Cancer for College Scholarship Opening Soon

About This Scholarship

Cancer for College was founded in 1993 by two-time cancer survivor and double amputee Craig Pollard, who started the organization while still a student at USC. Three decades later, it awards more than 100 scholarships every year to students who have faced a cancer diagnosis of their own, funding both current patients and survivors as they work toward college and graduate degrees.

Most awards are $5,000, with select named scholarships such as the Lindner Family Scholarship reaching $10,000. Alongside national awards, the organization runs regional scholarships for students from or attending school in the Carolinas, Chicagoland, Florida, Southern California, and other areas, plus honors scholarships tied to specific majors like music.

Applicants must be U.S. residents who are cancer survivors or current patients enrolled in an accredited university or community college. Recipients may reapply each year they remain in school, including graduate school, so a single connection to the organization can support an entire degree. All applications run through the organization's central online portal.

Eligibility

• Cancer survivor or current cancer patient
• U.S. resident
• Enrolled in an accredited university or community college (graduate students may also apply)
• Some named and regional scholarships carry additional geographic or major-specific criteria

How To Apply

• Create an account on the Cancer for College application portal at cfc.smapply.io when the application opens November 1
• Complete the common application, including essays and documentation of your cancer history
• Submit by the January 31 deadline; one application is considered for all scholarships you qualify for

Apply Now →

Frequently Asked Questions