Federal and State Scholarships
Illinois General Assembly Scholarship
The Illinois General Assembly Scholarship is awarded by your state senator or state representative to residents of their legislative districts. Awards vary in amount and renewable policy.
General Criteria
- Be a member of the legislator's district
- Maintain Illinois residency
- Must enroll within 20 days of the beginning of the semester
- Must be enrolled in a degree program
- Other criteria decided upon by the individual legislator awarding the scholarship
This scholarship waives full tuition only for undergraduate, graduate and professional students enrolled on campus, or Range IV tuition assessed for students studying abroad or enrolled in co-op programs. Students who are registered in Guided Individual Study (GIS) programs or extra-mural studies may also qualify, provided they are enrolled in a degree seeking program. For more information, contact your state senator or representative.
Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois
The Gold Apple Scholars of Illinois program recruits and prepares bright and talented high school graduates who represent a rich ethnic diversity for successful teaching careers in high need schools throughout Illinois and provides scholarships to students pursuing teaching degrees. Students may nominate themselves or be nominated by a teacher, counselor, principal or other non-family adult. Students must be nominated on or before November 30 preceding the academic year for which the applicant is applying. For Golden Apple Scholar of Illinois applications, contact the Golden Apple Foundation.
Illinois Future Teacher Corps
The Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) Scholarship Program encourages academically talented students to pursue teaching careers in the State of Illinois. Recipients must agree to teach for at least five years at a nonprofit Illinois public, private or parochial preschool or an Illinois public elementary or secondary school in either a teacher shortage discipline or agree to teach at a hard-to-staff school. Applicants may receive additional funds if they agree to teach in a shortage discipline and do so at a hard-to-staff school. If the teaching requirement is not fulfilled the scholarship converts to a loan that must be repaid. Selection criteria include cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA), Expected Family Contribution (EFC), minority student status, and renewal status. Students must apply on or before March 1 preceding the academic year for which the applicant is applying.
Minority Teacher of Illinois
The Minority Teacher of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program encourages academically talented minority students to pursue careers as teachers at nonprofit Illinois preschool, elementary and secondary schools. The program also aims to provide minority children with access to a greater number of positive minority role models. Recipients must agree to begin teaching within one year of graduation at a nonprofit Illinois public, private or parochial preschool, elementary or secondary school that the Illinois State Board of Education has certified as a school with at least 30% minority students and must teach one year for each year of scholarship assistance or else the scholarship converts to a loan that must be repaid. Students must apply on or before March 1 preceding the academic year for which the applicant is applying.
Reserve Officer Training Corps Scholarships (ROTC)
The University of Illinois participates in ROTC programs for Air Force, Army and Navy. Scholarships opportunities may be available for these programs. Please visit the following websites for additional information.
Air Force ROTC
Army ROTC
Navy ROTC
