Octavius Catto Scholarship
Free College and the Support You Need to Succeed
Combining last-dollar funding with special wrap-around support services, the scholarship will address obstacles like tuition and fees as well as burdens that hit many Philadelphians—especially those living in poverty—particularly hard, including costs associated with food, transportation and books.
Eligible full-time students will receive last-dollar funding, enhanced coaching and advising, and support for food, transportation and books.
Catto Scholars will receive tuition support as well as many academic resources and services, such as:
- Support toward the cost of books, food and transportation
- Career coaches and advisors to help them stay on track
- Connection to existing resources like affordable housing, child care and other services
Who is eligible for the Catto Scholarship?
To become a Catto Scholar, you must be one of the following:
- A new, first-time college student
- A transfer student who has earned a total of 30 credits or less at another college/university
- A former CCP student with a 2.0 GPA, in good academic standing, who is returning to the College to continue your studies after not taking classes for at least one year
To fully qualify, Catto scholars must:
- Have a high school diploma, Commonwealth Diploma or GED
- Attend Community College of Philadelphia full time (12+ credits per term)
- Be a Philadelphia resident for at least 12 months
- Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) each year* and document a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $8,000 or less
- Enter college ready or one level below college ready in both English and Math
* Accommodations will be made for undocumented students. Complete the Student Aid Estimator, send a screenshot of the results page to cattoscholarship@ccp.edu for review, and please include your Student ID number ( J#) in the message.
If you have further questions, please contact us at cattoscholarship@ccp.edu.
How to Apply
The Catto Scholarship Office team will connect with qualifying students applying for admission to CCP after they have completed the admissions process, met the Math and English placement criteria, enrolled in classes full time, and satisfied all their financial aid requirements. There is no separate application required for the Catto Scholarship!
FAQs
What does the Catto Scholarship include?
Eligible students receive:
- Funding to cover the remainder of their tuition and fees after and federal grants are first applied to their bill
- Up to $1,600 each semester to meet needs for food, transportation and books
- Support from a team of academic advisors, success coaches, navigators and other staff who are dedicated to making sure that students meet their goals and stay on track
- Connection to city services such as benefits access, quality childcare and housing supports
Who can become a Catto Scholar?
To become a Catto Scholar, you must be one of the following:
- A new, first-time college student
- A transfer student who has earned a total of 30 credtis or less at another college/university
- A former CCP student with a 2.0 GPA, in good academic standing, who is returning to the College to continue studies after not taking classes for at least one year
What makes a resident eligible for the Catto Scholarship?
To be eligible for the Scholarship, a resident must:
- Have a high school diploma, Commonwealth Diploma or GED
- Attend Community College of Philadelphia full time (12+ credits per term)
- Be a Philadelphia resident for at least 12 months
- Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) each year and document a Student Aid Index (SAI) of $8,000 or less. Accommodations are made for undocumented students that are unable to complete the FAFSA.
- Enter college-ready or one level below college-ready in both English and Math
When and how can I apply for the Catto Scholarship?
There is no application for the Catto Scholarship! Prospective Scholars just need to apply to the Community College of Philadelphia, complete their FAFSA using code 003249, and meet all Catto Scholarship eligibility requirements. Once you apply to the College, complete the FAFSA, and meet our eligibility requirements, our team will reach out to you about joining! If you believe you meet all requirements and have not yet heard from us, you can email the Catto Scholarship at cattoscholarship@cc.edu.
Are current and part-time CCP students eligible to be Catto Scholars?
Unfortunately, current CCP students are not eligible to join the Catto Scholarship. To become a Catto Scholar, you must enter as a new student, transfer student, or a former student. Additionally, Catto Scholars are required to be full-time students enrolled in 12+ credits every Fall and Spring semester. Therefore, anyone enrolled in less than 12+ credits would not qualify. The Catto Scholarship is only one of CCP’s many scholarship opportunities. We encourage current and part-time students to complete the College’s scholarship application which is located on the MyCCP-Student page.
What must students do to maintain the Catto Scholarship from year-to-year?
To maintain eligibility from year to year, Catto Scholars must remain enrolled at CCP full-time (at least 12 credits per semester) and maintain a 2.0 minimum GPA. Scholars must also complete the FAFSA (or suitable substitute for undocumented students) annually, continue to meet annual credit attainment milestones (20+ credits by the end of year one; 42+ credits by the end of year two), and maintain Philadelphia residency.
How many Philadelphians receive the Catto Scholarship?
In the 2023-2024 academic year, approximately 1,700 residents benefited from the Catto Scholarship.
Why is it important for the City to invest in this type of scholarship?
Mayor Cherelle Parker wants to make the City of Philadelphia the “safest, cleanest, greenest” big city in the United States with “economic opportunity for all.” For many Americans, the path to upward economic mobility still runs through college campuses. By addressing the barriers to a postsecondary degree, the Catto Scholarship helps low-income residents attain the necessary knowledge and skills needed for good paying jobs and careers. This investment not only empowers individuals with better job prospects and higher earning potential, but also contributes to the local economy by strengthening our workforce. Ultimately, the Scholarship plays a crucial role in community development and systemic poverty reduction, aligning with broader efforts to create sustainable economic opportunities and improve the quality of life in Philadelphia.
Octavius Catto: Leadership for the Ages
Octavius Catto dedicated his life to equal rights movements, working to have the voices of African Americans heard.
Well-educated and a natural leader, Catto possessed numerous talents, but realized the detrimental barriers racism posed to him and all African-Americans. As a supporter of the Union cause and the Lincoln Administration, Catto raised one of the first volunteer companies in Pennsylvania, under the authority of the Emancipation Proclamation, and served as a soldier.
Aligning with the Republican Party to promote his efforts to achieve equal rights, he was a voting advocate and raised awareness about elections through speeches and working with various organizations. He helped form the National Equal Rights League in 1864 and was elected secretary of the Pennsylvania State Equal Rights League chapter. In addition to becoming a national civil rights leader, Catto was a teacher and school administrator, member of The Franklin Institute and a baseball player. In all forums, Catto championed the cause of equal rights.
Pennsylvania ratified the 15th Amendment in 1870, giving African-American men the right to vote. A large African-American voter turnout in favor of Republicans was expected for the 1871 elections, threatening Democratic control of local posts.
Protests and murder marked the weeks until Election Day on October 10, 1871. Some policemen who were Democratic supporters did nothing to stop the injustice against African-Americans. On Election Day, Catto passed two white men who were part of a group responsible for perpetrating violence and intimidating voters in his African- American neighborhood. One of the men turned and shot Catto, without saying a word, in the crowded street. The killer fled, and at his trial six years later, he was acquitted of the murder.