Scholarships
Your grades, achievements, and activities during high school typically determine the scholarships for which you are eligible. Often, the organization or individual donor providing the scholarship wishes to reward or encourage certain characteristics or behaviors such as strong academic credentials, leadership or community service activities, or plans to enter a certain profession.
Search for scholarships continually
Scholarships come from a variety of sources. Some are available through Illinois State University. Our ScholarshipFinder can also help you find awards within the University. Professional organizations, social clubs, employers, community organizations, and individual donors provide many more. Each scholarship provider determines when and how they will select the recipient, whether or not the award is renewable year after year, when the money will be awarded, and how it should be used. The more often you are searching and applying for scholarships, the less likely it is you will miss something for which you could have qualified.
Understand the timeline and process
Most scholarships are awarded on an annual basis. Usually that means applications are accepted in the fall or spring, winners are notified a few weeks to a few months later, and the actual awards are made the next fall. Unfortunately, because of this timing, if you are trying to cover an outstanding bill you have right now, scholarships are unlikely to help. Find out how the process works when you receive a scholarship.
2020-2021 Lopez & Navarro Scholarship
The Lopez and Navarro Scholarship is intended to provide financial assistance to support undocumented and DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) students in their dream of receiving a college degree. The number of scholarships given and the award amount will depend on available funding. The application for this awarding cycle closed February 19, 2021.
2021-2022 Robert & Michelle Howell Scholarship
The Robert & Michelle Howell Scholarship was established to assist Illinois State University students who have a physical disability who have a financial need. Additional information about the scholarship and the application process can be found at the 2021-2022 Robert & Michelle Howell Scholarship page.
Senior Citizen Courses Act (110 ILCS 990)
Permits senior citizens, over the age of 65 who are accepted to the institution, to enroll in regularly scheduled credit courses at public institutions of higher education without payment of tuition. Does not include payment of fees. Must be age 65 or older with an annual household income below the threshold amount provided in the statute.
Get more information
Our blog can help you:
- more effectively search for scholarships,
- improve the quality of your applications, and
- help you write a better scholarship essay.
Federal Student Aid also provides a good explanation of how scholarships work.
For questions regarding scholarships, please call (309) 438-2740 or email Scholarships@IllinoisState.edu.