Student Excellence Equals Degree (SEED) Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Delaware Technical Community College

College can be out of reach for many due to cost. To help remove that barrier, the Student Excellence Equals Degree (SEED) Scholarship was launched in 2005 to provide tuition-free college for eligible students. In 2021 the program was broadened (often called SEED+) so Delaware residents of any age can pursue an academic degree or a workforce training certificate at Delaware Technical Community College (Delaware Tech).

What the SEED Scholarship covers
- Tuition for eligible programs at Delaware Tech, including associate degrees, diplomas, credit certificates, bachelor’s-degree coursework, and workforce training programs.
- Tuition support may be used for up to five years of coursework (equivalent to 10 semesters), which is intended to cover a full associate degree plus one additional year of study toward a bachelor’s degree.
- SEED does not pay for course fees, supplies, or textbooks.

Key elements of the expanded SEED (SEED+) program
- Age restriction removed: Applicants of any age may apply. Applicants aged 25 and older must meet a five-year Delaware residency requirement.
- Program scope increased: Both credit and non-credit programs that lead to a recognized credential are included (examples: short-term certificates in diesel technology, allied health, information technology).
- Extended enrollment time: Eligibility covers up to 10 semesters so students — including those working or supporting families — have extra time to complete programs.
- Part-time attendance permitted after the first semester.
- Allowed breaks: Students may take one year off without losing the scholarship. Additional interruptions may be approved for military or volunteer service, medical reasons, or documented personal/financial hardship; however, approved gaps do not extend the overall five-year funding window.
- GED and equivalent credentials: Individuals holding a GED or a Delaware State Board of Education Endorsement Secondary Credential are eligible. Delaware Tech has established a GPA equivalency for GED holders so they may enter an associate degree program if their GED performance equates to the required 2.5 GPA. High school graduates with a GPA below 2.5 may still earn an associate degree under SEED by enrolling in and successfully completing an approved pathway program. Workforce training certificates do not require a minimum GPA but do require graduation from a Delaware high school or successful completion of a GED program.
- Individuals with non-violent felony convictions are eligible (this expands prior exclusions).

Core eligibility and continued requirements (existing SEED rules that still apply)
- Applicant must have graduated from a Delaware high school.
- If a student’s high school diploma or GED was awarded outside Delaware or in another country, the student is not eligible.
- Home-schooled applicants must provide either a complete home-school transcript or meet testing equivalency: a combined SAT score of 1350 (new SAT) or a composite ACT score of at least 19.
- Undocumented students are held to the same eligibility criteria as documented students. To qualify as an undocumented SEED recipient, the applicant must (a) have attended a Delaware high school for two or more years, (b) graduated from a Delaware high school, and (c) have applied for all campus-based financial aid for which they would be eligible.
- Former foster youth: Individuals who were in foster care under the jurisdiction of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families at any time between ages 16 and 18 — whether placed inside or outside Delaware — may qualify, provided they meet in-state residency rules. These applicants must self-identify and provide proof of foster care status for ages 16–18 to the Financial Aid Office.
- Admission and residency: Applicants must meet Delaware Tech’s admission standards and residency determinations.
- Financial aid application and coordination: Applicants must apply for all appropriate financial aid (for example, the Federal Pell Grant, aid through the Delaware Higher Education Commission, and Delaware Tech-administered awards) and accept grants or scholarships offered, excluding loans. If Pell Grant funds fully cover tuition, SEED will not be awarded. If Pell does not cover full tuition, SEED may be applied to the remaining tuition cost, up to the tuition amount. Applicants must file the FAFSA and complete any institutional paperwork and documentation requested by the campus. The priority date to apply for financial aid is April 1 each year.

If you want, I can format this as a printable one-page summary, a checklist of documents to prepare, or a FAQ for prospective applicants. Which would you prefer?