The College Financial Aid program provides scholarships
and grants to eligible students in the greater Cleveland
area enrolled in accredited institutions of higher education.
Program Coordinator
Jessica Rosenblitt, JD
College Financial Aid Program Manager
APPLICATIONS FOR THE 2025-2026 SCHOOL YEAR ARE OPEN. DEADLINE TO SUBMIT APPLICATION IS APRIL 1, 2025.
JFSA’s College Financial Aid Program has been helping students realize their educational dreams for more than a century regardless of their financial circumstances. The program helps reduce the need for students to rely solely on loans to fund their education and helps minimize the burden of student loan debt after graduation.
Scholarships are awarded in competition with other students who have met application requirements. Some scholarships are renewable. Grants are based on need and available funds. In some circumstances, loans may be available.
Award amounts range from $800 to $2,500 based upon criteria listed in each individual scholarship. Depending on the terms of a scholarship, funds are given directly to students and can be applied towards tuition, fees, books, supplies, equipment, etc. or are routed directly to colleges to be used for specific costs.
Students only need to complete one application; students do not apply to specific scholarships. JFSA staff and advisory committee members review all applications and determine to whom individual scholarships are awarded.
The deadline to apply for the 2025-2026 school year is April 1, 2025. JFSA staff and advisory committee members review all applications in June and award letters are mailed by July/August. Funds are distributed each August for the fall term.
Available Scholarships
JFSA offers scholarships representing a variety of educational interests and specialties.
In addition to a core list of scholarships, the following funds are available for special situations.
Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholarship Program is aimed at helping middle income families face the challenge of paying for college. Scholarships of up to $5,000 are available on a first come, first served basis to eligible students over the four-year period of the scholarship. All funds awarded will be paid directly to the college in which the award recipient is enrolled.
Mandel Myers Fellowship encourages Jewish Cleveland’s college students to work at a Jewish overnight camp and develop into future Jewish leaders. In addition to working at an overnight camp, students are required to participate in several learning workshops throughout the year. Students are awarded up to a $5,500 scholarship to be sent directly to their college. Click here to learn more.
Giving Back Scholarship provides partial loan forgiveness (up to $2,500) to a loan recipient meeting specific criteria. Click here to learn more.
Read our FAQs
The College Financial Aid Program is funded by:
The Endowment Fund of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland | JFSA Family-Named Scholarships | Student Loan Repayments | Individual Donors
JFSA helps individuals and families with