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

 

The Application for these 4 scholarships will be available from October 1st until November 15th, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. CST.

 

Student Alumni Council/Marian H. Dean Legacy Scholarship and the Donald L. and Marie E. Dillow Family Memorial Scholarship 

The Illinois State University Student Alumni Council offers a limited number of legacy scholarships to sons, daughters, siblings, or grandchildren of Illinois State Graduates  each year.  Applicants that select the Student Alumni Council/Marian H. Dean Legacy Scholarship within the application will also be considered for the Donald L. and Marie E. Dillow Family Memorial Scholarship. Each award is $500 per semester for two semesters, not automatically renewed but student can reapply.

Criteria/Eligibility 

• Accepted for full-time enrollment or enrolled full-time as an Undergraduate student and in good standing at Illinois State University
• Demonstrated academic achievement, as evidenced by:

For current Illinois State students or College Transfer students: a cumulative GPA of at least 2.8 on a 4.0 scale at Illinois State University or other previously attended higher education institutions (if applicable).

For High School students: a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

• Candidate must be a part of a legacy family tradition, which means any of the following family members must be an ISU Graduate: mother, father, sister, brother, grandmother, and/or grandfather. The data entered by the applicant will be verified by Alumni Engagement to confirm family members listed are ISU Graduates.
• Demonstrated leadership as evidenced by contributions to the enrichment of the individual’s school or community through active involvement in co-curricular and/or community activities. The recipient(s) will have demonstrated individual initiative, creativity, responsibility, cooperation, and leadership ability.
• Exhibited potential as a future alumni leader.

 

Alumni Association Legacy Student Partial Tuition Waiver

The Illinois State University Student Alumni Council offers a limited number of legacy student partial tuition waivers to sons, daughters, siblings, grandchildren of Illinois State Graduates  to be awarded to selected students annually.

Criteria/Eligibility 

• Accepted for full-time enrollment or enrolled full-time as an Undergraduate student and in good standing at Illinois State University
• Demonstrated academic achievement, as evidenced by:

For current Illinois State students or College Transfer students: a cumulative GPA of at least 2.8 on a 4.0 scale at Illinois State University or other previously attended higher education institutions (if applicable).

For High School students: a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale

• Candidate must be a part of a legacy family tradition, which means any of the following family members must be an ISU Graduate: mother, father, sister, brother, grandmother, and/or grandfather. The data entered by the applicant will be verified by the Alumni Engagement to confirm family members listed are ISU Graduates.
• Demonstrated leadership as evidenced by contributions to the enrichment of the individual’s school or community through active involvement in co-curricular and/or community activities. The recipient(s) will have demonstrated individual initiative, creativity, responsibility, cooperation, and leadership ability.
• Exhibited potential as a future alumni leader.

 

Alumni Association Scholarship

In 2009, the Alumni Association launched an initiative to create the Illinois State University Alumni Association Scholarship. This scholarship addresses the accessibility of Undergraduate education to students who exhibit outstanding academic achievement and leadership, and who demonstrate a financial need. Additional consideration is given to students whose immediate family members have attended or graduated from Illinois State University. Award is $1,000 per semester and will be automatically renewed based on student’s good academic standing and full-time enrollment up to a certain time frame.

 Criteria/Eligibility 

• Accepted for full-time enrollment or enrolled full-time as an Undergraduate or Graduate student and in good standing at Illinois State University.
• Demonstrated leadership as evidenced by contributions to the enrichment of the individual’s school or community through active involvement in co-curricular and/or community activities. The recipient(s) will have demonstrated individual initiative, creativity, responsibility, cooperation, and leadership ability. 
• Demonstrated academic achievement, as evidenced by:

For current Illinois State students or College Transfer students: a cumulative GPA of at least 2.8 on a 4.0 scale at Illinois State University or other previously attended higher education institutions (if applicable).

For High School students: a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or an ACT score of at least 20 or an SAT score of at least 1020.

Additional consideration is given to students that have demonstrated a financial need through application, interview, and/or filing and completing the 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Recipients must use the award for educational and/or housing expenses.

Please note: the scholarships and the application listed above are not related to similarly name scholarships awarded by the Illinois State University Admissions Office.  Visit the Admissions Office website for details on their awards;  https://illinoisstate.edu/admissions/scholarships  . 

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.

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