Scholarships
Early College for ME provides scholarships of up to
$2,000 to a Maine community college—nearly half
the cost of tuition. Scholarship recipients receive
$500 for each semester of college. The scholarship can
be applied to a certificate, diploma, or associate degree
program and be used for tuition, fees, books, program-required
equipment (with approval), and on-campus housing. Students
enrolled in one-year programs may receive up to $1,000
in scholarships. Those enrolled in two-year programs
may receive up to $2,000. Students must meet program
requirements to qualify for the scholarships.
Early College Courses
Early College for ME offers college courses
to students during the senior year
of high school. If available, and
if your high school approves,
you may be able to take one or two community college
courses during your senior year. ECforME
pays for tuition, fees,
and books.
Your guidance counselor and our staff can help you decide
whether a course is right for you.
Support and Advising
Our ECforME staff come to your school and
work with you during your junior and senior year of
high school. If you receive a
scholarship, support continues in college for as
long as you meet scholarship requirements.
During high school, we will help assess your academic
“readiness” for college; advise you on courses
you should take to meet the entrance requirements of
the college program you wish to enter; help you select
an early college course, if available; and help you with the college
application and financial aid process—including
help with the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student
Aid). Once in college, you will have a “go-to”
person if you have questions or encounter challenges
along the way.
View this video to learn more about EC for ME
Why Community College?
Community colleges are a comfortable—and
affordable—way to pursue higher education. Maine’s
community colleges offer small classes;
our staff and faculty are easy to talk to and focus
on helping students get the support they need to succeed.
Students can choose a one-year certificate,
a one- or two-year diploma, or a two-year associate
degree program and quickly surpass the skills of those with
just a high school education. Community college can
lead directly into a four-year degree program, a career in
Maine, or both. To find out more about Maine’s
community colleges, explore our website at: www.mccs.me.edu.
