Eligibility Criteria for CAP-U Scholarship

To be eligible for a CAP-U scholarship, parenting students must meet the following criteria:

  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident currently enrolled in degree seeking coursework as an undergraduate student
  • Have out-of-pocket expenses for child care services while attending classes or working
  • Financial aid information on file with the Office of Student Financial Aid
  • Demonstrate high financial need
  • Meet standards for satisfactory academic progress (SAP)
  • Claim the dependent child on federal income tax returns or have custodial care at least 50% of the time

Eligibility Criteria for CAP-G Scholarship

To be eligible for a CAP-G scholarship, parenting students must meet the following criteria:

  • Currently enrolled as a graduate student or professional student; or as an international undergraduate student
  • Have out-of-pocket expenses for child care services while attending classes or working
  • Demonstrate high financial need
  • Meet standards for satisfactory academic progress (SAP)
  • Claim the dependent child on federal income tax returns or have custodial care at least 50% of the time

Program Details

  • CAP-U applications are accepted August 1 through May 1 of each academic year or until funds have been awarded. Applicants will be notified of award decisions within 7-10 days after a complete application is received. 
  • CAP-G applications are accepted only from August 1 through September 30 of each academic year. Applicants will be notified of award decisions no later than October 15.
  • Upon receipt of an application, Child Care & Family Services will verify student status with the Office of Student Financial Aid.
  • Applications demonstrating highest financial need receive priority; additional evaluation criteria include credit load, tuition costs, family size, age of child, and other child care financial assistance being received.
  • Scholarships are awarded for fall and spring semesters only.
  • Awards are limited to one award per family per academic year, regardless of the number of children enrolled in child care services or the number of parents enrolled as students.
  • CAP is a reimbursement scholarship; recipients must pay for child care services before claiming their scholarship.
  • If a recipient does not have child care expenses at least equal to the awarded scholarship amount, the scholarship award will be reduced to the actual amount paid for child care services.
  • Child care services may be provided by a licensed child care center, in-home child care provider, preschool, nanny, and/or babysitter; child care services provided by a custodial parent are not eligible for reimbursement.
  • Recipients will be provided a receipt form that must be completed and signed by the child care provider in order to receive the scholarship.
  • Scholarships are applied to the recipient's U-Bill within 7-10 business days after receipt form is submitted.

When applying, please remember the following:

As part of their responsibilities, the Office of Student Financial Aid has developed a standard Cost of Attendance (COA) for all student aid applicants. All monies received by student aid recipients will be used towards meeting your COA. Child care expenses are unique to each individual aid recipient and not included as part of the standard COA.