Presidents' Scholar Program

Please note: State law now requires that a person who is not a citizen or legal resident of the United States or who is without lawful immigration status is not entitled to classification as an in-state student pursuant to A.R.S. Section 15-1802 or entitled to classification as a county resident pursuant to A.R.S. Section 15-1802.01.

According to state law, a person who is not a citizen of the United States, who is without lawful immigration status, and who is enrolled at any community college under the jurisdiction of an Arizona community college district is not entitled to tuition waivers, grants, scholarship assistance, financial aid, tuition assistance or any other type of financial assistance that is subsidized or paid in whole or in part with state monies.

For those who qualify, the Presidents' scholarship pays full-time tuition (a dollar amount equal to 15 credit hours in-county) and registration fee (award amount varies with cost of tuition) for up to 4 consecutive fall and spring semesters of MCCD course work. Students must enroll as full-time students (minimum of 12 credit hours each semester, Pass/Fail credits excluded).

Presidents' Scholarship by Class Rank

New students who are recent (current year) graduates from an accredited high school within Maricopa County may apply for the Presidents' Scholarship. The scholarship pays full-time tuition (a dollar amount equal to 15 credit hours in-county) and registration fee (award amount varies with cost of tuition) for up to 4 consecutive fall and spring semesters of MCCD course work. To be eligible for this scholarship, students must verify that they rank in the top fifteen (15%) of their graduating class (Semesters 6, 7, or 8), and they must enroll as full-time students (minimum of 12 credit hours each semester, Pass/Fail credits excluded) in the academic year following high school graduation.

Presidents' Scholarship by Placement Test Scores

New students who are recent (current year) graduates from an accredited high school within Maricopa County with class rank below 15% or those students who graduate from non-accredited Maricopa programs such as charter or home schools or who have completed a GED program may apply. Proof of completion is required. To be eligible, students must take all 3 placement tests (ASSET, ALEKS, or ACCUPLACER) in math, reading and English.  The scholarship is awarded if the following criteria are met: scored into honors English, exempted from CRE101, AND placed in MAT 120 or higher. Contact Testing for exact scores needed.

To retain the Presidents' Scholarship, students must  

• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher, including all dual enrollment courses taken prior to high school graduation and a C or better in the honors course taken each semester;
  
• Enroll in and complete a minimum of 12 credit hours 100 level or higher (Pass/Fail credits excluded) each fall and spring semester;
  
• Enroll in and complete Honors Courses as required by the program each semester;
  
• Maintain continuous enrollment for four semesters (summer sessions excluded).