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
2017-2018 Class of 1985 & 1986
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. Application deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 26, 2017.
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
2017-2018 Olamide Adeyooye Scholarship
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 2017-2018 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2017-2018 academic year.
Application deadline is 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 26, 2017.
RehabMart.com is owned and operated by Occupational and Physical Therapists who also happen to be parents of disabled children. Their scholarship fund was created to promote awareness to the cause of making higher education accessible for students living with disabilities. The scholarship was established for students with disabilities, and for students pursuing a college degree in health sciences/healthcare-related field, along with students pursuing special education degrees.
The RehabMart Scholarship Review Board will award scholarship amounts in the range of $250-$2500. Please see the scholarship website for specific requirements.
Deadline for this scholarship: Annual deadline of May 31, 2017
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.