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Illinois Scholarships

Millions of scholarships are available to students studying in the United States. With the help of Scholarships.com, finding these scholarships is not a problem. When you conduct a free college scholarship search at Scholarships.com, one of the factors considered in the filtering process is your state of residence. Another is "state of attendance", if applicable. Many college scholarships are available only to those from or attending college in a particular state and if you are among them, you could end up securing some additional funding for college. We recommend you conduct a complete scholarship search, but if you would like a sample of what you might find as an Illinois resident or someone who intends to study in Illinois, check out the scholarship opportunities below.

AAUW Return to Learning Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 4/1/2021
  • Amount: $2,500
  • The Lombard Area Branch of AAUW "Return to Learning" scholarship is offered to assist females in completing an undergraduate or master's degree, or a certification program. Students must reside in Lombard, Villa Park, Oakbrook Terrace, Wheaton, Addison, Glendale Heights or Glen Ellyn in order to apply and are continuing college after a significant interruption. Special consideration is given to [...] More

Amos & Edith Wallace Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/12/2020
  • Amount: $1,000
  • The Amos and Edith Wallace Scholarship was founded to reward young, bright African-American students who have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to service and education. In order to apply, you must meet the following requirements: Female African- American High School senior graduating from Kanakekee High School in Kankakee, IL.
    You must possess a minimum 2.8 GPA and plan to attend a [...] More

Billy Smith Memorial Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 2/1/2021
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Billy Smith Memorial Scholarship provides educational resources for graduation high school baseball or softball players who intend to pursue a sports-related college degree. Applicant must be a graduating high school senior, reside in Winnebago, Boone, Ogle or Stephenson County, have played at least three years of baseball or softball in high school, including senior year, must major in a [...] More

Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund

  • Application Deadline: 10/31/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Bruce Fishkin Scholarship Fund offers college scholarships to eligible high school seniors in Redding, Fairfield and Westport, Connecticut and the cities and surrounding suburbs of Chicago, Illinois and Las Vegas, Nevada. Award amounts vary according to the need of the student and the cost of attendance. For more information and to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's [...] More

Buster Lindsay Memorial Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 2/1/2021
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Buster Lindsay Memorial Scholarship provides educational resources to student athletes from Jefferson High School to assist them in college. Applicant must be a graduating senior from Jefferson High school, have participated in high school sports for a minimum of 3 years (including senior year), have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and plan to attend a two- or four- year college or university. For more [...] More

Carolyn Wones Recruitment Grant

  • Application Deadline: 2/1/2021
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Carolyn Wones Recruitment Grant was established to provide educational resources for women, and to promote the professional and personal growth of women educators and excellence in education. Applicant must be a female graduating from high school within Boone or Winnebago County, IL, plan to pursue a degree in secondary teaching, exhibit academic potential and have participated in a number of [...] More

CBC Spouses Education Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/30/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • Seeing an educational need in their congressional districts, the CBC Spouses Education Scholarship was established by the spouses of Congressional Black Caucus members in response to federal cuts in spending for education programs and scholarships, which disproportionately affect people of color. This opportunity awards scholarships to academically talented and highly motivated African-American [...] More

CBC Spouses Performing Arts Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/30/2020
  • Amount: $3,000
  • CBC Spouses Performing Arts Scholarship was established in 2000 in honor of the late Curtis Mayfield to ensure that African-American or Black students pursuing a degree in the performing arts receive financial assistance. Performing arts includes theater, drama, comedy, music, dance, opera, marching bands, etc. Selected applicants will be constituents of a CBC member’s district. To determine your [...] More

CBC Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 3/31/2021
  • Amount: $3,000
  • The CBC Spouses Visual Arts Scholarship was established in 2006 to provide financial assistance to African-American or Black students who are pursuing a degree in the visual arts. Visual arts include architecture, ceramics, drawing, fashion, graphic design, illustration, interior design, painting, photography, sketching, video production, etc. Selected applicants will be constituents of a CBC [...] More

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/15/2020
  • Amount: $2,500
  • Each summer, the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless awards college scholarships to graduating seniors who experienced homelessness while in high school. Eligible to apply are students from Chicago and suburban schools who were homeless at some point while attending high school, as verified by the student's school. Youth leaders active with CCH also are eligible. A cumulative weighted grade point [...] More

Chicago Engineers Foundation Awards for Graduating HS Seniors

  • Application Deadline: 4/15/2020
  • Amount: $1,000
  • The Chicago Engineers' Foundation encourages Chicago students to pursue careers in engineering by recognizing their talents and providing them with financial assistance for their engineering studies. To be eligible for a CEF scholarship, applicants must be a graduating high school senior either living or going to school in the city of Chicago. Applicants must be planning to study engineering in [...] More

Chicago Police and Fire Scholarship - UChicago

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: Varies
  • To be considered for this full-tuition scholarship, candidates must be high school seniors who qualify for admission to the
    University of Chicago and be children (biological or legally adopted) of currently active, sworn Chicago Firefighters, Chicago
    Police Officers, or University of Chicago Police Officers who will remain active for the duration of their children’s college careers. Students [...] More

Come 2 Iowa (C2IA) Senior Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 5/15/2020
  • Amount: $1,000
  • Each year, the Come 2 Iowa Senior Scholarship awards a $1,000 college scholarship to five high school seniors who express a desire to come to Iowa for college from Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota or Wisconsin. Applicants must be legal U.S. residents of Illinois Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota or Wisconsin who plan to attend an eligible college in Iowa the fall of [...] More

CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois

  • Application Deadline: 4/1/2021
  • Amount: Varies
  • The CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois, the Illinois CPA Society’s charitable partner, provides life-changing scholarships and training programs to deserving accounting students across the state. For more information and to apply, please visit the scholarship provider's website. [...] More

Crystal Charitable Fund

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: $4,000
  • The Crystal Fund was established to support grants for an extended "away from home" cultural or educational experience that provide a skill, knowledge and/or personal value as a means of support. Scholarships are limited to Chicago area students ages 13 to 19 that are able to demonstrate extreme financial need and have a potential for providing leadership. For more information or to apply, please [...] More

Dr. Loomis/Rockton Lions Club Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 2/1/2021
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Dr. Loomins/Rockton Lions Club Scholarship provides educational resources to a full-time student from Hononegah High School who plans to attend a two-, four-year, or vocational college. This award is offered by the Rockton Lions Club. Applicant must be a graduating Hononegah High School senior, rank in the top third of their class, have financial need, and be involved in community service [...] More

Environmental Studies/Natural Science Scholarship Program

  • Application Deadline: 3/31/2021
  • Amount: $1,000
  • The Friends of Volo Bog is offering an Entering College scholarship and a Continuing College scholarship for $1,000 each to outstanding students interested in pursuing an environmental career. To be eligible for the Entering College scholarship the applicant must reside in Lake, McHenry, Kane, Cook, DuPage, Kendall, or Will County, attend a high school in one of these counties, have a minimum B [...] More

Era L. and Frances L. Walker Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 2/1/2021
  • Amount: Varies
  • The purpose of the Era L. and Frances L. Walker Scholarship is to provide educational resources for African-American males to pursue higher education. Applicants must be a graduating senior from a Rockford public high school with a minimum 2.9 GPA. Students must have been involved in community service and volunteerism and share Era's values including the importance of family, service to one's [...] More

Friends of Moraine Hills State Park Scholarship in Environmental Studies

  • Application Deadline: 4/12/2020
  • Amount: $1,000
  • The Friends of Moraine Hills State Park awards two $1000 scholarships each year to two high school graduates entering the field of environmental studies. Qualified applicants will reside in Lake, McHenry, or Kane counties Illinois. They must also plan to attend an accredited college or university, plan to major in a field of study and career directly related to the environment, and have a high [...] More

Greenhouse Scholars Program

  • Application Deadline: 12/2/2020
  • Amount: $20,000
  • Greenhouse Scholars provides a four-year renewable, need-based college scholarship of up to $5,000 per year.
    Qualified applicants must have an unweighted GPA of 3.5 or higher, demonstrate financial need, be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident as well as a high school senior in Colorado, Georgia, Illinois or North Carolina planning to attend a four-year accredited institution. Household income [...] More

Illinois AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary Memorial Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2021
  • Amount: $500
  • The Ladies Auxiliary Memorial Scholarships supports a scholarship program each year that provides graduating Illinois high school students a scholarship for their continued education. This one-year scholarship varies in its amount on a yearly basis.
    Applicants must be an Illinois high school senior and a child or grandchild of a veteran of the United States of America who served after September [...] More

Illinois AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary Worchid Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2021
  • Amount: $500
  • The Ladies Auxiliary Worchid Scholarship is offered by Illinois AMVETS for Illinois high school seniors. Applicant must be a child of a deceased father or mother who was a veteran of the United States of America who served after 09/15/40 and was Honorably Discharged. They need not be KIA or have died as a result of service-connected disability. Applicants must also have taken the ACT or SAT. For [...] More

Illinois AMVETS Sad Sacks Nursing Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2021
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Sad Sacks Nursing Scholarship supports a scholarship program each year that provides graduating Illinois high school students a scholarship for their continued education. Applicants must be 2nd year or greater nursing students and provide a copy of an acceptance letter into an accredited nursing program. Priority is given to the dependent of a deceased or disabled veteran. For more [...] More

Illinois CPA Society Accounting Textbook Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/1/2021
  • Amount: $500
  • The CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois, the Illinois CPA Society’s charitable partner, provides life-changing scholarships and training programs to deserving accounting students across the state. The Accounting Textbook Scholarship is offered to juniors, seniors, and graduate students. All applicants must meet the following criteria: be a U.S. citizen or legal resident and be an Illinois resident; [...] More

Illinois CPA Society Accounting Tuition Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/1/2021
  • Amount: $4,000
  • The CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois, the Illinois CPA Society’s charitable partner, provides life-changing scholarships and training programs to deserving accounting students across the state. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or legal resident and be an Illinois resident and be enrolled in an Illinois college or university. To qualify, you must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 or equivalent and [...] More

Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/14/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • Since its inception, the IRA Educational Foundation has awarded almost $2.8 million to deserving students pursuing Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management in college. To qualify for a scholarship, you must be a permanent resident of the State of Illinois (under the age of 30); be accepted and plan to enroll in an accredited culinary school, college, or university; be enrolled as a full-time or [...] More

Italian Catholic Federation First Year Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 3/15/2021
  • Amount: $1,000
  • Since 1964, the Italian Catholic Federation has awarded over $2,000,000.00 in scholarships to more than 6,000 high school students, of the Catholic faith, attending college. Applications are received from students in public as well as Catholic high schools in California, Arizona, Nevada, and Illinois. Applicants must be Roman Catholic and of Italian Descent. Live within the Roman Catholic [...] More

Italian Catholic Federation Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 8/1/2020
  • Amount: $1,000
  • Since 1964, the Italian Catholic Federation has awarded over $2,000,000.00 in scholarships to more than 6,000 high school students, of the Catholic faith, attending college. To apply, students must achieve a GPA of at least 3.2 and meet one of the following: are Roman Catholic and of Italian Descent who live within the Roman Catholic Dioceses of Arizona, California, Illinois and Nevada, only [...] More

IWEA Clean Water Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 1/31/2021
  • Amount: $1,000
  • The IWEA Clean Water Scholarship is designed to aid students preparing for careers working with the water environment. IWEA may award two scholarships of up to $1,000 each year. Scholarship recipients will be announced at IWEA's Annual Conference, traditionally held in March. Scholarships will be applied to the next academic year. Applicants must: be an Illinois resident OR attend an accredited [...] More

JCCIA John Fischetti Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/30/2020
  • Amount: $2,000
  • To be eligible for the JCCIA John Fischetti Scholarship, applicants: must be male students of full Italian ancestry or who are 50% Italian ancestry; must be either an undergraduate in journalism or communication or a college student who has been accepted into college with the intent of establishing a major in journalism or media communications; and, must be a resident of the Chicago Metropolitan [...] More

Jewish United Fund Merit Scholarship Program

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2021
  • Amount: $1,000
  • The Jewish United Fund offers a number of annual merit scholarships to high school, college and graduate students to age 23 who demonstrate significant leadership skills. Applicants must be enrolled in grade 10, 11 or 12 or must be no older than 23 years old and enrolled in a college or graduate program and must reside or attend school in metropolitan Chicago. Students must have also applied to [...] More

Jill Doherty Memorial Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 4/30/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Edison Park Community Council is proud to present the Jill Doherty Memorial Scholarship. To be eligible, applicants: must be 21 years of age or younger, a high school senior or college freshman; must be an Edison Park resident at the time of application (north of the Kennedy Expressway and west of Harlem to the city limits); and, cannot be the child of a current director or officer of the [...] More

Karen George Chicago Speech Therapy Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 5/1/2020
  • Amount: $2,500
  • In an effort to support the field of speech-language pathology, we are offering a scholarship to select candidates who share our passion for helping children. The scholarship is based on many factors, so do not get discouraged based on your grades or GRE score. Must be accepted and currently enrolled in a graduate program for speech-language pathology, have a clear passion to work with children [...] More

Leopold Education Project Scholarship Program

  • Application Deadline: 2/15/2021
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Leopold Education Project Scholarship Program provides educational resources for students pursuing a degree in a natural resource field. Applicants must be a graduating high school senior or high school graduate (diploma or G.E.D. certificate) who is enrolled or planning to enroll in full-time course of study at an accredited two- or four-year community college, college or university. [...] More

Loyola University Catholic Heritage Award

  • Application Deadline: 12/1/2020
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Catholic Heritage Award, (awarded for four years of consecutive, full-time enrollment) is made to new freshmen graduating from a Catholic high school within the Archdiocese of Chicago or the Diocese of Joliet. This award is restricted to tuition. Students graduating from a Jesuit high school in Chicago will be awarded the Jesuit Heritage Award instead. For more information or to apply, please [...] More

Marianjoy Scholarship Program

  • Application Deadline: 3/27/2021
  • Amount: $2,500
  • Each year, Marianjoy proudly awards scholarships to students with disabilities to help them to further their education, pursue opportunities for growth, explore new possibilities, and achieve their dreams. Scholarship recipients are selected without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, age, or national origin, and have a permanent physical disability or functional impairment. For more [...] More

Minority Teachers of Illinois Scholarship Program

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2021
  • Amount: $5,000
  • To be eligible for the Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program you must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen or meet the "undocumented student" criteria of the RISE act, be a resident of Illinois, be a minority student of either African American/Black, Hispanic American, Asian American or Native American origin, be a high school graduate or hold a GED, be enrolled or [...] More

NIADA Foundation Regional Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 3/9/2021
  • Amount: $3,500
  • The NIADA Foundation proudly sponsors four young men or women each year who have displayed outstanding abilities in education. These students will each receive a $3,500 scholarship to the college or university of their choice. The participating regions are found at the scholarship provider's website. An essay will also be required as part of the application. For more information or to apply, [...] More

Robert Sherman Fine Art Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 3/30/2021
  • Amount: $1,000
  • The Robert Sherman Fine Art Scholarship was established to foster the study of art and advance the development of artists in keeping with the mission of the Glenview Art League. It is for a high school senior planning to pursue a college degree in a visual art. Applicants must submit a CD or flash drive with at least 10 images of their work and proof of college acceptance as a visual arts major [...] More

Sean Patrick French Memorial Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 12/1/2020
  • Amount: $2,500
  • The Sean Patrick French Memorial Scholarship Fund was created by the family of Sean Patrick French following his tragic death as a passenger in an underage drunk driving car wreck on January 1, 2002, and is administered by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. Sean was a popular junior at Chatham High School, an honor roll student, and a record-setting runner. The scholarship fund, in [...] More

Tall Clubs International Student Scholarships

  • Application Deadline: 3/1/2021
  • Amount: $1,000
  • Tall Clubs International annually awards student scholarship(s) of up to $1,000 each to tall students who are under 21 years of age and attending their first year of college in the following fall. To enter, applicants must be under 21, entering college in the upcoming fall and meet the TCI height requirement minimums: 5'10" for women and 6'2" for men, barefoot. You must also find a local Tall [...] More

The AAF-Greater Evansville Scholarship Award

  • Application Deadline: 3/31/2021
  • Amount: Varies
  • The AAF-Greater Evansville awards scholarships to deserving high school and/or college students yearly in April. To be eligible, students must plan to pursue a career in advertising, marketing, public relations or graphic design. The applicant must be graduating from a high school or currently attending college in Vanderburgh, Warrick, Posey, Gibson, Pike in Indianna or Edwards, White, Wabash, [...] More

The Anhelo Project Dream Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 1/29/2021
  • Amount: Varies
  • The Anhelo Project is a Chicago based non-profit organization that works to support undocumented students pursuing a post-secondary education within the State of Illinois. Students do not need to have DACA status, and we strongly encourage undocumented students from all racial/ethnic backgrounds to apply. The Anhelo Project Dream Scholarship will be awarded to eligible high school seniors, [...] More

The Illinois Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs, Inc. Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 9/1/2020
  • Amount: $250
  • Multiples of Illinois (also known as Illinois Organization of Mothers of Twins Clubs, Inc.) is offering SEVEN scholarships in for higher education! There are five scholarships available to parents of multiples, and two scholarships available to any daughter or son of Multiples of Illinois member. There are five $150 Scholarships chosen at random to any mother or father of multiples. There are two [...] More

The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Academic Scholarship

  • Application Deadline: 2/1/2021
  • Amount: $8,000
  • Educational scholarship funds from grants administered by the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago are available for Jewish college and graduate students. Approximately $500,000 is available each year for full-time students, predominantly those legally domiciled in the metropolitan Chicago area, who are identified as having promise for significant contributions in their chosen careers. [...] More

Toyota TeenDrive365 Video Challenge

  • Application Deadline: 2/26/2021
  • Amount: $15,000
  • You have the power to prevent distracted driving among teens. Make a 30-60 second video that inspires your peers to drive safely, and you'll be entered for a chance to win one of 15 great prizes. Approach your video submission as your chance to find a message that would resonate with you and your peers. If your friends - and teens throughout the United States - were going to watch ONE video that [...] More

U.S. Army Loan Repayment Program

  • Application Deadline: 6/23/2020
  • Amount: $1,500
  • U.S Army Loan Repayment Program helps servicemen repay qualified student loans. Out of all the service branches, the Army’s CLRP benefits package is typically regarded as the best, since it provides up to $65,000 in lifetime student loan forgiveness. The benefit is doled out on an annual basis, beginning as soon as a Soldier completes his first year of qualifying service, and provided at a rate [...] More

UChicago Promise

  • Application Deadline: Varies
  • Amount: Varies
  • UChicago Promise is the University of Chicago’s multi-pronged initiative designed to help students and families throughout the City of Chicago gain admission to, pay for, and thrive in college. UChicago Promise offers resources and special scholarships to help guide students in the City of Chicago to selective four-year institutions. Students admitted to the University of Chicago for [...] More

Walgreens Expressions Challenge

  • Application Deadline: 11/30/2020
  • Amount: $2,000
  • Are you currently a high school teen in the Chicago or St. Louis area? Do you have an opinion about Sexting, Self-Esteem, Bullying, Teen Pregnancy, STD prevention, Abstinence, or Sexual Responsibility Awareness or maybe something else? Have you ever talked about these issues with your friends? What are your thoughts on these topics? How would you creatively express your perspective to educate [...] More

Latest College & Financial Aid News

COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Students with Disabilities

April 9, 2020

by Susan Dutca-Lovell

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, colleges and universities quickly transitioned from in-person instruction to online learning, inadvertently overlooking the needs of students with disabilities and "placing them on the backburner 'en masse.'" While eductors have been transferring two months' worth of lesson plans to digital format, disabled students have been left without adequate digital accessibility to succeed in the unprecedented and current remote learning environment. [...]

Coronavirus Puts Higher Education in Perilous Position

April 7, 2020

by Izzy Hall

Higher education has long been seen as a pillar in American life, as an essential element of our economic system and society. But the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the underlying health conditions of this cultural institution. Many colleges and universities have been struggling to meet the needs of students while also keeping themselves above water financially. While we hope that our lives will return to normal when this crisis is over, it is hard to imagine that higher education will ever be the same. [...]

Scholarship Deadlines Extended Due to COVID-19

April 2, 2020

by Izzy Hall

Just as schools have closed their doors due to coronavirus, charities and non-profit organizations have had to shutter down. While they might suspend board meetings, community fundraisers or award ceremonies, chances are they haven't shut down their scholarship offerings - in fact, many non-profits have extended their scholarship application windows from mid- or late March into April, May or even June. If you've been applying for scholarships this spring and missed out on some March or early April deadlines, check your account - you may find that some scholarships have had their due dates pushed back, giving you more time to submit an application. [...]

Last Reviewed: April 2020

Illinois Scholarships

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