Student FAQs
Straightforward answers about who we are, how our funding works, and what to expect as you apply.
Got Questions? Start Here.
Last Mile Education Fund is predominantly for tech and engineering students who are close to graduation but facing an unexpected cost they can't cover. It's not a substitute for financial aid, student loans or employment income. It's targeted help for the final obstacle.
A quick note:
We’re a small but mighty team, processing hundreds of applications every month. To keep things moving quickly for all students, we can only respond through our Caravan student portal. Messages sent directly to staff, board members, or via social media will not receive a reply and may slow down your application.
Eligibility
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Eligibility varies by funding source. We use a common application to match you to any funding we have available for you.
You should apply to Last Mile if you are any of the following:
A Junior or Senior majoring in Computer Science, Tech, Engineering, or related majors
A community college or technical college student majoring in cybersecurity, computer science, IT, or a related discipline.
A manufacturing or skilled trades student enrolled at a community or technical college within 50 miles of a Dow location (searchable map here)
A NYC-based (within the 5 boroughs) Junior or Senior majoring in Math, Physics, or Neuroscience.
A Master’s student majoring in Computer Science, Tech, Engineering, or related majors, more than 50% done with your degree.
For students requesting more than a $595 emergency award, you must be facing a current financial obstacle that you are unable to cover after exhausting other forms of financial aid (e.g., scholarships, loans, etc).
We regularly add new funding with expanded eligibility, so subscribe to the Last Mile newsletter or follow us on social media to be notified of new funding opportunities.
In order to be eligible for ANY funding, you must:
Reside and attend school in the United States.
Be at least 18 years of age.
Be actively enrolled at an accredited U.S. institution of higher education.
Complete a W8 or W9 form and provide a Social Security Number or an ITIN.
Provide a valid LinkedIn profile with a photo or a Github profile.
Provide a U.S.-based mailing address.
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Yes! Last Mile is uniquely positioned to proudly fund international students studying one of our eligible majors in the U.S.
Eligible students who hold F1 Visas and are able to provide ITINs can apply for the following award amounts. A FAFSA form does not need to be submitted.
Emergency Fund: Up to $595, can be paid directly to the student.
Bridge Fund: $600-$3,595, must be paid directly to institutions. Eligible expenses that are paid directly to institutions can include but are not limited to: Tuition, Health Plans, Parking Decals, Meal Plans
Total funding to international students cannot exceed $3,595 over the course of their education.
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First and second-year students pursuing 4-year degrees are generally not eligible for funding unless they are attending a community college. Our primary focus is on students in their ‘last mile’ to a degree, or within their final 4 semesters of undergraduate or graduate degree completion.
If you are a freshman or sophomore at a community college pursuing a certificate, associate or bachelor's degree in cybersecurity or related degrees such as information technology, computer science, network engineering, data systems, etc., you may apply for up to $500 from The Microsoft Cybersecurity Scholarship Program.
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Yes! Apply if you are a Master’s student in Computer Science, Tech, Engineering, or related majors, more than 50% done with your degree, and facing a financial obstacle that you are unable to cover after exhausting other forms of financial aid (e.g., scholarships, loans, etc).
Unfortunately we do not currently have funding for PhD students.
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We can only consider one term or semester of assistance at a time. Please make sure your application reflects your bills, expenses, or other needs for the current term
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We cannot disburse funds internationally, so you must be attending an institution in the US and have a US-based mailing address and bank account.
Application
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Students can apply to all available funding opportunities using one common application. Read more about our application process here.
For issues logging in or accessing your Caravan account, contact caravan.support@lastmile-ed.org
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Apply as soon as you have a bill for the current term that you cannot cover through financial aid, loans, or other resources. We recommend that you apply 1-2 months before you need the funding when possible. Please note that we cannot process Bridge or Last Mile funding applications for students who have less than 30 days before their graduation date.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, so apply any time to be matched to funding for which you are eligible
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The Last Mile Caravan Portal provides access to our single sign-on common application portal, where we assess your eligibility and match you to available funding and support opportunities. In other words: there is no unique application link specific to a certain fund!
We encourage you to include specific areas of study and/or adjacent interests (such as cybersecurity, physics, etc.) in your application. Each applicant will be considered for all funds for which they are eligible.
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We use your LinkedIn account to verify your identity as a student, and we require your LinkedIn to have a personal photo that is publicly visible. You can use another professional profile, such as GitHub or a personal web page; however, it is highly recommended that all students pursuing careers in technology set up and maintain a LinkedIn profile, as this can help with future employment prospects. All recipients are invited to join the Last Mile alumni group on LinkedIn where we share opportunities from our partners.
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Yes. Every application requires an unofficial or official transcript showing your name, the institution name, your completed credit hours, your major, and the current academic semester. In addition, if you are enrolled in a boot camp or industry certification, you must show proof of enrollment with your name, the program's name, and the program's date(s). Without this information, your application will be declined. Providing a transcript in PDF format will speed up application processing time.
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Yes.
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Call your financial aid office or bursar and let them know you are applying for funding to pay off your school bill and that you must provide an unofficial transcript. 9 out of 10 times, the schools will release that to you.
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No videos are accepted. Pictures are strongly discouraged, as they will cause a significant delay in reviewing your application. We prefer that all documents are sent as PDFs.
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You are welcome to apply more than once, particularly if your circumstances have changed. Please note that the Last Mile Education Fund is meant to be a source of gap funding and not an alternative to securing other sources of funding, i.e., student loans, financial aid, employment, etc. Some funding sources such as the Microsoft Cybersecurity Scholarship for community college students are only available once per student.
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What is the status of my application?
You can track the status of your application anytime in the Last Mile Caravan student portal under "Application History." In the meantime, please ensure that your LinkedIn profile includes a clear photo and valid URL.
A gentle reminder that we are a small team, and we process hundreds of applications each month. Inquiries directed to staff or board members directly either via email or social media slow down our processing time and will not receive a response. If you have not received a response in Caravan after 14 days, e-mail us at studentawards@lastmile-ed.org. -
Please reach out to Caravan.Support@Lastmile-ed.org for help. Our team can assist with technical issues and restore access to your account. Please do not create a new profile — we like to keep all of your information in one place.
Funding & Disbursement
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Please note that your award size will be determined based on your specific eligible expenses, not the maximum award amount.
In general, the following maximum amounts are available, but may vary by funding source:
FOR U.S. RESIDENTS:
Emergency Fund: up to $595
Bridge Fund: $600-$4,500 (only for juniors and seniors in undergraduate or graduate school)
Last Mile Fund: Up to $10,000 (only for seniors in undergraduate programs)
Industry Certification Exams up to $500 (specific to the Microsoft Cybersecurity Scholarship Program)
FOR F1 VISA STUDENTS:
Emergency Fund: up to $595
Bridge Fund: $600-$3,595 (only for juniors and seniors in undergraduate or graduate school)
Industry Certification Exams up to $500 (specific to the Microsoft Cybersecurity Scholarship Program)
Students pursuing a bachelor's or master's degree cannot exceed $10,000 ($3,595 for international students) in funding over a lifetime.
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Last Mile Education Fund is designed to fill gaps in financial support for financially vulnerable students. It is not a substitute for institution-based financial aid, student loans, working or scholarships. We provide support for expenses not covered by traditional scholarships or aid and shortfalls due to loss of work. This may include but is not limited to tuition, books, rent, car repairs, utility bills, groceries, conference attendance and travel expenses, healthcare, tools for skilled trades, technology, or other materials you need for your degree.
We cannot cover credit card bills, child support, or student loans.
We understand that applicants often have other family members/dependents for whom they are financially responsible; however, we can only fund students who are actively enrolled in an eligible degree program and Last Mile cannot pay for other family members’ expenses.
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If we have approved you for tuition, it is paid directly to your institution, and we can only pay tuition if there is a balance in your school account greater than or equal to the amount awarded. If your school account shows that your balance has been paid, we are not able to process your award for tuition, redirect it to other expenses or carry it forward to another term.
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You can track the status of your award disbursement anytime in the student portal under "Application History." Please note: the fund disbursement process from start to finish can take ten (10) business days from the time you accept your award. In the meantime, please ensure all required documentation is uploaded to your student portal.
Loans & Taxes
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No. Last Mile Education Fund and its partner funds are unrestricted gifts, not grants or loans. There is no legal or financial obligation to repay the support you receive. However, we are a social fund and hope that after graduation, you will join us as a volunteer and donor once you are settled into your career. You are a great investment.
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We do not pay back student loans or credit cards.
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Yes. Our Bridge and Last Mile Funds are only for students who have exhausted all possible forms of aid available to them. Our awards are not a substitute or replacement for loans or other forms of aid, but a potential supplement when available aid is not enough to meet students’ needs.
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No. Your Last Mile Education Fund award is a gift, and you will not receive a Form-1099 from us.
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Last Mile requires a Form W-8 or W-9 during the application process as a form of identity verification to prevent fraud. We do not retain this information.