Cancer for College Scholarship: Odds & Deadline

Cancer for College has funded more than 2,000 scholarships for cancer survivors since 1993 and awards over 100 a year, most of them $5,000, with a few specialty awards that pay more. Applicants must have been diagnosed with cancer themselves; children of survivors do not qualify. Family adjusted gross income must be $150,000 or less. Graduating high school seniors and current college students can apply to attend an accredited US college, university, trade school or certificate program full time, and there is no age limit or citizenship requirement, as long as the school is in the US. One application considers each student for every scholarship they qualify for, including regional awards for the Carolinas, the Midwest, Florida, Southern California and the Pacific Northwest. Families submit the first two pages of the most recent tax return, transcripts from the last two years and a letter from a doctor or nurse confirming the diagnosis; a recommendation is optional. The application opens November 1 and closes January 31, and recipients may reapply each year.

Other deadlines near this one

How hard is the Cancer for College Scholarship to win?

A large applicant pool chases this award. Apply if the student is a genuinely strong fit, but build the plan around better-odds awards first.

Estimated odds: roughly 1 in 184 applicants
Modelled applicant field: ~18,000 students
Awards each cycle: 100
Payoff per hour of work: $15 / hr

What drives the odds here

Odds on a scholarship are mostly a question of how many students can enter. Each rule below changes the size of that field.

More rivalsOpen nationwide, so the field is large
Fewer rivalsAn official transcript is required
Fewer rivalsAn income ceiling applies
More rivalsA five-figure award attracts a bigger field

How Solyo estimates this: We model the applicant field from how narrow the eligibility rules are, then divide the awards available by that field. Requirements such as essays and recommendation letters improve a serious applicant’s odds, because most browsers never complete them. These are estimates derived from each award's published structure, not reported acceptance rates, which almost no scholarship provider discloses. Treat them as a way to rank where the hours go, not as a guarantee.

Who can apply for the Cancer for College Scholarship?

These are the eligibility rules Solyo verified against the official award page, translated into plain English. Your student must meet each one.

Open to high school seniors and current college students
Household income of $180,000 or less

Confirm these before applying

Applicant must personally have been diagnosed with cancer (confirmed by a letter from a doctor or nurse)
Family adjusted gross income for the most recent tax year must be $150,000 or less

Good to know

School or program must be accredited and physically located in the US; non-citizens may apply
Award may be reduced if tuition and books cost less than $5,000 a year

What the application takes

Transcript required. Request it from the school registrar ahead of the deadline.

Deadline and application cycle

The current deadline is January 31, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around January 31 each year. Applications open November 1. Request the diagnosis letter from the oncologist or primary doctor early; it must be on medical letterhead.

Application opens: November 1, 2026
Application closes: January 31, 2027
Recipients announced: By July 1, 2027

Remind me before Jan 31 Apply on the official site

Free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge a fee. We use your student's information only to build their plan.

Common questions about the Cancer for College Scholarship

How much is the Cancer for College Scholarship worth?

The Cancer for College Scholarship awards $5,000 (most awards); some specialty awards higher and is renewable in later years. 100 awards are made each cycle.

When is the Cancer for College Scholarship deadline?

The current deadline is January 31, 2027. This award runs on an annual cycle, with deadlines around January 31 each year. Applications open November 1. Request the diagnosis letter from the oncologist or primary doctor early; it must be on medical letterhead.

When do Cancer for College Scholarship applications open?

Applications open November 1, and close January 31, 2027. Request the diagnosis letter from the oncologist or primary doctor early; it must be on medical letterhead.

Who is eligible for the Cancer for College Scholarship?

Key requirements: Open to high school seniors and current college students; Household income of $180,000 or less.

Does the Cancer for College Scholarship require an essay?

No essay is required. The application does ask for a transcript. Expect to spend about 4 hours on it.

How hard is it to win the Cancer for College Scholarship?

Solyo estimates the odds at roughly 1 in 184 applicants, against a modelled field of ~18,000 students. The pool stays that size because an official transcript is required and an income ceiling applies. At 4 hrs of work, that is about $15 of expected value per hour. This is an estimate from award structure, not a published acceptance rate.

Is the Cancer for College Scholarship free to apply?

Yes. The Cancer for College Scholarship is free to apply. Legitimate scholarships never charge an application fee, and Solyo verifies every listed award against its official page.

Cancer for College Scholarship