Are you a student in Illinois looking for financial assistance to continue your education? Look no further! We have compiled a comprehensive list of 18 scholarships specifically for Illinois students. These scholarships cover a variety of fields and are available for students at different levels of education. So, whether you are a high school senior, an undergraduate, or a graduate student, there is bound to be a scholarship on this list that fits your needs. Keep reading to find out more about these amazing opportunities and start applying today!
CFDS X Crystal Bridges Heartland Scholar Awards – $25,000
Offered by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CDFA) and the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, the CFDS X Crystal Bridges Heartland Scholar Awards will award five scholarships worth $25,000 each to “student design talent born in Heartland states and/or consider the Heartland their home base – having resided there for over 5 years – as well as those studying in America’s Heartland.” The scholarship is open to undergraduate juniors and first-year graduate students, who are enrolled in a fashion design program at an American college or university. Applicants must be enrolled full-time, be in good academic standing, and be majoring in a fashion-related field. In addition to the financial award, finalists have the opportunity to present their work to CFDA members and CFDA’s professional community. Recipients are selected using a holistic criteria of financial need, creativity, innovation, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and sustainability in fashion.
Greenhouse Scholars Scholarship – Up to $5,000 (renewable for up to 4 years)
Greenhouse Scholars is an educational organization dedicated to empowering student leaders from low-income communities. To become eligible for a Greenhouse Scholars scholarship, students must be a graduating high school senior from Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, New York, or North Carolina at the time of application.
Quad City Engineering and Science Council (QCESC) Scholarship – $2,500
The Quad City Engineering and Science Council (QCESC) Scholarship is designed to benefit students from the Quad Cities who are interested in pursuing STEM careers. Applicants must be high school seniors, residents of Mercer, Rock Island, Henry, Whiteside, Carroll, Knox, Lee, Clinton, Scott, Muscatine, or Louisa County, and plan to pursue a STEM degree at an accredited four-year college or university, community or junior college, or a trade school.
SVS (Balaji) Temple of Greater Chicago – $10,000 (over 4 years)
Each year, the SVS (Balaji) Temple of Greater Chicago awards scholarships to students entering their first year of undergraduate school. Applicants must be the immediate family members of devotees.
Benjamin Cottone Scholarship – $5,000
Offered by the Unico National Foundation, the Benjamin Cottone Scholarship is annually awarded to Italian American students pursuing careers in medicine. Applicants must be U.S. citizens with Italian heritage who plan to enroll or are currently enrolled in an accredited medical school within the United States and plan to obtain a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy degree.
Bernard and Carolyn Torraco Memorial Nursing Scholarships – $2,500
Offered by the Unico National Foundation, Bernard and Carolyn Torraco Memorial Nursing Scholarships are annually awarded to college students pursuing careers in nursing. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, be currently attending an accredited campus-based nursing degree program in the United States and completing core nursing courses, and meet a minimum GPA requirement of 3.0.
Ralph J. Torraco Scholarships for Special Education – $2,500
Offered by the Unico National Foundation, Ralph J. Torraco Scholarships for Special Education are annually awarded to students pursuing degrees in the field of special education. Applicants must be enrolled full-time in an accredited campus-based college or university program in the United States, be U.S. citizens, and meet a minimum GPA requirement of 3.0.
Sergeant John Basilone Memorial Graduate Scholarship – $3,000
Offered by the Unico National Foundation, the Sergeant John Basilone Memorial Graduate Scholarship is annually awarded to Italian American college seniors who plan to pursue graduate degrees. Applicants must be full-time students attending accredited campus-based college or university programs in the United States, be pursuing graduate study next year, and be a U.S. citizen of Italian descent.
Unico Foundation Undergraduate Awards Scholarship – $6,000 (disbursed over 4 years)
The Unico National Foundation annually awards four scholarships to Italian American college-bound high school seniors. Those interested fill out one application and are automatically considered for all four scholarships. Applicants must be U.S. citizens of Italian descent, be enrolling in college immediately following high school, and meet a minimum GPA requirement of 3.5.
AISES Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Foundation Scholarship – $2,500 per year for up to 4 years
The American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) offers various scholarships to students who are studying in a STEM field and identify as American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islanders, and Indigenous peoples of Canada. The AISES Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Foundation Scholarship is open to American Indian high school seniors who reside in one of the 23 states serviced by the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Pacific Corporation and its affiliated companies. Applicants must have a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher. Eligible states include Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, Arkansas, Louisiana, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Iowa.
Soil and Water Stewardship Scholarship – Varies
Offered by the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL), the Soil and Water Stewardship Scholarship is annually awarded to graduating high school seniors in the community who are interested in natural resource studies. Each applicant must be a graduating high school senior or high school graduate, be enrolled or planning to enroll as a full-time student at an accredited two- or four-year community college, college, or university, study in a natural resource field such as fish or wildlife biology, conservation or management, air quality, botany, conservation education, ecology, forestry, hydrology, soils, pollution control or water quality, and have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Additionally, all applicants must have their permanent address in Boone, Cook, Dekalb, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, or Winnebago Counties.
Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois – Up to $23,000
The Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois is a tuition assistance program for high school seniors and undergraduate students in their first two years of study, who are interested in becoming teachers in Illinois schools-of-need. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or DACA recipients and residents of Illinois. Additionally, applicants must be Illinois high school seniors or undergraduate freshmen or sophomores at an Illinois partner university or community college.
IHLAEF Scholarships – $1,000-$4,000
The Illinois Hotel & Lodging Association Educational Foundation (IHLAEF) offers a scholarship for Illinois students who are pursuing hospitality management degrees. Applicants must be a permanent resident of Illinois and a U.S. citizen OR a permanent U.S. resident for at least 12 months on the date of application; be a current undergraduate student enrolled full-time (12 credit hours or more), an undergraduate student enrolled in at least 6 credit hours per semester in an accredited college or university hotel and/or hospitality management degree granting program in the U.S. and are also employed a minimum of 20 hours per week in the hospitality industry, or a high school senior or graduate who has been accepted in an accredited college or university hotel and/or hospitality management degree granting program in the U.S.; and have a minimum GPA of at least 2.5/4.0 or 3.5/5.0 (C+).
IRAEF Scholarship – Varies
Each year, the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (IRAEF) offers scholarships to support those pursuing culinary arts. Applicants must be a permanent resident of Illinois, be accepted or plan to apply to an accredited culinary or hospitality school, college or university; be enrolled as a full-time or substantial part-time student, taking a minimum of 9 credit hours each term; and be majoring in culinary, restaurant management, foodservice or another related program.
IWEA Clean Water Scholarship – Up to $1,000
Offered by the Illinois Water Environment Association, the Clean Water Scholarship is an annual prize awarded to an undergraduate and graduate students studying in a water-related field. Applicants must be Illinois residents or attend an accredited college or university in Illinois, have completed at least two years of college by the time they receive the award, be a full-time student enrolled in a water-related field of study, such as civil or environmental engineering, environmental science, or wastewater systems operation, and have a GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Applications open in October each year.
IWEA Environmental Career Scholarship – $500
Offered by the Illinois Water Environment Association, the Environmental Career Scholarship is an annual prize awarded to physical or occupational therapy degree program students. Applicants must be enrolled in a degree program in physical or occupational therapy and be an Illinois resident. Applications open in October each year.
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Academic Scholarship – Up to $8,000
Each year, the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago offers scholarships to help Jewish students afford higher education. Applicants must be Jewish, born and raised in the Chicago metropolitan area, plan on remaining in the Chicago area after graduating, be entering a full-time graduate program or be entering junior or senior year of an undergraduate program in a “helping profession,” and demonstrate financial need and career promise.
Palumbo Family Foundation Scholarship – Up to $11,000
The Palumbo Family Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Chicagoland, annually awards scholarships to local students. Scholarships are open to high school seniors, students with GED diplomas, undergraduate college students, and students at vocational or trade schools. Applicants must meet a minimum 3.0 GPA requirement, come from a family with an adjusted gross family income of $63,000 or less, be U.S. citizens, and have lived in Illinois’ Cook, Dupage, Kane, Lake, or Will counties for at least six months.
In conclusion, the journey to finding the perfect scholarship doesn’t have to be daunting. Whether you’re just beginning your search or looking to expand your options, our comprehensive scholarship directory offers a wide range of opportunities catering to diverse academic interests and backgrounds. For a more personalized approach, consider leveraging the power of TUN AI, our innovative tool designed to match you with scholarships uniquely suited to your profile. Start exploring today and take a step closer to securing the financial support you need for your educational journey.