Scholarships in Illinois to Apply to in 2024

About scholarships in Illinois

Illinois is home to many students looking for higher education opportunities. With prestigious institutions for those who demonstrate academic achievement as well as larger and more accepting institutions, Illinois offers many different options for college students. 

Unfortunately, college costs are rapidly rising, making it difficult for low-income or middle-class students to afford their costs. As a result, many undergraduate students and graduates now rely on student loans to finance their education.

In the US alone, 45 million borrowers are paying off student loans and collectively owe $1.71 trillion. Illinois is no exception, with many students struggling to pay their tuition and other educational expenses without taking out debt. Though student loans allow lower-income students to pursue their goals, they can also be difficult to pay off, especially if one takes out private loans with high interest rates. 

Student debt can also make it difficult to pursue other life goals, like buying homes, saving for retirement, starting businesses, or even having children. As a result, it can be critical for students with financial need to seek out financial aid other than loans. This aid can include education scholarship opportunities, federal grants, or aid directly from one's college. Keep reading to find exclusive scholarships for students in Illinois.

Illinois students and student debt

Colleges in Illinois

Illinois colleges have an average acceptance rate of 58.01%. Illinois has some prestigious and highly selective options like the University of Chicago, with a 7.31% acceptance rate. The University of Chicago ranks sixth out of national universities and has 6,989 current undergraduate students. 

Northwestern University is another prestigious college in Illinois, ranking ninth out of national universities with 8,194 undergraduate students.

Students looking for a larger and less competitive college experience can consider schools such as the University of Illinois-Chicago. Students who want a smaller college experience can also find great options in Illinois, such as Eureka College with just 511 undergraduate students.

The graduation rate of Illinois students is 65.18%, with women having a higher graduation rate than men, 67.39%compared to 62.55%. 

Illinois college demographics

Illinois colleges have a total of 693,740 students, 411,509 of whom are female as compared to just 282,231 men. 536,769of the college students in Illinois are undergraduates and 156,971 are graduates. Of all college students in Illinois, 350,917take fully online classes and another 149,814 take some online courses. As a result, just 193,009 students in Illinois take fully in-person classes.

340,594 Illinois college students are white but there's also a significant Hispanic population in college, with 133,274Hispanic students. Additionally, there are 83,378 Black students, 51,153 Asian students, and 20,402 mixed-race students in Illinois colleges.

College costs in Illinois

The average cost of living is $14,306 for on-campus students and $13,680 for off-campus students. Tuition for in-state students costs an average of $5,475, resulting in living costs being the highest expense for many students. In-state graduate students pay a higher average tuition rate of $12,394.

Out-of-state students pay an average of $40,868 if living on campus and $40,242 if living off campus. For out-of-state students, tuition alone costs an average of $21,070 for undergraduate students and $19,921 for graduate students.

While 66.72% of undergraduate students receive financial aid, the average aid amount is just $8,578, leaving a high remaining cost. 

Student debt in Illinois

Illinois students, like other students around the country, struggle to pay the astronomical costs of higher education out of pocket. As a result, 57% of Illinois graduates have student debt and 10% have private student loans. The average student debt in Illinois is $28,552, placing Illinois roughly in the middle of average student debt by state and below the national average of $37,693.

The best scholarships for Illinois students

When it comes to applying for scholarships, it can be difficult to decide where to start. Each type of scholarship has different advantages and drawbacks but state-based Scholarships in Illinois can be great opportunities. Since fewer students will be eligible to apply for local scholarships, your chance of winning will be higher!

Deacon William E. Johnson Sr. Memorial Scholarship

This $2,775 scholarship was created in memory of Deacon William E. Johnson Sr. and seeks to support low-income BIPOC students. High school seniors and undergraduate students who are studying in Illinois can apply for this scholarship by writing about someone who impacted their education journey and their plans for helping their community. 

Three winners will be selected and the scholarship closes on April 26th, so don't wait!

Tina and Danny Rodriguez Scholarship

In memory of Tina and Danny Rodriguez, this $523 scholarship will award a high school student in Illinois who is interested in a career in law enforcement, fire safety, EMS, or 911 services. 

HomeCare.com Nursing Scholarship

This $8,000 will support four high school students in Illinois who are interested in pursuing careers in nursing. Eligible students can apply by writing a short essay about their inspiration for pursuing nursing and how they'll help the public through their practice.

Additional scholarships that students in Illinois should consider 

State-based scholarships like the ones above are a great way to begin your scholarship search, but there are plenty of other scholarships you should consider. Non-local scholarships that are open to students regardless of location can also be worthwhile opportunities. Narrow scholarships with many eligibility requirements can be especially rewarding since you will be up against less competition!

Scholarships for high school students in Illinois

High school is often less demanding than college, so it can be a great idea to begin searching for college scholarships while still in high school. Any scholarships that you win will be held for you until you begin college, so don't wait to start applying! The following scholarships are a great way to get started.

1. Paige's Promise Scholarship
2. Robert Wechman Mental Health Scholarship
3. CollegeXpress No-Essay Scholarship

Scholarships for high school freshmen in Illinois

High school freshmen often don't know that they can start applying for scholarships. Additionally, many freshmen haven't started thinking seriously about college and their financial plans, so many don't bother to apply for scholarships. By applying early, you can give yourself extra time to earn college funding, making it easier to afford college when you finally start. Check out the following scholarships that you can apply for as a high school freshman.

1. WiseGeek Lifelong Learners No-Essay Grant
2. Haiti Rising Christlike Scholarship
3. Andrew Perez Mental Illness/Suicidal Awareness Education Scholarship

Scholarships for high school sophomores in Illinois

Like freshmen, many high school sophomores don't take the time to apply for scholarships. Junior and senior year are often more busy and stressful, between college visits, college applications, AP classes, and standardized tests. Sophomore year can therefore be an excellent time to apply for scholarships like the ones below.

1. Ethel Hayes Destigmatization of Mental Health Scholarship
2. Morning Brew Tech & Business News Scholarship
3. Bold Dream Big Scholarship

Scholarships for high school juniors in Illinois

Though junior year may be busy as you consider your college plan and start working on your applications and on ACT or SAT prep, it can still be worthwhile to apply for scholarships. Some high school scholarships are exclusively open to upperclassmen, so consider taking advantage of those opportunities. You can get started with the following scholarships:

1. Isaac Yunhu Lee Memorial Arts Scholarship
2. Scorenavigator Financial Literacy Scholarship
3. Future of Aviation Scholarship

Scholarships for high school seniors in Illinois

High school seniors can benefit from the many scholarships that are only open to high school senior students. Some undergraduate scholarships are also open to high school students who are graduating seniors, resulting in many opportunities for Illinois residents preparing to attend college. 

1. Graduate Debt-Free Scholarship
2. Eleven Scholarship
3. Melaninwhitecoats Podcast Annual Scholarship
4. JoLynn Blanton Memorial Scholarship

Illinois college scholarships for current college students

Current college students, including college freshmen, upperclassmen, and even graduate students can still benefit from scholarships. It can be difficult to attend school if you're not from a wealthy family and federal financial aid often doesn't go far enough in financing students' pursuits of higher education. 

These college scholarships will support outstanding students working on undergraduate or graduate degrees. If you're a current college student, consider the following scholarships to reduce your tuition costs at an accredited college or vocational school. 

1. Tony Alviani Memorial Scholarship
2. Sentant Interdisciplinary Technology Scholarship
3. CollegeXpress Graduate No-Essay Scholarship
4. Hasanovic American Dream Scholarship

Scholarships for graduate students in Illinois

Many graduate students think it's too late to find scholarships. However, there are plenty of scholarship opportunities that are available to those pursuing advanced degrees. Additionally, many students pursuing graduate programs have student loans from their undergraduate years, making them eligible for many debt-reduction scholarships.

1. @ESPDaniella Debt Grant
2. Military Student Debt Grant
3. Lost Dreams Awaken Scholarship

Scholarships for moms in Illinois

Mothers, fathers, and other guardians often are discouraged from pursuing a college or university education due to the responsibilities and time constraints that come from raising children. Additionally, children can be expensive, making financial assistance even more essential for students who are moms.

1. REVIVAL Scholarship
2. It Takes An Aggie Village Scholarship
3. Saroya Byrd Legacy Scholarship

Scholarships for single moms in Illinois

Being a parent already makes college more difficult, but being a single parent is even harder. As a result, many scholarships are geared specifically toward single moms who need tuition assistance in order to attend college. The following scholarships are a great place for single moms to start when seeking out financial assistance.

1. Janey Mae Memorial Scholarship
2. Law Family Single Parent Scholarship
3. Larry Darnell Green Scholarship

Scholarships for first-generation college students in Illinois

First-generation students often have a tough time navigating the world of higher education. It can be difficult to find financial aid as many first-generation students don't know where to look due to a lack of family guidance. 

Additionally, first-generation students often come from lower-income households since their parents don't have formal education. The following scholarships can help level the playing field by helping first-generation students reduce their financial need.

1. Minority/Women in STEM Scholarship
2. Diversity in Law Scholarship
3. McCutcheon | Nikitin First-Generation Scholarship
4. Abby's First-Generation College Student Scholarship

Scholarships for Latino students in Illinois

Hispanic and Latino students can benefit from many ethnicity-based scholarships, such as the ones below. The following Hispanic American scholarships will have a smaller eligible applicant pool, making it more likely that you'll win!

1. Charles Cheesman's Student Debt Reduction Scholarship
2. Hispanic Empowerment No-Essay Scholarship
3. Snap Finance "Funding the Future" Scholarship

Frequently asked questions about scholarships in Illinois

How to apply for scholarships in Illinois

Applying for scholarships on Bold.org is fast, free, and easy! To get started, click on any of the scholarships above and make your profile. In order to find the best scholarship matches, make sure to completely fill out your profile so that it's detailed, unique, and accurate. 

Once your profile is created, you can browse through the hundreds of scholarship opportunities and you can bookmark any that interest you. To find more specific scholarships, consider using the filter features which allow you to browse by category, education level, deadline, or date added. You can also filter by type to find no-essay scholarships if you're short on time. Additionally, you can even filter by amount to find different value scholarships, ranging from $500 to full-tuition scholarships.

Once you've found a scholarship that's a good match, read the description to check the eligibility criteria that applicants must meet. If you're among the qualified students, all you need to do is follow the prompts! Most scholarships require a short essay or other written submission, which you can paste into the box at the bottom of the page. Other scholarships may require a file upload or a link submission either in place of an essay or in addition to an essay. 

Once you've put in all of your application materials, just click submit to officially enter the scholarship! 

When can I start applying?

On Bold.org, you can start applying for scholarships as soon as you're in high school and at least fourteen years old. By starting early, you'll give yourself as much time as possible to seek out scholarship awards, which will make it easier to pay for college when the time comes. 

Many students begin applying as high school seniors so they can find funding before enrolling in a college. However, plenty of college students, including graduate students, are just beginning to apply. It's never too late or too early to earn college scholarships, so start your search whenever it feels right to you. 

Even if you're an adult who has graduated and started working, you may still qualify for scholarships. Though most scholarships are only open to current students, recent graduates who have student loans are eligible for some opportunities.

Do I have to have a certain GPA to apply?

While applicants must display academic excellence or academic achievement to apply for certain scholarships, most scholarships don't have a minimum GPA required to apply. If you do exhibit academic potential, you can consider academic merit scholarships, such as those that require a minimum cumulative GPA.

If you excel in another area, consider other types of scholarships. For example, an arts scholarship or an award for students who play high school sports can benefit from athletic or artistic scholarships. Additionally, minority students, those who demonstrate financial need, or applicants who are building leadership skills can all find corresponding scholarships that match up to their demographics and backgrounds, regardless of cumulative GPA.

Are scholarships taxable in Illinois?

Scholarship money is sent straight to the accredited Illinois college of the winner and is applied directly toward educational costs, including tuition expenses, fees, and book costs. Additionally, recent graduates who win scholarships apply the money directly to their student debt. Since scholarship money goes directly towards educational expenses, it does not count as taxable income as long as the total amount received does not exceed one's educational costs.