Receive Free Tuition with a Conklin Scholarship

If you graduate in the top 10% of your high school class, you may qualify for free tuition at DCC.

The Charles E. and Mabel E. Conklin Scholarship for Academic Excellence is awarded to Dutchess County high school graduates who rank in the top 10% of their graduating classes and choose to attend Dutchess Community College the fall after they finish high school.

Am I Eligible?

To qualify for the Conklin Scholarship, you must meet each of these criteria:

1. You are graduating in June from a New York State-approved high school located in Dutchess County or a high school designated by New York for Dutchess County residents, and you live in Dutchess County.
2. Your rank is in the top 10% percent of your graduating class, as calculated by your high school. Your high school must calculate your grade point average based on your grades through the 12th grade, mid-year point.
3. You place into college-level courses when taking placement tests administered by DCC.
4. You apply for federal and state financial aid using the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every academic year.
5. You attend Dutchess Community College as a full-time student in the four consecutive fall and spring semesters following your high school graduation.
6. You maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average for each semester of enrollment.

What Else Should I Know?

Your Conklin Scholarship will be used for tuition costs that are not covered by NYS and/or federal financial aid grants. If NYS and/or federal financial aid grants totally cover your tuition and fees, you will be awarded a minimum of $250/semester for education-related expenses such as books.

The Conklin Scholarship is limited to the four consecutive fall and spring semesters following high school graduation. Summer sessions are not eligible.

How Do I Apply?

Please submit your applications as soon as you know you want to attend DCC.

1. Complete both the Dutchess Community College application for admission and the Charles E. and Mabel E. Conklin Scholarship for Academic Excellence application.  [Note: The Conklin Scholarship application will open in spring 2025.]
2. Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), available online at https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa. The school code for Dutchess is 002864.
3. Take your Academic Placement Tests (if required) or show proof of successful completion or current enrollment in college-level English and math.
4. Ask your high school to submit to DCC two official transcripts that note your cumulative grade point average and your class rank. One transcript should be submitted when you apply to DCC, the other when you graduate from your high school.

The DCC Admissions Office will notify you of your eligibility to receive a Conklin Scholarship within one month of our receiving your completed applications. For more information, contact Michelle Diano in the Admissions Office at (845) 431-8015.