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Herman J. Neal Scholarship

This scholarship program supports African-American students in their pursuit of an accounting education and the CPA designation. This year, the Herman J. Neal Scholarship program will provide up to 3 scholarships of up to $4,000 each to African-American accounting students who show significant potential to become CPAs and demonstrate achievement as well as financial need. These scholarships support students with their junior or senior year, the additional year, 30 semester hours needed to sit for the CPA Exam or graduate studies.

Scholarships cover the costs of tuition and fees and can include up to $500 in expenses for books and required classroom materials. They do not cover costs of CPA Exam review courses.

This scholarship program was established in honor of the deceased Dr. Herman J. Neal, a distinguished Chicago physician, because of his strong beliefs in opening doors to opportunity, and in the value of education and scholarship for African-Americans.

Qualifying students have at least two years of post-secondary education completed by 8/31 of the year of the award, with an accounting curriculum planned that reflects the intention to sit for the CPA Exam. In addition, applicants must:
- Be an African-American, U.S. citizen residing in Illinois enrolled in an Illinois college or university
- Have a 3.0 / 4.0 GPA or equivalent
- Plan to sit for the CPA Examination in Illinois and demonstrate a course of study that reflects this goal

If students receive a full-tuition waiver or reimbursement for tuition, they are not eligible for this scholarship. However, the Society highly encourages students to apply if unsure of other forms of support at the time of their application.

If you are applying for a scholarship for your post-baccalaureate education, either at the undergraduate level or for graduate school, you will automatically be eligible for the Illinois CPA Society Scholarship so you don’t need to apply twice.