, open once a year. Miss it and you wait a full year.

  1. Put April 1 to May 1 on the calendar every year your student is enrolled.
  2. Log into myCharterOak (Student Self Serve, then Scholarship) and read the criteria for each award.
  3. Apply for every award your student qualifies for, since the Foundation encourages it.
  4. Watch the Charter Oak email account. That’s where award notices show up, usually by July 30.

Parent translation: a few of Charter Oak’s individual award pages still say applications appear “in the summer” in a different portal. The Foundation’s main page gives the April 1 to May 1 window, so go by that and watch the email.

💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships

This is where Charter Oak’s scholarship money actually lives. The awards aren’t huge, most averaging around $850 a year, but many are written for adults in specific situations: working parents, people in public safety, first-generation students, and Connecticut residents juggling jobs. If your student fits one of those, the odds are a lot better than a national scholarship.

Automatic⚠ Transfer Onlyct state graduate
CT State Community College Tuition Match Discount Program
📅 Deadline: Within 12 months of associate degree
✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Recent CT State Community College graduates
🏫 2.0+ GPA🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
Works alongside Pell and Foundation scholarships. Charter Oak gives each student only the single most valuable tuition reduction, so it will not combine with the military, veteran or alumni discounts.
💡
Strategic Detail
Charges tuition at the CT State Community College rate in effect for that academic year instead of Charter Oak's $329 per credit. CT State's catalog lists in-state tuition at $192 per credit plus a service fee, so the tuition gap is roughly $137 per credit, but confirm current rates with both schools. Charter Oak's student services, technology and course materials fees still apply.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Recent graduates of the 12 CT State Community College campuses who move straight into a Charter Oak bachelor's degree.
App Required⚠ Transfer Onlyassociate degree grad
Charter Oak State College Transfer Scholarship for Community College Graduates
📅 Deadline: May 1
✓ Renews (2.5 GPA)
$1,000
✔ Stackable
⚠  Community college associate degree graduates
🏫 2.7+ GPA🎓 Transfer
✚
Stacking & Combining
Applied toward tuition and fees when you start at Charter Oak, on top of federal aid such as Pell. The financial aid office may adjust other aid if needed.
📄
How to Apply
Complete the scholarship application and a one-page essay titled "How will an online Bachelor's degree help you to achieve your goals?", then scan and email everything to Charter Oak admissions (admissions@charteroak.edu) by May 1.
✎ Essays💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
$2,000 total: $1,000 in the fall and $1,000 in the spring. Keeping it requires a 2.5 GPA and continuous enrollment (summers excluded).
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Community college graduates with an associate degree and at least a 2.7 GPA who will take six or more credits at Charter Oak in both fall and spring.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Foundation General Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 1  ·  📢 Results: By July 30 (for fall)
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awards post to your student account for tuition, fees, books or other education costs and sit on top of federal aid such as Pell. The financial aid office may adjust other aid and will tell you if it does. Charter Oak does not publish a limit on holding more than one Foundation award, and the Foundation encourages students to apply for every award they qualify for.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Charter Oak Foundation scholarship application in myCharterOak (Student Self Serve, then Scholarship). The Foundation lists an April 1 to May 1 window, with awards announced by July 30 for the fall semester. A few individual award pages still say applications post in the Acorn Student Portal in the summer, so watch your Charter Oak email each spring. Students reapply each year.
✎ Essays
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Current undergraduates with financial need who are in good standing and registered for the fall semester.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Habits of the Mind Endowed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 1  ·  📢 Results: By July 30 (for fall)
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awards post to your student account and sit on top of federal aid such as Pell. The financial aid office may adjust other aid and will tell you if it does.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Charter Oak Foundation scholarship application in myCharterOak (Student Self Serve, then Scholarship), typically open April 1 to May 1, with awards announced by July 30 for fall.
💡
Strategic Detail
Established in 2026 with a $25,000 endowment gift from alumnus Robert J. Addy (Class of 1983). Award amount is not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Incoming or current undergraduates with at least a 3.0 GPA and financial need who can explain how their education fits their career and life goals.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Talent Accelerator Endowed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 1  ·  📢 Results: By July 30 (for fall)
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awards post to your student account for tuition, fees, books or other education costs and sit on top of federal aid such as Pell. The financial aid office may adjust other aid and will tell you if it does. Charter Oak does not publish a limit on holding more than one Foundation award, and the Foundation encourages students to apply for every award they qualify for.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Charter Oak Foundation scholarship application in myCharterOak (Student Self Serve, then Scholarship). The Foundation lists an April 1 to May 1 window, with awards announced by July 30 for the fall semester. A few individual award pages still say applications post in the Acorn Student Portal in the summer, so watch your Charter Oak email each spring. Students reapply each year.
✎ Essays
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Bachelor's-degree students facing financial challenges or obstacles to degree completion, with a strong career-goals essay.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Michael A. Marusa Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 1  ·  📢 Results: By July 30 (for fall)
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.0+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awards post to your student account for tuition, fees, books or other education costs and sit on top of federal aid such as Pell. The financial aid office may adjust other aid and will tell you if it does. Charter Oak does not publish a limit on holding more than one Foundation award, and the Foundation encourages students to apply for every award they qualify for.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Charter Oak Foundation scholarship application in myCharterOak (Student Self Serve, then Scholarship). The Foundation lists an April 1 to May 1 window, with awards announced by July 30 for the fall semester. A few individual award pages still say applications post in the Acorn Student Portal in the summer, so watch your Charter Oak email each spring. Students reapply each year.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Average award about $850 per year. Can cover tuition, fees, books and other education costs. Selection is by committee.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with a minimum 3.0 GPA on a journey to degree completion who exemplify ambition and desire for self/family/community improvement.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Rebeka Scalia Leadership Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 1  ·  📢 Results: By July 30 (for fall)
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 2.8+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awards post to your student account for tuition, fees, books or other education costs and sit on top of federal aid such as Pell. The financial aid office may adjust other aid and will tell you if it does. Charter Oak does not publish a limit on holding more than one Foundation award, and the Foundation encourages students to apply for every award they qualify for.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Charter Oak Foundation scholarship application in myCharterOak (Student Self Serve, then Scholarship). The Foundation lists an April 1 to May 1 window, with awards announced by July 30 for the fall semester. A few individual award pages still say applications post in the Acorn Student Portal in the summer, so watch your Charter Oak email each spring. Students reapply each year.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Open to incoming or current students (graduate students are also eligible). The essay asks about leadership experiences in school, work, church, charity, youth groups or other settings.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Incoming or current undergraduates showing outstanding leadership and dedication to peers/community, with a 2.8+ GPA.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Ram Lal Seekri Endowed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 1  ·  📢 Results: By July 30 (for fall)
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awards post to your student account and sit on top of federal aid such as Pell. The financial aid office may adjust other aid and will tell you if it does.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Charter Oak Foundation scholarship application in myCharterOak (Student Self Serve, then Scholarship), typically open April 1 to May 1, with awards announced by July 30 for fall.
💡
Strategic Detail
Established in 2025 with an initial $10,000 gift from Professor Raj P. and Mrs. Raj K. Seekri in honor of Professor Seekri's father. Award amount is not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Matriculated bachelor's degree students who show generosity, service to others and a commitment to education, and who can describe financial barriers they have worked to overcome.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyworking parent
John and Elizabeth Blennerhassett Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 1  ·  📢 Results: By July 30 (for fall)
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Working parents only
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awards post to your student account for tuition, fees, books or other education costs and sit on top of federal aid such as Pell. The financial aid office may adjust other aid and will tell you if it does. Charter Oak does not publish a limit on holding more than one Foundation award, and the Foundation encourages students to apply for every award they qualify for.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Charter Oak Foundation scholarship application in myCharterOak (Student Self Serve, then Scholarship). The Foundation lists an April 1 to May 1 window, with awards announced by July 30 for the fall semester. A few individual award pages still say applications post in the Acorn Student Portal in the summer, so watch your Charter Oak email each spring. Students reapply each year.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Average award about $1,000 per year. Can cover tuition, fees, books and other education costs. A scholarship committee picks winners based on need and essay quality.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Working parents who show academic promise and financial need.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyemployed
Harris-Weiner Family Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 1  ·  📢 Results: By July 30 (for fall)
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Employed students with financial need
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awards post to your student account for tuition, fees, books or other education costs and sit on top of federal aid such as Pell. The financial aid office may adjust other aid and will tell you if it does. Charter Oak does not publish a limit on holding more than one Foundation award, and the Foundation encourages students to apply for every award they qualify for.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Charter Oak Foundation scholarship application in myCharterOak (Student Self Serve, then Scholarship). The Foundation lists an April 1 to May 1 window, with awards announced by July 30 for the fall semester. A few individual award pages still say applications post in the Acorn Student Portal in the summer, so watch your Charter Oak email each spring. Students reapply each year.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Average award about $850 per year. Can cover tuition, fees, books and other education costs. Established in 1998 by former Charter Oak President Merle W. Harris and her husband, David.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Employed students with financial need and academic promise, with preference for careers in education, early care, government or nonprofits. The Foundation's main scholarship page opens it to employed students, but the award's own page still describes it as a fund for women, so read the criteria inside the application.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyindependent adultfirst generationlow income
Shirley M. Adams, Ph.D., Scholarship Fund – New Beginnings
📅 Deadline: May 1  ·  📢 Results: By July 30 (for fall)
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Independent, first-gen adults in lower-paying jobs
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awards post to your student account for tuition, fees, books or other education costs and sit on top of federal aid such as Pell. The financial aid office may adjust other aid and will tell you if it does. Charter Oak does not publish a limit on holding more than one Foundation award, and the Foundation encourages students to apply for every award they qualify for.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Charter Oak Foundation scholarship application in myCharterOak (Student Self Serve, then Scholarship). The Foundation lists an April 1 to May 1 window, with awards announced by July 30 for the fall semester. A few individual award pages still say applications post in the Acorn Student Portal in the summer, so watch your Charter Oak email each spring. Students reapply each year.
✎ Essays
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Independent adult students with some college credit who are in low-paying jobs or poverty and are first-generation students; ECE students preferred.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyct resident
Udal Family Endowed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 1  ·  📢 Results: By July 30 (for fall)
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Connecticut residents
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awards post to your student account for tuition, fees, books or other education costs and sit on top of federal aid such as Pell. The financial aid office may adjust other aid and will tell you if it does. Charter Oak does not publish a limit on holding more than one Foundation award, and the Foundation encourages students to apply for every award they qualify for.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Charter Oak Foundation scholarship application in myCharterOak (Student Self Serve, then Scholarship). The Foundation lists an April 1 to May 1 window, with awards announced by July 30 for the fall semester. A few individual award pages still say applications post in the Acorn Student Portal in the summer, so watch your Charter Oak email each spring. Students reapply each year.
✎ Essays
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Incoming and returning undergraduates who reside in Connecticut, demonstrate financial need, and are active in their community.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyhartford residentpell eligible
Robert & Margaret Patricelli Endowed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 1  ·  📢 Results: By July 30 (for fall)
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Hartford residents who are Pell eligible
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awards post to your student account for tuition, fees, books or other education costs and sit on top of federal aid such as Pell. The financial aid office may adjust other aid and will tell you if it does. Charter Oak does not publish a limit on holding more than one Foundation award, and the Foundation encourages students to apply for every award they qualify for.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Charter Oak Foundation scholarship application in myCharterOak (Student Self Serve, then Scholarship). The Foundation lists an April 1 to May 1 window, with awards announced by July 30 for the fall semester. A few individual award pages still say applications post in the Acorn Student Portal in the summer, so watch your Charter Oak email each spring. Students reapply each year.
💡
Strategic Detail
Average award about $850 per year, applied to the student account for tuition, fees, books or other education costs. The same gift also launched the Women in Transition program, which is separate from this scholarship.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Hartford, CT residents who are Pell-eligible, in good academic standing, and demonstrate financial need.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlybusiness major
Beverly & Rodney Hawes, Jr. Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 1  ·  📢 Results: By July 30 (for fall)
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Business concentration
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awards post to your student account for tuition, fees, books or other education costs and sit on top of federal aid such as Pell. The financial aid office may adjust other aid and will tell you if it does. Charter Oak does not publish a limit on holding more than one Foundation award, and the Foundation encourages students to apply for every award they qualify for.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Charter Oak Foundation scholarship application in myCharterOak (Student Self Serve, then Scholarship). The Foundation lists an April 1 to May 1 window, with awards announced by July 30 for the fall semester. A few individual award pages still say applications post in the Acorn Student Portal in the summer, so watch your Charter Oak email each spring. Students reapply each year.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Average award about $850 per year. Can cover tuition, fees, books and other education costs.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students pursuing a business concentration who show leadership and commitment to community.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlybusiness major
Dr. George G. Moker Endowed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 1  ·  📢 Results: By July 30 (for fall)
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Business Administration or small-business focus
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awards post to your student account for tuition, fees, books or other education costs and sit on top of federal aid such as Pell. The financial aid office may adjust other aid and will tell you if it does. Charter Oak does not publish a limit on holding more than one Foundation award, and the Foundation encourages students to apply for every award they qualify for.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Charter Oak Foundation scholarship application in myCharterOak (Student Self Serve, then Scholarship). The Foundation lists an April 1 to May 1 window, with awards announced by July 30 for the fall semester. A few individual award pages still say applications post in the Acorn Student Portal in the summer, so watch your Charter Oak email each spring. Students reapply each year.
✎ Essays
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Current undergraduates completing a Business Administration bachelor's or a small-business/entrepreneurial concentration.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlyleadership track
R. Wayne Clugston Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 1  ·  📢 Results: By July 30 (for fall)
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Leadership roles in service organizations
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awards post to your student account for tuition, fees, books or other education costs and sit on top of federal aid such as Pell. The financial aid office may adjust other aid and will tell you if it does. Charter Oak does not publish a limit on holding more than one Foundation award, and the Foundation encourages students to apply for every award they qualify for.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Charter Oak Foundation scholarship application in myCharterOak (Student Self Serve, then Scholarship). The Foundation lists an April 1 to May 1 window, with awards announced by July 30 for the fall semester. A few individual award pages still say applications post in the Acorn Student Portal in the summer, so watch your Charter Oak email each spring. Students reapply each year.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Average award about $850 per year. Can cover tuition, fees, books and other education costs. Funded by the R. Wayne Clugston Organizational Leadership Fund.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Undergraduates preparing for defined leadership roles in service-based organizations; preference for those tied to smaller organizations.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlymajor specific
Naomi K. Cohen Public Service Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 1  ·  📢 Results: By July 30 (for fall)
Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠  Organizational Leadership or select General Studies concentrations
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awards post to your student account for tuition, fees, books or other education costs and sit on top of federal aid such as Pell. The financial aid office may adjust other aid and will tell you if it does. Charter Oak does not publish a limit on holding more than one Foundation award, and the Foundation encourages students to apply for every award they qualify for.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Charter Oak Foundation scholarship application in myCharterOak (Student Self Serve, then Scholarship). The Foundation lists an April 1 to May 1 window, with awards announced by July 30 for the fall semester. A few individual award pages still say applications post in the Acorn Student Portal in the summer, so watch your Charter Oak email each spring. Students reapply each year.
✎ Essays
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with demonstrated financial need dedicated to public service, in Organizational Leadership or General Studies (Political Science/Public Administration).
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlypublic safety employee
Sgt. George Dingwall Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 1  ·  📢 Results: By July 30 (for fall)
Non-Renewable
$850
✔ Stackable
⚠  Must work in public safety
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awards post to your student account for tuition, fees, books or other education costs and sit on top of federal aid such as Pell. The financial aid office may adjust other aid and will tell you if it does. Charter Oak does not publish a limit on holding more than one Foundation award, and the Foundation encourages students to apply for every award they qualify for.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Charter Oak Foundation scholarship application in myCharterOak (Student Self Serve, then Scholarship). The Foundation lists an April 1 to May 1 window, with awards announced by July 30 for the fall semester. A few individual award pages still say applications post in the Acorn Student Portal in the summer, so watch your Charter Oak email each spring. Students reapply each year.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Established in memory of Sgt. George R. Dingwall, a Charter Oak graduate and Middletown, CT law-enforcement officer killed in the line of duty.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Charter Oak students working in public safety anywhere in the US, with preference for Connecticut law enforcement officers.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Onlypublic safety majorpublic safety employee
Mark Carr Endowed Scholarship
📅 Deadline: May 1  ·  📢 Results: By July 30 (for fall)
Non-Renewable
$500
✔ Stackable
⚠  Public Safety Administration students
🏫 3.0+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awards post to your student account for tuition, fees, books or other education costs and sit on top of federal aid such as Pell. The financial aid office may adjust other aid and will tell you if it does. Charter Oak does not publish a limit on holding more than one Foundation award, and the Foundation encourages students to apply for every award they qualify for.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Charter Oak Foundation scholarship application in myCharterOak (Student Self Serve, then Scholarship). The Foundation lists an April 1 to May 1 window, with awards announced by July 30 for the fall semester. A few individual award pages still say applications post in the Acorn Student Portal in the summer, so watch your Charter Oak email each spring. Students reapply each year.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Honors Mark Carr, former Fire Chief of New Britain, CT. $500 applied to tuition and fees. Not renewable. Separate from the Sgt. George Dingwall Scholarship.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Full- or part-time Public Safety Administration students with at least a 3.0 GPA, with preference for those six months or more into the program. The Foundation's main page also opens it to students working in public safety, while the award's own page lists the program only.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Technology Grant
📅 Deadline: May 1  ·  📢 Results: By July 30 (for fall)
Non-Renewable
$500
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Awards post to your student account for tuition, fees, books or other education costs and sit on top of federal aid such as Pell. The financial aid office may adjust other aid and will tell you if it does. Charter Oak does not publish a limit on holding more than one Foundation award, and the Foundation encourages students to apply for every award they qualify for.
📄
How to Apply
Apply through the Charter Oak Foundation scholarship application in myCharterOak (Student Self Serve, then Scholarship), typically open April 1 to May 1. The grant page also allows a financial need request by email to Foundation@charteroak.edu.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
A need-based grant, not a merit scholarship. Up to $500 toward a computer, printer, network hardware or internet service for online learning, paid as a PC Richards voucher or a reimbursement with receipt.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with demonstrated financial need who require technology (laptop, printer, router, internet) for online learning.
Data last verified Sep 28, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Help that isn’t a scholarship card
  • Student Crisis Fund: for an unexpected financial emergency that could stop a student from finishing. Email foundation@charteroak.edu with the need.
  • PiiT (Parents Intent on Improving Tomorrow): scholarships, grants and workshops for student parents. It’s funded year to year, so availability changes.
  • Women in Transition (WIT): support for low-income single mothers who have some college credit. The program is full right now, and students will be notified when it reopens.

❓ Hidden Gems FAQ

How much are Charter Oak’s Foundation scholarships worth?
Most average about $850 a year. The Blennerhassett Scholarship averages about $1,000, the Mark Carr award is $500, and the Technology Grant is up to $500. The biggest single award is the Community College Transfer Scholarship at $2,000 ($1,000 each in fall and spring).

Can a new student apply, or only current students?
Most Foundation awards are for current students. A few welcome incoming students too, including the Habits of the Mind, Rebeka Scalia Leadership, Shirley M. Adams New Beginnings, and Udal Family scholarships. The Community College Transfer Scholarship and the Tuition Match are built for students just coming in.

Are there scholarships for specific jobs or majors?
Yes. The Sgt. George Dingwall Scholarship is for people working in public safety, and the Mark Carr award is for Public Safety Administration students. The Hawes and Moker awards are for business students. The Naomi K. Cohen award is for Organizational Leadership and some General Studies concentrations.

Do you have to live in Connecticut?
For most awards, no. The Udal Family Scholarship requires Connecticut residency, and the Patricelli Scholarship is only for Hartford residents who are Pell eligible. The Dingwall award gives preference to Connecticut law enforcement officers.

Can my student win more than one?
Charter Oak doesn’t publish a limit, and the Foundation encourages students to apply for every award they qualify for. Winners reapply each year, since these awards don’t renew automatically.

What’s the Technology Grant?
It’s a need-based grant of up to $500 for a laptop, printer, router or internet service, which matters at a college where every class is online. It’s paid as a PC Richards voucher or a reimbursement with a receipt.

Sources:
https://www.charteroak.edu/foundation/scholarships-endowed-funds.php
https://www.charteroak.edu/foundation/technology-grant.php
https://www.charteroak.edu/foundation/mark-carr-scholarship-award.php
https://www.charteroak.edu/foundation/blennerhassett-endowed-scholarship.php
https://www.charteroak.edu/community-college/scholarship-info.php

Honors at Charter Oak State College

Charter Oak doesn’t have an honors college or honors program, and there are no honors-only scholarships. For a school where most students are working adults taking a class or two at a time, that’s not surprising. If your student has strong grades, the payoff here comes through a handful of Foundation awards that look at GPA.

This institution does not offer designated Honors College scholarships at this time.

Awards that reward strong grades:
  • Habits of the Mind Endowed Scholarship: 3.0 GPA, financial need, and open to incoming students.
  • Talent Accelerator Endowed Scholarship: 3.0 GPA, for bachelor’s students, with a career-goals essay.
  • Michael A. Marusa Scholarship: 3.0 GPA, for students pushing toward degree completion.
  • Rebeka Scalia Leadership Scholarship: 2.8 GPA plus a leadership essay, and open to incoming students.
Thinking past the bachelor’s?

Charter Oak graduates who stay for a master’s can apply for the Alumni Association Master’s Scholarship and the Foundation Master’s Degree Scholarship (3.0 GPA). Prospective students can apply to both the master’s program and the alumni scholarship at the same time.

Honors: FAQs (Charter Oak State College)

Does Charter Oak have an honors college?
No. There’s no honors college, honors program, or honors-only scholarship.

Do good grades help with money at Charter Oak?
Yes, a little. Several Foundation awards require a 2.8 or 3.0 GPA, and those tend to have smaller applicant pools than the need-only awards.

Is Charter Oak a good fit for a high-achieving teenager?
Usually as a finishing school rather than a four-year experience. A strong student with a lot of dual-enrollment or exam credit can use Charter Oak to finish a bachelor’s quickly and cheaply, but there’s no campus life or honors community.

Sources:
https://www.charteroak.edu/foundation/scholarships-endowed-funds.php
https://www.charteroak.edu/foundation/habits-of-the-mind-endowed-scholarship.php
https://www.charteroak.edu/foundation/michael-a-marusa-scholarship.php

⭐ College Specialty

Charter Oak was started by the state of Connecticut in 1973 for one job: helping adults finish a degree. That’s still what it does best. Everything is online, there are six start dates a year, and it’s regionally accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. The bachelor’s degree it hands out is the same as the one from any other accredited public college.

What Charter Oak Is Known For:
Credit for prior learning. Charter Oak will look at almost anything that might count as college-level learning: transfer credits, CLEP and other exams, professional licenses and certifications, employer and police or fire academy training, military training, and portfolios. For a student who already has a pile of credits from different places, this is often the fastest and cheapest path to a bachelor’s anywhere in the state.
  • Business Administration: The most popular bachelor’s degree, with related options in Finance, Marketing, Human Resources Management and Organizational Leadership.
  • Healthcare Administration and Health Information Management: Two of the biggest programs, aimed at people already working in hospitals and medical offices who want to move up.
  • Psychology: One of the top three majors by number of graduates.
  • Early Childhood Education and Child Studies: Popular with people already working in child care who need a bachelor’s for their next step.
  • Criminal Justice and Public Safety Administration: A natural fit for police, fire and corrections workers, and two Foundation scholarships are set aside just for public safety.
  • Nursing (RN to BSN): Accredited by CCNE, but only for nurses who already hold an RN license. It isn’t a path into nursing for a new student.
  • General Studies: Lets students build their own concentration. One option that surprises people is a Judaic Studies concentration, which graduates more students than several of the stand-alone majors.
  • Cyber Security, Data Analytics and Software Development: Smaller but growing tech programs, plus a newer AI Practitioner certificate.

✅ Wrapping It Up

Charter Oak doesn’t play the scholarship game the way most colleges do, and that’s the point. There’s no inflated sticker price to discount, no merit grid, and no out-of-state premium. It’s about $329 a credit for everyone, an online classroom, and a college that will count almost every credit your student has already earned.

Where it really shines is the finish line. A CT State graduate can move straight in and keep paying community college tuition. A student with a scattered transcript can get it all counted in one place. And a parent who never finished their own degree can do it from the kitchen table. The scholarships are small, so file the FAFSA every year, mark April 1 to May 1 on the calendar, and let low tuition and prior credit do the heavy lifting.

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Leo Dimilo
Written by Leo Dimilo
I started CollegeReadyParent while working through college costs for my own kid, and quickly figured out that the number a school advertises and the number a family actually pays are two very different things. Since then I’ve gone school by school pulling apart award letters, scholarship pages, and cost sheets to find what families are supposed to just know. This site is the version of that research I wish someone had handed me. More about Leo →

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