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Cara Goldstone Image Written By: Cara Goldstone | Edited By: Alyssa Schulz | Updated: July 15, 2025

Illinois Scholarships

Key takeaways:

  • Higher education is much more expensive in Illinois than in other U.S. states.
  • Illinois scholarships are available for high school, undergraduate, and graduate students who are either attending college or residing in Illinois.
  • The best Illinois scholarship for any particular student will differ based on their personal circumstances, including their financial need, minority status, year in college, or other traits.

As of 2024, the average cost of attending a public Illinois college was almost 22% higher than the U.S. national average. Thankfully, there are many scholarships available for Illinois residents and those attending schools in Illinois. Keep reading to find out more about the best Illinois scholarships available.

The 25 Best Illinois Scholarships with Approaching Deadlines in 2025

  • 1

  • Marki Lemons Ryhal Education Advancement Scholarship

  • Amount$700
  • DeadlineAugust 1, 2025

The Marki Lemons Ryhal Education Advancement Scholarship will support candidates that are seeking to obtain their real estate license OR attend a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). This fund is applicable only to African American women whose primary residence is in underserved communities within the Chicagoland area. Scholarship Details Support for African American women in

  • 2

  • Italian American Executives of Transportation Scholarship

  • Amount$1,000
  • DeadlineAugust 31, 2025

To be considered for an IAET Scholarship, the application must be filled out completely. A digital picture, head shot, of at least 800 pixels must be submitted via email. If selected, you must attend the Dinner Dance in November. If selected, you must be willing to stand in respect for our US National Anthem, with hand on heart, as is protocol. If selected, You will dress respectfully for a

  • 3

  • AITCOY Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarships

  • Amount$1,000
  • DeadlineSeptember 13, 2025

The Association of Illinois Township Committees on Youth (AITCOY) is a statewide voice and resource for community based human services agencies, which provide educational, emotional, recreational, and social opportunities for youth and families. AITCOY has many purposes, including: to promote improved services for youth and families in townships throughout Illinois; and to facilitate cooperation,

  • 4

  • Community Services Block Grants Scholarships for Chicago Residents

  • Amount$5,000
  • DeadlineSeptember 19, 2025

The Community Service Block Grants Scholarship Program helps low-income Chicagoans finance their journeys through higher education. Students enrolled in an Illinois college, university or vocational training program may qualify, and individuals from all ages and backgrounds are welcome to apply. Funds can be used for tuition, fees, books, uniforms, and other necessities. Scholarships range from

  • 5

  • Acorn Equality Fund Scholarships

  • Amount$4,000
  • DeadlineSeptember 26, 2025

The Acorn Equality Fund offers 6 categories of scholarships to LGBTQ+ students, organizations, and allies in downstate Illinois. Each award is worth up to $4,000. Scholarship Details There are 6 categories of scholarships with different criteria for applicants, including: The Acorn and Feeney Scholarships The Central Illinois Friends Scholarship The Korty & Morton Scholarship The Luke

  • 6

  • Regions Riding Forward Scholarship Contest

  • Amount$8,000
  • DeadlineSeptember 30, 2025

For the opportunity to win an $8,000 scholarship, submit a video or written essay about an individual you know personally (who lives in your community) who has inspired you and helped you build the confidence you need to achieve your goals. For each Quarterly Contest, the topic of your Written Essay or Video Essay (your “Essay Topic”) must be an individual you know personally, who lives in your

  • 7

  • Good Samaritan Foundation Scholarships

  • Amount$500
  • DeadlineOctober 1, 2025

Good Samaritan Foundation is honored to award an average of $30,000 annually in financial support to local scholars. With different scholarship funds available, the Foundation is able to provide much needed assistance to support graduating seniors, undergraduate or graduate students, medical students, and Good Samaritan employees as they work to attain their educational goals. Applicants should

  • 8

  • Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures™ Scholarships

  • Amount$25,000
  • DeadlineOctober 28, 2025

Each year, Chick-fil-A restaurant Team Members across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico are offered the opportunity to apply for college scholarships through the Chick-fil-A Remarkable Futures™ scholarship program. Since 1973, we’ve been able to donate more than $215 million to award more than 122,000 Team Member scholarships to help them pursue a higher education and achieve their remarkable

  • 9

  • UIC Chancellor's Fellows

  • Amount$30,000
  • DeadlineNovember 1, 2025

A scholarship is gift assistance that does not have to be repaid. Scholarships are awarded based on a student's academic achievement, athletic ability, field of study, special talents, etc. Students must report outside scholarships so SFAS can recalculate aid eligibility. If students have remaining unmet need or have not exceeded their cost of attendance (COA), other awards will not be

  • 10

  • Ohio State University National Buckeye Scholarship

  • Amount$54,000
  • DeadlineNovember 1, 2025

The Ohio State University National Buckeye Scholarship is awarded to non-Ohio residents. Those considered are non-Ohio residents (U.S. citizens or permanent residents) who are highly competitive as demonstrated through grade point average, class rank (if available), and ACT or SAT scores (if available). Applicants who meet the criteria and apply to the university by November 1 will automatically

  • 11

  • Nick & Helena Patti Foundation Scholarship

  • Amount$6,500
  • DeadlineNovember 1, 2025

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA) is proud to offer – from the Nicholas and Helena Patti Foundation Scholarship Fund-- scholarships that are awarded to persons of Italian parentage for assistance in music or education for college students who are orphans or who were raised in foster homes. Preference for scholarship awards may be given to students studying music in college

  • 12

  • Frank J. Vigilante Scholarship

  • Amount$5,000
  • DeadlineNovember 1, 2025

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA) is proud to offer – from the Frank J. Vigilante Scholarship Fund – scholarships that are awarded to students of Italian extraction demonstrating financial need and high academic achievement. Competitive students must be of Italian extraction, demonstrate financial need, and must have high academic achievement. The award amount is for a

  • 13

  • Michigan State University Merit Recognition Scholarship

  • Amount$16,000
  • DeadlineNovember 1, 2025

Discover the options, requirements and important deadlines to receive financial support. Learn about applying for FAFSA and loans. You'll also discover other options for financial assistance. Admitted students are automatically considered for many scholarships. Find out how to search and apply for other scholarships, too. Michigan State University offers multiple scholarships, based on a number

  • 14

  • Joseph U. Bottalla Scholarship

  • Amount$1,500
  • DeadlineNovember 1, 2025

The Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA) is proud to offer the Joseph U. Bottalla Scholarship – from the Joseph U. Bottalla Scholarship Fund - awarded to students who are Illinois residents of 50% or more of Italian extraction, have studied Italian language for at least two years or currently enrolled in an Italian language course, either in high school or college, and are admitted

  • 15

  • University of Florida Out-of-State Tuition Waver

  • Amount$64,000
  • DeadlineNovember 1, 2025

The UF Office of Admissions currently offers a very limited number of merit-based out-of-state scholarships designed to reduce the out-of-state tuition for high-achieving students at the following levels: Alumni Scholarship: Up to $8,000 per year (Fall/Spring, total $32,000 over 4 years); Sunshine Scholarship: Up to $16,000 per year (Fall/Spring, total $64,000 over 4 years); and Gator Nation

  • 16

  • Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund

  • Amount$200,000
  • DeadlineNovember 10, 2025

The Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund is in search of high school students in their senior year who seek to challenge themselves to succeed and accomplish what most people never imagine. Selection is based upon application essays, followed by personal interviews. Scholarship Details Awards up to $50,000 per year for up to 8 semesters of undergraduate education. Scholarship funds can be

  • 17

  • Greenhouse Scholars Whole Person College Program

  • Amount$20,000
  • DeadlineNovember 14, 2025

Becoming a Greenhouse Scholar is the first action in a series of positive events that will create change in you, your community, and the world. Through the innovative Whole Person Program, we offer comprehensive support encompassing personal, professional, and financial guidance over a transformative 5-year span during your undergraduate years. Scholarship Details Comprehensive 5-year

  • 18

  • University of South Carolina Alumni Scholars Award (Nonresidents)

  • Amount$120,000
  • DeadlineNovember 15, 2025

The University of South Carolina Office of Undergraduate Admissions offers a generous array of scholarships for non- South Carolina resident freshmen. Only one Admissions Merit Award per individual is allowed for nonresidents, with the exception of the Provost Scholars Award, which can be added to any other award listed in this section. Numerous scholarships for non-resident freshmen are offered,

  • 19

  • AIM Center for Independent Living Scholarship

  • Amount$1,000
  • DeadlineNovember 15, 2025

The AIM Center for Independent Living has announced availability of scholarships for tuition, books, or fees for adults living with a certified disability residing in DuPage, Kane or Kendall counties in IL. Educational Scholarships are available to disabled applicants seeking two or four year degrees, or trade school. The application requires a one-page essay on "What Independent Living Means to

  • 20

  • Dick Lauber Masonry Scholarship

  • Amount$1,000
  • DeadlineNovember 20, 2025

The Architecture Scholarship is open to undergraduate and graduate students, as well as interns, with a focus on architectural design. To be eligible, students must be enrolled in an architecture program at a school in Illinois or Northwest Indiana. Submissions should include conceptual perspective drawings or architectural renderings to scale, with a minimum of 2 elevations, showcasing

  • 21

  • Dan L. Meisinger Sr. Memorial Learn to Fly Scholarship

  • Amount$2,500
  • DeadlineNovember 28, 2025

The Dan L. Meisinger Sr. Memorial Learn to Fly Scholarship provides an annual flight training scholarship to a qualified individual. Applicants of the Dan L. Meisinger Sr. Memorial Learn to Fly Scholarship must: be a college student currently enrolled in an aviation program; be a high academic achiever with at least a "B" average; and be recommend by an aviation professional, although direct

  • 22

  • Auburn University Non-Resident Merit Scholarships

  • Amount$68,000
  • DeadlineDecember 1, 2025

First-year student scholarships are awarded competitively to first-year students who enroll summer or fall immediately following high school graduation. Scholarships are renewable for four years. First-year students must enroll summer or fall immediately following high school graduation to receive consideration. A scholarship application is not required. First-year students accepted for admission

  • 23

  • University of Kentucky Bluegrass Spirit Awards

  • Amount$50,000
  • DeadlineDecember 1, 2025

The University of Kentucky offers renewable academic, competitive and selective scholarship opportunities for incoming first-time freshmen. For the Bluegrass Spirit Awards, requirements will vary, but applicants should have at least a 3.0 GPA, and if they took the ACT/SAT, a score of at least 25 or 1200. Applicants must be a nonresident of Kentucky. Other than the aforementioned criteria, there

  • 24

  • Hagan Scholarship Foundation

  • Amount$60,000
  • DeadlineDecember 1, 2025

The Hagan Scholarship is a nationwide need-based merit scholarship, providing recipients with the opportunity to achieve their goals and graduate college debt-free. The scholarship provides $2,000 to help pay for essential items to attend college and up to $7,500 each semester for up to 8 consecutive semesters. Scholarship Details Need-based merit scholarship for high-achieving rural

  • 25

  • Loyola University Catholic Heritage Award

  • AmountVaries
  • DeadlineDecember 1, 2025

Loyola recognizes talented students through a variety of other scholarships that are awarded without consideration of financial need. Please review the following list of scholarship opportunities that will provide you, if eligible, with additional resources to help make your Loyola education more affordable. In order to be considered for any of Loyola University Chicago's academic scholarships,

What are Illinois scholarships?

Illinois scholarships are financial awards granted to residents of or students attending college in the state of Illinois. A student’s eligibility for different Illinois scholarships may vary based on factors such as their academic performance, extracurricular involvement, current school year, and other personal qualities. For example, minority students may be eligible for select scholarships that other students are not.

Unlike some other types of financial aid, scholarships do not need to be repaid. Illinois scholarship seekers can minimize or even avoid student debt entirely by winning these awards. Since applying for scholarships is free, it’s a good idea to apply to as many as you can to secure the highest chance of winning.

How to apply for Illinois scholarships

Different Illinois scholarships have different qualifications. Some are available to any student attending college anywhere in Illinois while others may be exclusive to those attending select colleges and holding residence in certain counties. Always check the requirements of scholarships before you apply to make sure you are eligible.

Scholarships.com provides the information you’ll need to apply to Illinois scholarships. When you sign up for an account and match with all the awards for which you are eligible, you can find detailed instructions on how to apply within the scholarship description.

Many Illinois scholarships will require applicants to have a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) on file to be eligible. Make sure you complete the FAFSA and submit it in advance of its deadline, as well as the deadlines of any scholarships for which you intend to apply.

Keep in mind that submitting the FAFSA does not require you to take out student loans. The FAFSA simply allows the government to assess your financial circumstances. This information is needed to determine your eligibility for student loans, but it does not require you to take them.

What are the best Illinois scholarships?

The best Illinois scholarship for any particular student will differ based on that student’s circumstances and needs. Eligibility requirements and award amounts vary by scholarship, so certain students’ needs might align best with scholarships that other students’ do not.

Generally, the best Illinois scholarships are the ones whose eligibility criteria are tailored most specifically to the applicant. This is because the more specific a scholarship is, the smaller the pool of people will be able to apply, meaning those who are eligible will face less competition and have a higher chance to win.

For example, the Acorn Equality Fund’s awards are considered low-competition, so eligible students should prioritize applying. Their baseline eligibility requirements are membership in or allyship to the LGBTQ+ community and residence in Downstate Illinois. Particular Acorn Equality Fund scholarships have more specific requirements, including volunteering, an interest in public health, and community advocacy.

Another example of a low-competition scholarship is the Peppy Moldovan Memorial Award. To apply, students must be female, undergraduate sophomores enrolled in select universities to study engineering. The specificity of this award makes it a great option for eligible college students.

Frequently asked questions about Illinois scholarships

How do I find Illinois scholarships?

The best way to find Illinois scholarships is to sign up for an account on Scholarships.com. When you input your demographics, Scholarships.com will automatically match you with all the scholarships for which you are eligible, including those specific to Illinois students. From there, you can sort your scholarship matches by amount or deadline to prioritize your applications.

Are there any local scholarships for Chicago students?

Many Illinois scholarships are available to students statewide, including residents of Chicago. However, there are some scholarships designated specifically for Chicago residents. Even considering the city’s high population density, Chicago scholarships pull from a smaller applicant pool than statewide scholarships, so Chicago students should apply for as many as they can.

For example, the Community Services Block Grant Scholarships for Chicago Residents are awards of up to $5,000 for low-income Chicago residents in higher education. Because these awards are local to Chicago and relatively restrictive in their eligibility guidelines, qualified students have a high chance of winning if they apply.

What are the best Illinois scholarships for high school seniors?

There are countless Illinois scholarships available to high school seniors. The best ones will vary based on your particular circumstances. For example, if you are a high school senior planning to attend the University of Chicago and have significant financial need, the University of Chicago’s Odyssey Scholarship might be your best option. It offers, at maximum value, full-tuition aid for incoming University of Chicago students with financial need.

Are there Illinois scholarships for graduate students?

There are Illinois scholarships available for all kinds of college students, including graduate students. Given the huge number of scholarships available, students should consider their personal traits and unique life circumstances to narrow down their scholarship searches.

The IWEA Clean Water Scholarship, for example, is a great choice for graduate students in water-related fields of study. It is open to undergraduate upperclassmen and graduate students who reside in or attend college in Illinois.

Do I have to have financial need to win an Illinois scholarship?

Many Illinois scholarships are solely merit-based and do not consider financial need as an eligibility requirement. For example, the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois program offers awards of up to $23,000 to students pursuing careers in teaching in Illinois. If you are a high school senior, college freshman, or college sophomore pursuing a teaching education, you may qualify for the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois program regardless of financial need.