Finding scholarships

Scholarships are gifts. They don't need to be repaid. There are thousands of them, offered by schools, employers, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, communities, religious groups, and professional and social organizations. During your search for scholarships, you can use the U.S. Department of Labor’s free scholarship search tool.

When applying for scholarships, be aware of scams. Some organizations imitate different types of college providers using government- or professional-sounding names. These scams usually ask you for money, or ask you to attend seminars to learn more about their programs. 

Obtaining a scholarship or grant should not cost you money, should not require you to attend a seminar, and can never be guaranteed. Be cautious if a program requests unusual personal information, such as a bank account, credit card or Social Security number. Learn more about financial aid scams at the Scholarship and Financial Aid Scams page of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Consumer Information website.

Below, you can find a list of scholarships you may qualify for. Please note that this is not a comprehensive list.

FAFSA grants

After submitting your FAFSA, you are automatically considered for three types of grants:

• State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant: this grant does not need to be repaid, and is available to eligible Illinois residents who attend approved Illinois colleges and demonstrate financial need. 
• Federal Pell Grant (Pell): this grant is need-based and can help you pay for any educational expenses, such as tuition, fees, room and board, and/or living expenses.
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG): this is a need-based grant available to undergraduate students. First priority for this grant is given to Federal Pell Grant recipients.

Illinois grants

AIM HIGH Grant Program

If you attend one of Illinois' public, 4-year colleges and meet the eligibility criteria, you may be able to receive an AIM HIGH grant. The grant can help you pay for the costs of your undergraduate studies. Each participating university's AIM HIGH grant program is described in detail on the university's website. For complete information about AIM HIGH, visit your university's webpage.     

For future teachers

Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program

To qualify for this scholarship, you must:

1. Plan to teach at a nonprofit Illinois public, private, or parochial preschool, elementary school, or secondary school, for which the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has determined that no less than 30 percent of the enrolled students are African American/Black, Hispanic American, Asian American, or Native American; and 
2. Be of African American/Black, Hispanic American, Asian American or Native American origin or are a qualified bilingual minority applicant

This scholarship is for $7,500 per year. Funds from this program may be used to pay for tuition, fees and room and board, or commuter allowances, if applicable. This scholarship may be received for a maximum of the equivalent of four academic years (eight semesters or 12 quarters) of full-time enrollment. You must teach at a qualifying school for at least 5 years or you may owe a portion of your scholarship back with interest. If you begin teaching at a qualifying school later, but still within 5 years of entering repayment, the amount you owe may be reduced in proportion to the amount of the teaching obligation you completed.

Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program

If you are a teacher or an academically talented student pursuing a career in special education, you may be eligible for the Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver Program if you teach at an Illinois school that has been approved by the Illinois State Board of Education. This program will exempt you from paying tuition and mandatory fees at an eligible institution for up to four calendar years, so long as you have not yet obtained an initial licensure in any area of special education.

Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship Program

If you work or have worked in early childhood education and you're seeking additional credentials and/or a degree in early childhood education, you may be eligible for the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program. 

Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois

The Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois Program encourages academically talented Illinois students, especially minority students, to pursue teaching careers, especially at high-need, hard-to-staff schools by providing tuition assistance (tuition, fees and room and board or commuter allowance) at one of the participating colleges.  You may qualify for up to $2,500 as a freshman or sophomore, and up to $5,000 as a junior or senior.

For future healthcare workers

Nursing Education Scholarship Program

If you are pursuing a certificate in practical nursing, an associates degree in nursing, a hospital-based diploma in nursing or a bachelor’s or graduate degree in nursing and demonstrate the greatest financial need among qualified students, you may be able to receive the Nursing Education Scholarship.

AOTF Scholarship Program

This scholarship provides $500 to residents of Illinois enrolled in an accredited occupational therapy educational program in Illinois at either the professional level or for an associate degree.

The DuPage Medical Society Scholarships

The Foundation strives to meet this mission by providing scholarship grants to health care students from DuPage County. To be eligible for a scholarship grant from the Foundation, students must be enrolled in or accepted for admission to a professional education or training program before applying, and they must exhibit a strong academic background in addition to financial need. Students in prerequisite and undergraduate curriculum (i.e. pre-med) are not eligible for these scholarships. The number of scholarships granted varies each year. The average amount of each scholarship is $1000.

For veterans and public servants

Deceased, Disabled, and MIA/POW Scholarship

The State of Illinois provides an education scholarship for the dependents of veterans who are either Missing In Action, a Prisoner of War, died while on active duty, 100% disabled due to service connected disabilities or died as a result of a service connected disabilities.

Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) Program

This program is available to veterans who have served a minimum of one year of active duty in the armed forces of the United States. Applicants must have received an honorable discharge to be eligible for the award. This is a full tuition scholarship, and recipients must be enrolled at an Illinois public university or community college.

Grant Program for Dependents of Police or Fire Officers

This program is available to the spouses and children of officers killed or disabled in the line of duty. Applicants must be enrolled at least half time at an approved state college or university. Grant amounts vary depending on financial need, school of attendance and course level.

For future real estate agents

The Illinois Real Estate Educational Foundation (REEF)

REEF puts together a list of scholarships intended to help qualified students pursue an education, which will lead them into productive careers in the real estate industry. It is the Foundation’s hope that each recipient will, during his or her career, contribute to the Foundation in support of the scholarship they received. The resulting growth of the fund will ensure other qualified individuals a similar opportunity to pursue a vocation in the real estate industry.