Outside Scholarships

As a service to students, Dakota County Technical College posts scholarship opportunities from organizations not affiliated with the college. We refer to these as "Outside Scholarships". Please keep in mind these scholarship opportunities have NOT been researched or vetted by the college. We are simply passing along information and the college in no way endorses the organizations offering these scholarships. 

We also want students to be aware of the following important tips when applying for scholarships from organizations outside the college:

• Create a new free email address solely for submitting scholarship applications.
  • Many of the scholarships are offered by companies that want to promote their goods, or services to you.  They do award the scholarships, so the opportunity is valid, but they are interested in getting your contact information for marketing activities. Having a separate email account will prevent your primary email box from filling up. 
• Never pay a fee to apply for a scholarship.
  • No legitimate scholarship program will ever charge a fee. If the organization wants you to pay a fee to apply, walk away.
• An essay may be required and you want to make certain this is a good piece of writing. 
  • Have a trusted person review your essay and provide feedback. The good news is that if you have a solid essay, you can use this as a core document and edit it to fit specific application requirement. 
• Numbers matter.
  • Scholarship opportunities are a numbers game. The more applications you submit, the greater chance you have of being awarded a scholarship. If you develop an organized packet of standard information, you will make the process relatively easy and be able to submit multiple applications. If it takes you 15 minutes to apply and you receive a $250 scholarship, you will have been paid $1000 per hour!

If you have questions about Outside Scholarships, please contact the Office of Financial Aid Help Desk at 651-423-8299, or finaid@dctc.edu.  We will do our best to answer your questions and provide financial aid information needed for the application.  We wish you the best of luck in your scholarship search.

Outside Scholarship Listings

• 3M Skilled Trade Scholarship Program | Deadline: Jan. 15, 2024
  • Current or future DCTC students: Apply now for the 3M Skilled Trade Scholarship Program! 3M is offering two scholarships for students going into the Skilled Trades. The application deadline is January 15, 2024. Additional information, including eligibility requirements, can be found in the Program Flyer.
• AES Engineers Scholarship | Deadline: Dec. 31
  • Our belief is that achieving a high grade point average should not be the only criteria for determining who deserves to be helped. For that reason we are offering a scholarship that will be awarded on the basis of character, as determined by an evaluation of the essays that are submitted.
  • Scholarships are intended for our future leaders across a wide spectrum of fields of study. This award is available to high school seniors and all students attending a post secondary educational facility.
  • You are not required to be taking Engineering courses to be eligible.
• American Indian College Fund Scholarships
  • The American Indian College Fund provides scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native college students who are enrolled in certificate, undergraduate, or graduate programs at tribal colleges or nonprofit, accredited schools. Award amounts vary but average between $2,000 to $3,000.
• Bill & Carolyn Ryan Foundation Scholarship for Military Veterans
  • Must be a military veteran, child or grandchild of an honorably discharged veteran, have or have had a high school or college GPA of 2.0 or greater, and currently reside in the state of Minnesota.
• Blaze Credit Union Scholarships | Deadline: March 31, 2024
  • Winners must be enrolled, accepted, or planning to attend a post-secondary accredited school during the 2024-2025 school year (2-year, 4-year, trade school, vocational school, graduate programs, etc.).
• CEAM Scholarship | Deadline: April 30
  • The City Engineers Association of Minnesota (CEAM) Scholarship Program for civil engineering technician students consists of one $2,250 scholarship awarded to eligible students attending a civil engineering technician program in Minnesota.
  • APPLICANT QUALIFICATION - Applicant must be a resident of the State of Minnesota and must be attending school full time for three quarters or two semesters during the academic school year. Status as having completed one-half of the curriculum leading to a civil engineering technician certificate at the time of scholarship award.
  • The application deadline is April 30 each year. Qualifying recipients will be awarded the scholarship in the Fall after the deadline date.
• Ethel Curry American Indian Leadership Scholarship Application
  • The Ethel Curry American Indian Leadership Scholarship (ECS) is an annual award administered by the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE). This scholarship is meant to aid American Indian students in their pursuit of higher education opportunities. Awards generally range from $1000 - $5000 per academic year, but may vary. The scholarship is open from March 1 to May 31 annually.
• Horatio Alger Association Career & Technical Education (CTE) Scholarships
  • The Horatio Alger Association offers multiple CTE scholarships are valued at up to $2,500. The maximum amount is based on program length. Scholars are required to fill out an online disbursement request each eligible semester. View their website for deadline dates and more info.
• J & J Trujillo Memorial Scholarship | Deadline: Feb. 20, 2024
  • If selected as a recipient, the student will receive a award up to $12,500. The award amount cannot exceed the total cost of tuition, fees, books and supplies. Awards are one-time only. Past recipients may not reapply.
  • Must be pursuing a trade degree or certificate (eligible programs include but are not limited to, HVAC, Electrical, Automotive).
• Lakeville Area Chamber Foundation Scholarships
  • Scholarships are available to Lakeville Area Schools (ISD194) graduating high school seniors to further strengthen their workforce and leadership skills.
• LeadMN Scholarships
  • LeadMN awards more than 80 scholarships totaling more than $225,000 each year.
• Minnesota Masonic Charities Scholarships | Deadline: Feb. 15
  • Minnesota Masonic Charities offers a varied portfolio of scholarships. Visit their website for more information regarding the criteria for 2024 recipients.
    • Signature ($6,000 Award; Six Awards Available)
    • Legacy ($4,000 Award; 11 Awards Available)
    • Heritage ($3,000 Award; 20 Awards Available)
    • Selfless Scholar ($5,000 Shared Award; 12 Awards Available)
    • Career and Technical ($2,500 Award; 40 Awards Available)
    • Undergraduate ($3,000 Award; 30 Awards Available)
• MN Alliance of Automotive Service Providers Scholarship | Apply Jan. 1 - March 31 each year
  • The Alliance awards $500 - $1,500 scholarships each fall to students enrolled in post-secondary auto service and collision repair programs.
• MSA/TBG/KA Scholarship Program | Deadline: April 5, 2024
  • The Minnesota Subcontractors Association (MSA), The Builders Group (TBG) and Kraus-Anderson Insurance (KA) will be awarding three $3,000 scholarships and a $5,000 Patrick Kennedy Scholarship to qualifying students enrolled in a Construction or Building Trades major.
  • Applicants must be currently enrolled in a construction or building trades major. Applicant must have maintained at lease a 2.5 GPA or equivalent. Applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 5, 2024.
  • Scholarship recipients will be notified by email in mid April and they will be recognized at our annual General Contractor Partnership Awards on Thursday, May 16 in Shakopee, MN.
• Nordson BUILDS Scholarship | Deadline: May 15
  • Last year, over 100 students nationwide were awarded Nordson BUILDS Scholarships which range from $4,000 to $10,000.  Plus, scholarship recipients get exclusive primary access to internship opportunities and employment opportunities after graduation.
  • Eligible majors include Engineering (Electrical, Mechanical, Industrial, and Software), Engineering Technology, Machining, Manufacturing Operations, Supply Chain Management, Business, Marketing, Accounting, Finance, Industrial Management, Information Technology, Biomedical, and Engineering-related STEM majors leading to a career in the manufacturing industry and corporate America.
  • Eligible students seeking Associate’s degree and certificate seeking students must have at least 2.7 cumulative GPA.
• PFund Scholarship | Deadline: June 1, 2024
  • PFund’s scholarship fund is used to provide scholarships to LGBTQ+ learners from the upper Midwest at all stages of their educations. In 2023, PFund Foundation distributed a record $132,000 to more than 50 queer students from across the upper Midwest.
• Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Scholarships
  • Phi Theta Kappa offers numerous scholarship opportunities. Visit the PTK website for deadlines and info.
• Scholarship America Scholarship Search
  • There are tons of scholarships out there, designed to help students like you get to—and stay in—college. Start exploring and start the application process with the click of a button.
• SFM Foundation Scholarship Program
  • Scholarships are available to qualifying students whose parents have been disabled or fatally injured while working for Minnesota or Iowa employers. Each scholarship recipient is eligible for up to $15,000 per year and can receive scholarships annually through graduation.
• STARBASE MN Scholarship | Deadline: Ongoing
  • STARBASE Minnesota, Inc. awards $1,000 scholarships to former participants of STARBASE Minnesota who attended STARBASE Minnesota during the school year, and who are actively enrolled in and pursuing post-secondary education or training.
• Stromberg Scholarship | Deadline: Dec. 31, 2024
  • One $1000 scholarship to help with the cost of books, tuition, or other educational expenses.
  • Must be 18 years old or older.
  • Must be a permanent legal U.S. resident physically residing in the fifty United States of America or a holder of a valid student visa.
  • Must be enrolled or planning to enroll in agricultural sciences and other related studies.
  • Must provide a 500-word essay on or before the deadline of December 31st, 2024.
• T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Minnesota Scholarship
  • Scholarship for students in the Early Childhood & Youth Development program.
• Wallin Education Partners Opportunity Pathway Scholarship
  • Opportunity Scholars receive up to $6,000 over two years to support them through college.