Questions and Answers
Applying for a SKILLED Nation scholarship should feel clear, safe, and straightforward. We know you may have questions about eligibility, so we’ve answered the ones we hear most often below. Whether you are just exploring your options or ready to apply, this FAQ will help you understand what to expect and how SKILLED Nation can support your journey.
For Applicants
SKILLED Nation is a nonprofit organization working to close the skilled trades gap by helping people train for high-demand careers. We provide scholarships that reduce education and training costs for students pursuing skilled trades.
We partner with companies and organizations that sponsor scholarships and help set the eligibility rules. SKILLED Nation builds and manages those scholarship programs.
To learn more about our partners, visit our Partner page. To see current scholarships, visit our Scholarship list. We add new opportunities regularly, so check back often.
Each scholarship may have its own eligibility requirements, such as location, field of study, career path, or degree type. All programs also have some general requirements:
· You must be a high school senior or older.
· You must be pursuing, or planning to pursue, training in a skilled trade at a post-secondary program such as a community college, trade school, or similar institution.
· You must be able to use the scholarship within 1 year of receiving the award.
· You should not be finishing your program before the scholarship cycle ends, such as within a few months of the deadline.
· You cannot be pursuing a graduate degree such as a master's degree or PhD. Some scholarships allow 4-year bachelor's degrees, but many do not. (Generally, if you are pursuing an associate's degree on the way to a longer 4-year program, you will be eligible if you are still fulfilling the requirements for your associate's degree.
You can find the specific eligibility requirements for each scholarship on that scholarship’s landing page. (You can access the scholarship landing page by going to our Apply page and clicking “Apply/Details” for a specific scholarship.) You can also find eligibility requirements on the specific scholarship tile in the Scholar Portal Home page when you create an account or log in.
No. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen. You only need to be enrolled at a U.S.-based school or training center that we can pay directly.
A small number of scholarships may also have a separate program for Canadian students.
There are two ways to get started: First, start on the Apply webpage, scroll down to see the Scholarships List, and click “Details/Apply” for the scholarship you want. (You can also click on the Interest List button for any currently closed scholarships to receive an email when that scholarship reopens.) Or, you can click on the APPLY NOW button at the top of the page to begin.
1. Enter your main email and password to log into your account. If you don’t have an account yet, click “Sign Up” and enter your contact information to create one. (If you have applied to a SkillPointe Foundation or SKILLED Nation scholarship in the past, but haven’t used this new application portal yet, your information is saved – but you’ll need to create a new password before logging in: click “Forgot your password?” to reset your password.)
2. When you log in, you’ll be on the Home page. From here, you can view and inspect the description and eligibility criteria for any open scholarships or click “Apply” to start a new scholarship.
3. Once you begin the application process, fill out your Profile and Universal Application. It can take as little as 10 minutes, but thoughtful answers can help your application stand out.
4. When you have finished, the portal will determine your eligibility for any open scholarships and automatically apply. If there are any additional scholarship-specific questions to answer, you’ll have to answer those first.
5. You’ll receive a confirmation email for any scholarship you apply for. Once you’ve applied, on the Home page in your account, you can also view the status of any past applications by navigating to the “Applications” screen at the top of the page. You can also update your contact information on the “My Profile” page (click your name in the upper right corner and select “My Profile.”)
You can apply once to each scholarship program you are eligible for, once per application cycle. (For example, if you applied for a scholarship program in 2025 and the same program opens for a new application cycle in 2026, you can apply again in 2026.)
When you submit your Profile and Universal Application, the portal will determine which scholarship programs you may be eligible for.
Use the same login and password for all scholarships. If you create a second login to apply for the same application cycle a second time, your second application(s) will be disqualified and the second account deleted.
Check out the Apply page on our website for new and reopened scholarship programs. You will also see any currently open scholarship programs on the Scholar Portal Home page when you create an account or log in.
If a scholarship is not open yet or the deadline has passed, click the Interest List button for that scholarship on our Apply page and enter your email address. We'll let you know when it reopens.
You can also complete our Universal Application in the Scholar Portal. We'll review your information, identify scholarship programs you may qualify for, and automatically submit your application to any open eligible programs.
When you complete your Profile and Universal Application, the portal will automatically determine which currently open scholarship programs you are eligible for based on your responses. If there are any additional questions to answer for that specific scholarship program, you’ll have to do so before applying; if not, you’ll automatically be applied for that scholarship.
However, you can look at the eligibility criteria before applying in two places:
1. The scholarship landing page: On our Apply webpage, scroll down to see a list of open scholarships. You can click “Apply/Details” to be taken to the scholarship landing page to see details about that scholarship program.
2. The Scholar Portal Home page: On the Apply webpage, click the APPLY NOW button near the top; this will take you to the Scholar Portal landing page. Once you log in and are on the Home page, you can inspect the scholarship tiles for each program: click the “Eligibility” section to expand the text and find a full description of the eligibility criteria.
Yes. Many scholarships are designed for students pursuing specific industries or career paths.
You can complete a Universal Application in the Scholar Portal and the system will automatically match you with any scholarships you are eligible for, based on the information you fill in.
You can also visit the Apply page to see a list of open scholarships; you can find specific eligibility criteria by clicking “Apply/Details” for a specific scholarship to visit the landing page.
You can also find eligibility requirements on the specific scholarship tile in the Scholar Portal Home page when you create an account or log in.
As of September 2026, we’ve upgraded our application portal to a new platform! Not only does it have a new look and easier way to track your application progress, but it means several other improvements:
- You can now apply to multiple scholarships at the same time with one “universal” application, all in the same Scholar Portal! No more going to different URLs for each scholarship and filling out the same information again to apply for a different scholarship.
- A streamlined and standardized application flow: you can fill out one universal application, get matched with all open scholarships you are eligible for, and only need to answer any additional questions specific to those scholarships to apply.
- Apply to new scholarships with your existing application: let’s say you’ve already applied for a few scholarships, but you notice new programs have opened since then. You can use your existing universal application to apply to these new scholarships (if eligible) through our Scholar Portal in less than a minute!
- Scholarship eligibility is automatically determined: just fill out the Profile and Universal Application, and the portal will show you all scholarships that you’re eligible for based on your responses. No more wasting time filling out applications to programs you aren’t eligible for!
We’re excited about what these changes mean for you. We know most of our applicants lead busy lives, so we’ve made the process of applying to multiple scholarships faster and easier, and connecting you to scholarship programs you may not know you were eligible for will increase your chances of receiving one.
We’ve brought over all the applications, award information, and progress reports from the old system as of October 1, 2026. If you want to access your information or see the status of old applications, simply login using your main email address – though you’ll have to reset your password if you haven’t used our new portal yet.
To do so, simply go to the Scholar Portal login page and click “Forgot your password?” Follow the prompts to confirm your email, reset your password, and then log in! When you log in the first time, you’ll be prompted to confirm any of your Profile or Application responses – this is your chance to update the information if you want.
NOTE: In our old system, applicants had to fill out a separate application for each scholarship program. This included many common questions that we ask for all scholarships. However, in our new portal system, applicants only need to answer these common questions once. That means we had to combine multiple applications from the same person into one “universal” application. We did so by prioritizing awarded and more recent applications and then filling in any missing questions with other application responses. You’ll have a chance to confirm your responses or change them before submitting any new applications in the new Scholar Portal.
You can update your contact information at any time by logging into your account , clicking on your name in the upper right corner of the Home screen, and selecting “My Profile.” We will use the contact information listed here to notify you of scholarship updates, award decisions, and new opportunities, so you should make sure this is kept up to date.
If you want to update other information on your Profile or Universal Application after it has been submitted, please reach out to us by emailing scholarships@skilled-nation.org. We’re happy to update it for you if you made a mistake or something important has changed.
If you want to change your application questions for a new scholarship opportunity, we can open your application for editing again – but only if you have no scholarship applications currently under review.
If you’ve already submitted a Universal Application but new scholarships have opened since then, you can submit your application to those programs until they close.
Log into the Scholar Portal. On the Home page, scroll down to view the scholarship program tiles. Simply click the Apply button on the tile for the scholarship you want to apply. If there are any additional questions to answer for that scholarship, you’ll be asked to do so before submitting.
Sure! It will show up on the Scholar Portal home page as a new scholarship program. Just follow the instructions in the previous question when you log in and see a new opportunity open.
Most scholarship programs have a set opening date and deadline. Applications are reviewed as a group after the deadline, and applicants are usually notified within 4-6 weeks.
Rolling scholarships work differently. You can apply at any time, and applications are reviewed as they come in until all funds have been awarded. Not every applicant will receive an award, and some recipients may be notified before the program ends.
Rolling scholarship programs will say, “Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, with awards made until all available scholarship funds have been disbursed.” If a scholarship program is awarded on a rolling basis, you will find this in the Description portion of the scholarship tile in the Scholar Portal or on the scholarship’s landing page. (You can access the scholarship landing page by going to our Apply page and clicking “Apply/Details” for a specific scholarship.)
SKILLED Nation scholarships are meant to reduce financial barriers that can make it harder to complete a skilled trades program. Eligible expenses generally fall into two categories:
· Education-related expenses, such as tuition, school fees, computer equipment, required books, tools for coursework or field experience, and other necessary supplies.
· Access-related expenses, such as transportation, healthcare, housing, childcare, and groceries.
Scholarship funds are paid directly to your school or training program. If you are selected, you will need to provide your school information and proof of enrollment, usually a student ID. See the Process/How It Works section below.
Funds are applied first to charges that can be paid through your school account, such as tuition, fees, and school-purchased items.
If funds remain after those charges are paid, or if you have an approved need that cannot be charged through your school account, your school or training center may disburse funds directly to you. See the Schools and Institutions FAQ for more details.
No. Scholarship payments must be sent to your school or training center first. Depending on your school's policies, some funds may later be disbursed to you for approved expenses with proof of need. See the Schools and Institutions FAQ for more information.
Possibly. A school or training center may disburse funds directly to you if:
- You have eligible expenses that cannot be paid through your school account, or
- You still have a remaining scholarship balance when you complete or withdraw from your program.
The direct disbursement process depends on your school. Some schools may require receipts or reimbursements, while others may release funds directly upon request.
Please note that some allowable uses of scholarship funds may count as taxable income under IRS rules, especially when funds are disbursed directly to you. Please check with your school, training center, or tax advisor before requesting a direct disbursement. For more information, see:
Because we must pay your school or training center directly, the school or training center must be able and willing to (1) receive the scholarship funds on your behalf, and (2) manage and/or disburse those funds with respect to your training costs.
This includes most educational institutions in the country. However, there are some exceptions:
· Most public high schools without tuition costs or educational fees don’t have any kind of process or financial system set up to receive, manage, or apply scholarship funds, and cannot receive or disburse scholarships. For this reason, only students currently enrolled or planning to enroll in a post-secondary program (i.e., education past the high-school level) are eligible to receive a scholarship.
· Some public/government-run adult education programs are cost-free to students. These types of programs are also sometimes unable to accept scholarships.
· Some apprenticeship programs only require on-the-job training to complete, with no additional classroom training or coursework. If these are cost-free to the student, some of these apprenticeships might not be able to receive or disburse scholarships.
If your school or training center cannot receive a scholarship on your behalf, then we can’t give you an award. If you are unsure, please check with your school or training center (or apprenticeship/union administrator) before applying.
For most deadline-based scholarships, applicants are notified about 4-6 weeks after the deadline.
For rolling programs, applications are reviewed as they are received, usually every few weeks. In some cases, an application may stay under review a little longer.
If you are awarded, we will contact you using the email address and phone number listed in your Profile.
You must accept the award within the stated time frame, usually within 2 weeks. If you do not, the offer may expire and be given to another applicant.
If you are not awarded, we will notify you by email.
It means your application is still being considered and you may still receive an award if more funding becomes available.
If additional funding does not become available, we will let you know that you were not awarded. For deadline-based scholarships, this usually happens within a few weeks. It may take longer for rolling programs.
If you are awarded, you must accept the award and provide your enrollment and school information within the required time frame, usually within 2 weeks. If you cannot do that in time, contact us before the deadline. Otherwise, your award will usually expire and be offered to another applicant.
Once you accept the award, if you are already enrolled, we usually pay your school within 1-2 weeks. Your school may need additional time to process the payment and apply it to your account.
If you are not yet enrolled, we will hold the payment until you contact us and provide proof of enrollment, such as a student ID number.
We usually send payment about 1-2 weeks after we receive your proof of enrollment or student ID number. If you are already enrolled, this usually happens soon after you accept the award. We will notify you when payment has been sent.
After that, please check with your school or training center for updates. Schools sometimes need extra time to apply funds to your student account.
Our team reviews both the strength of the application and the priorities of the scholarship partner or program.
A strong application may still not be the right fit for a particular scholarship. Some programs are also more competitive than others and receive more applications.
That is why we encourage applicants to apply to other SKILLED Nation scholarships they may qualify for. Not receiving one scholarship does not mean you won't receive a different one!
Usually, no. Except in very limited circumstances, applicants are not awarded more than one scholarship.
Yes. We may ask you to complete brief Progress Reports so we can confirm you received the funds and learn how you are doing in your training and career. These reports usually take about 5 minutes to complete.
We usually request the first update about 6-8 weeks after payment is sent to your school, and then about every 6-8 months after that while you are still enrolled. We will contact you by email.
We may also invite you to share your story or a testimonial. This is optional, but it helps others learn about our scholarship opportunities.
After you complete your education or training, we will send you a request to update us on your career progress about once a year. This is optional, though we usually provide gift cards to respondents.
We may share some of your information with the partner sponsoring the scholarship you applied for. This may be used for outreach, marketing if you are awarded, recruiting, or job opportunities.
We also use demographic information to measure the success of our programs.
If we want to use your information for marketing or to share your story more broadly, we will contact you first.
We may also use information from one application to contact you about another scholarship we think may be a good fit. You can opt out of different types of communication at various points in the process.
We will never sell your personal data to other third parties or use your information for purposes other than those listed here.
- Put real thought into the free-response questions, especially the essays. This is your chance to explain who you are, what motivates you, and why you care about your chosen path.
- Answer each question fully and use specific details. Specific examples help us understand you better than general statements do.
- At the same time, try not to make your responses too long. Very long answers can be harder to read and may bury your strongest points. Essay responses of about 150-300 words are usually a good length.
- Photos and videos are optional, but they can also help your application stand out.
- Finally, be sure to review your Profile and application before submitting to make sure all your information is accurate. Contradictory or inaccurate information might result in your application being disqualified.
We do look for signs that a response was written entirely by an AI chatbot, such as repetitive sentence patterns or answers that sound generic and lack personal detail. Those kinds of responses are usually not as strong.
It is fine to use AI tools to help polish or organize your writing. We recommend writing your own response first, in your own voice, and then using AI to improve clarity or structure. That helps keep your application personal and authentic.
Photos do not need to be professional, but they should be appropriate for a scholarship application.
· Include a photo of yourself, either by yourself or doing something related to your chosen skilled trade.
· Make sure your face is visible.
· A solo photo is usually better than a group photo.
· Please label the file with your first and last name before uploading, for example: "John Smith.jpg".
Videos are also optional, but they can show more of your personality and help us get to know you better.
· Keep your video about 1-3 minutes long.
· We do want to see you in the video.
· You can be creative, but simple is also fine.
· Please label the file with your first and last name before uploading, for example: "John Smith.mp4".
Please upload standard photo formats such as jpg/jpeg, png, or heic, and standard video formats such as mov, mp4, hevc, webm, or wmv.
Do not upload photos or videos as links inside a document or PDF, inside zipped folders, attached to unrelated files, or as screenshots of an image on your phone or computer.
If we cannot easily open or view your files, we cannot consider them as part of your application.
For Schools, Training Centers, and Educational Institutions
We often reach out to schools and training centers with skilled trades-focused programs to promote new and recurring scholarship programs, especially those with specific career or field-of-study focuses and priority locations. We ask that schools and training centers share these scholarship opportunities with their enrolled students.
When a currently enrolled student is awarded a scholarship, we may also contact the school or training center to confirm payment details and coordinate the application of funds to the student.
Absolutely. We are invested in building stronger relationships with educational institutions across the country. If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to tasha.rose@skilled-nation.org.
No. Schools are not expected to support co-branded promotion of scholarship opportunities, but they are encouraged to do so.
Schools may promote scholarship opportunities through student outreach, communications, and internal channels.
Each scholarship may have its own eligibility requirements, such as location, field of study, career path, or degree type. All programs also have some general requirements:
· Students must be 17 years of age or older and planning to enroll or currently enrolled in a post-secondary skilled trades program.
· Students should be pursuing training in an eligible skilled trade.
· Students should be pursuing an associate’s degree, a trades-related vocational certificate, or an apprenticeship. Some other non-degree training programs may also be eligible, such as adult education or reskilling programs. Some scholarships allow students pursuing 4-year bachelor’s degrees in certain careers, such as construction management or advanced manufacturing, but many do not.
· Students who will finish their program before the scholarship cycle ends, or within 2–3 months of the application deadline, should not expect to be awarded.
Not necessarily. Many of our partners sponsor scholarships oriented toward specific locations or career paths. Specific eligibility requirements for each scholarship can be found on that scholarship’s application portal login page.
We have many different scholarship programs available at any given time, and we are always developing new partnerships to create more scholarship opportunities. Many of these scholarships are only open for new applications during certain months of the year, and those application cycles vary by scholarship. Others may be open year-round or until funding is exhausted.
A list of currently available scholarships can be found on our Apply webpage. Potential applicants should check back frequently for updates.
Students can also complete our application in the Scholar Portal. The portal will automatically identify currently open scholarship programs they may qualify for and apply them to those programs when applicable.
Students can generally apply once to each scholarship program. However, students can apply to as many different scholarship programs as they are eligible for, and they are encouraged to do so. A strong application may still not be the right fit for a particular scholarship program’s priorities, and some programs are more competitive than others. If a student does not receive one particular scholarship, that does not mean they will not receive a different one.
Yes. Schools are encouraged to promote and support qualified applicants. If you have a student enrolled in your program who is exceptionally well-qualified and/or has significant financial need, and has applied or is planning to apply to a SKILLED Nation scholarship, please reach out to scholarships@skilled-nation.org with the student’s name, contact information, and a brief explanation of why you think they should be awarded.
Please note that this does not guarantee a student will be awarded, but it will be taken into consideration.
Our scholarship applications are designed to be straightforward and fairly simple to complete and generally do not require or request letters of recommendation.
Awards depend on available funding, application quality, and scholarship partner priorities. We generally do not take an applicant’s school or training center into account when evaluating awards, except in special circumstances.
Students apply directly through our SKILLED Nation Scholar Portal. Students will need create a login and complete their Profile and Application questions. After doing so, the Scholar Portal will match them with any open scholarship programs they may be eligible for and automatically apply for those programs.
Application deadlines vary by scholarship program throughout the year. Students who are interested in a specific scholarship that is not open for new applications should check back later in the year or join the Interest List for that scholarship program.
A few of our scholarships are rolling programs, meaning applications are evaluated and awarded as they come in. These programs continue until funding for that cycle is exhausted. Students are encouraged to apply to these programs as early as possible to increase the chances that funding will still be available.
SKILLED Nation manages the application and selection process based on partner-designated criteria. Our experienced team makes scholarship decisions based on both the strength of the application and the priorities of the scholarship partner or program.
A strong application may still not be the right fit for a particular scholarship. Some programs are also more competitive than others and receive more applications.
That is why we encourage applicants to apply to other SKILLED Nation scholarships they may qualify for. Not receiving one scholarship does not mean they will not receive a different one.
The primary role of a school or training center is to share scholarship opportunities. There is no expectation beyond that.
School counselors, staff, and faculty are encouraged to provide students with general guidance and advice on submitting strong applications. However, staff or faculty should not complete applications on behalf of students.
Evidence that this has occurred will result in the applicant being disqualified from all available scholarship programs.
Students generally have 2 weeks to accept their award once it has been offered. If the student does not accept within that time frame, the scholarship may be given to another qualified applicant.
Scholarship funds are paid directly to the recipient’s school or training center on behalf of awarded students. The school or training center should apply those funds only to the student’s educational account and related expenses.
Once a student has accepted their award and provided enrollment details, we will send a check to the school’s or training center’s relevant financial aid or bursar office. The check will include the student’s name and student ID number in the memo line. If the school has not received a scholarship check on behalf of a student in the past, we may reach out to confirm the best payment information. If a school has provided ACH direct transfer information, we will use that preferred option.
The school or training center will also be notified by email that a scholarship payment is on the way, including the recipient’s name, student ID, and contact information.
Funds are typically sent within 1–2 weeks of receiving complete student information, though processing times may vary. If payment is made by physical check, it may take an additional 1–2 weeks to arrive.
Once a school or training center has received scholarship payment, those funds should be applied to the student’s account as soon as reasonably possible.
SKILLED Nation scholarships are intended to reduce financial barriers that can make it harder to complete a skilled trades program. Eligible expenses generally fall into two categories:
· Education-related expenses, such as tuition, school fees, computer equipment, required books, tools for coursework or field experience, and other necessary supplies.
· Access-related expenses, such as transportation, healthcare, housing, childcare, and groceries.
For more information, see our Funds Use & Application Policy FAQ.
SKILLED Nation has paid out hundreds of scholarships to the following types of institutions:
· Universities
· Community colleges
· Technical and vocational schools
· Training and adult education/reskilling centers
· Local union chapters and apprenticeship programs
Scholarship payments must be sent to an enrolled student’s institution and cannot be sent directly to a recipient by SKILLED Nation. If your school or educational institution cannot apply, manage, or disburse scholarship funds, you will be asked to return the check to SKILLED Nation.
Each scholarship may have its own criteria regarding acceptable degree programs, so please refer to each scholarship’s eligibility requirements before referring students to apply.
Scholarship funds may be used for a variety of purposes. We generally ask that funds first be applied to any current tuition charges or institutional fees active on the recipient’s account. If all active charges for the current semester have been paid, these funds can roll over to future semesters or academic periods.
Funds can also be applied to educational supplies, tools, books, or other items that can be purchased through a student’s school account.
Funds can be released directly to the student upon request if the student has urgent allowable expenses that are not purchasable through the school account, or if all other charges, fees, and necessary purchases have been satisfied. SKILLED Nation leaves management of this process, including any receipt or reimbursement requirements, to the discretion of the school or training center. However, we generally encourage schools and training centers to be flexible in evaluating what counts as “urgent,” particularly when it comes to access-related expenses.
For more information, see our Funds Use & Application Policy FAQ.
Remaining scholarship funds should be disbursed directly to the student upon graduation or upon full withdrawal from a program. Funds can also be released to the student if they transfer to a different educational institution.
If a student temporarily withdraws from a program with the intention of returning later, remaining scholarship funds should be kept in the student’s account as long as that account remains open (that is, at the discretion of the school).
If a student cannot receive the remaining scholarship funds for any reason, they should be returned to SKILLED Nation.
For more information on specific circumstances, see our Funds Use & Application Policy FAQ.
Yes. Unused funds can roll over to cover the cost of training. If a student completes their training, any remaining funds can be disbursed to the student after all expenses have been paid.
A school or training center must use paid scholarship funds for the specific recipient’s costs and needs and should not reallocate scholarship funds to other students or administrative costs. If scholarship funds remain and cannot be disbursed to the student, they should be returned to SKILLED Nation.
SKILLED Nation defers to school policy regarding fund use and disbursement, as long as it falls within acceptable fund use policy. See more here: Funds Use & Application Policy FAQ.
Schools may be asked to provide enrollment confirmation upon request. Otherwise, recipients will be expected to provide any additional information.
No. We leave it to the discretion of the school or training center to manage the application of scholarship funds once they have been paid, within the guidelines above and the Funds Use & Application Policy. We do not require any follow-up reporting on how the funds were used.
Students will be asked to periodically complete short progress reports after they have been awarded. These reports help measure scholarship impact, ensure program effectiveness, and provide data to support continued partner support.
Use of Funds
Scholarship awards must be paid directly to the school, training center, or educational institution in which the recipient is enrolled. The student must be actively enrolled before payment can be issued. Payment will be issued in the form of a mailed check or ACH payment if the institution has provided that information to SKILLED Nation.
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The student and their educational institution should work together to determine how the scholarship funds will be applied to support the student’s successful completion of the program. While these guidelines lay out SKILLED Nation policies and preferences, institutions should follow their own internal procedures for account management, documentation, and student disbursements.
· Funds should first be applied to current or prior/outstanding tuition charges and institutional fees on the recipient’s account.
· If scholarship funds remain after current and outstanding tuition and fees have been covered, the remaining balance may be held for future terms at the recipient’s discretion. These funds may be held until the student withdraws, graduates, or uses all scholarship funds.
· If the institution allows students to purchase or charge educational supplies, tools, computer equipment, or other allowable expenses through the school account, scholarship funds may also be used for those expenses.
· Funds can be released directly to the student if justified (see below).
The institution may release remaining scholarship funds directly to the student in the following circumstances:
· The student has allowable expenses (see below) that cannot be purchased or charged through the school account, and the student requests some or all remaining funds for these purposes.
· The student has a remaining scholarship balance after completing or fully withdrawing from the program.
Not necessarily. SKILLED Nation leaves the method of direct disbursement to the institution's discretion. Some schools may require receipts or reimburse the student for eligible expenses, while others may release funds directly at the student's request under their own policies.
No. SKILLED Nation does not require any documentation or proof from schools regarding how scholarship funds were spent or disbursed. Requiring documentation of usage for directly disbursed funds is up to the discretion of the educational institution.
If a student temporarily withdraws with the intention of returning later, any remaining scholarship funds should generally remain with the student's account for as long as that account stays open, consistent with the institution's policies.
If the student does not return and their account is closed, remaining funds should either be disbursed to the student or, if they cannot be reached, returned to SKILLED Nation.
If the student withdraws or transfers to another educational institution before completion and a balance remains, the institution may release the remaining funds directly to the student – or, in the case of a transfer, send remaining funds to the student’s new educational institution at the student’s request.
If the student does not wish to receive the remaining funds, or the institution cannot reach the student within a reasonable period, the remaining balance should be returned to SKILLED Nation. If this occurs, please contact scholarships@skilled-nation.org to coordinate the return of funds.
If the student graduates or withdraws before the funds arrive and is no longer enrolled when payment is received, the full amount should be returned to SKILLED Nation. If this occurs, please contact scholarships@skilled-nation.org to coordinate the return of funds.
Possibly. Some expenses that are allowable under SKILLED Nation policy may still be treated as taxable income under Internal Revenue Service rules, especially when funds are disbursed directly to the student. Students should consult their institution or a tax advisor for guidance.
For more information, see IRS guidance on scholarships, fellowship grants, and other grants, as well as qualified education expenses:
SKILLED Nation scholarships are intended to remove financial barriers that could prevent a student from completing a skilled trades degree or training program. Because those barriers can take many forms, allowable expenses are intentionally broad and fall into two categories:
Education-related expenses: expenses directly tied to the student’s education, including but not limited to tuition, institutional or educational fees, computer equipment, required course books or similar educational materials, tools needed for coursework or required field experience, and other necessary supplies.
Access-related expenses: expenses that support the student’s ability to participate in training, including but not limited to transportation, health care, housing, childcare, and groceries.
Ultimately, we believe that students are best situated to understand the financial obstacles that may keep them from successfully completing their training. As a result, we encourage educational institutions to be reasonably permissive in honoring student requests regarding the application and/or disbursal of the scholarship funds.