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.
Scholarships Available Now
2018-2019 CEFCU Member Appreciation Scholarship
Citizens Equity First Credit Union (CEFCU) has a long history of assisting its membership in securing adequate financial support for higher education. CEFCU recognizes the benefits to the entire community when opportunities for a college education are within the reach of deserving and talented students. In recognition of CEFCU's commitment to higher education and Illinois State University's ongoing educational excellence, the CECFU Member Appreciation Scholarship has been established.
Three $1,250 scholarships may be awarded each year to students meeting the criteria specified. Please review the online application for details. The CEFCU Member Appreciation Scholarship is a nonrenewable award.
Application deadline is at 12 midnight on Friday, May 11, 2018. Scholarship selection will be made after July 1, 2018.
Friends of Donna Mauk Memorial Scholarship
The Friends of Donna Mauk Memorial Scholarship was established by Ed Warshaw and friends in May 2009. This scholarship is intended to help students who have lost a parent to cancer or are battling or survived cancer themselves. Donna Mauk lost her life to cancer in 2008. Although never a student at Illinois State University (ISU), she shared her life with an ISU grad (Steve Mauk, ‘79), and many of Donna’s friends were ISU alumni. Donna was a frequent visitor to the Bloomington/Normal community, and she would be pleased to be able to help ISU students who have had to deal with the loss of a parent due to cancer or have or are battling cancer themselves.
Application deadline is 12 midnight on Friday, May 11, 2018.
Decisions will be made over the Summer.
This fund was established in 2006 to honor Olamide Adeyooye, a senior whose life was tragically ended three months prior to her graduation. Candidates must have demonstrated academic achievement, financial need, and a commitment to campus and/or community service; and have completed at least 30 hours of credit at Illinois State University.
To be considered for this scholarship, you must complete the application and you must upload one essay that outlines (in 250 words or less) your specific involvement in campus/community activities and community service in Bloomington/Normal and that explains the impact of your contributions to ISU and the surrounding communities. Demonstrated unmet need is determined by filing the 2018-2019 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2018-2019 academic year
Application deadline is at 12 midnight on Friday, May 11, 2018. Scholarship selection will be made after July 1, 2018.
The Class of 1985 Scholarship and the Class of 1986 Scholarship were established by their respective graduating classes to acknowledge students' commitments to the Illinois State University campus and surrounding community through involvement in campus activities and demonstrated leadership.
You can apply for one or both of these scholarships. As part of the application process you must upload the required essay and 1 letter of recommendation.
The essay should outline (in 250 words or less) your specific involvement in campus and community activities and explains your leadership roles, your leadership skills, and the impact of your contributions to ISU and the surrounding community.
Please note: you must upload only ONE essay and ONE letter of recommendation to apply for one or both scholarships.
Class of 1985 criteria:
Eligible applicants must have:
- 30 completed hours of credit at ISU at the time of application
- Minimum 2.50 ISU GPA – after Spring 2017 grades post
- Demonstrated unmet need as determined by filing the 2017-2018 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2017-2018 academic year
- Demonstrated leadership and participation in ISU campus/community activities
Class of 1986 criteria:
Eligible applicants must have:
- 30 completed hours of credit at ISU at the time of application
- Minimum 3.00 ISU GPA – after Spring 2017 grades post
- Demonstrated academic excellence
- Demonstrated leadership and participation in ISU campus/community activities
Application deadline is at 12 midnight on Friday, May 11, 2018. Scholarship selection will be made after July 1, 2018.
Application for Senior Citizen Courses Act Tuition Waiver
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 any fees. Must be age 65 or older with an annual household income below the threshold amount provided in the statute.
http://policy.illinoisstate.edu/fiscal/7-7-8.shtml )
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.