Illinois scholarships - Jan '25

Updated Jan 24, 2025

Apply below to the best Illinois scholarships for January 2025.

Get Up To $1,500

ISL Midwest Senior Scholarship

Missouri • Nebraska • South Dakota • Wisconsin • Illinois • Kansas • High school

The ISL Midwest Senior Scholarship offers $1,500 to high school seniors in six Midwest states. Apply online.

Deadline:

April 30, 2025

Get Up To $2,500

Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Scholarship

Illinois • Restaurant/Culinary/Food Services • Food Sciences & Technology • Food & Nutrition • Hospitality • Travel & Tourism • Freshmen • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors • Graduate Students

Win up to $2,500 with the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Scholarship for culinary and hospitality students.

Deadline:

May 7, 2025

Get Up To $1,850

STEM Scholarship

Mercer County • Rock Island County • Henry County • Whiteside County • Carroll County • Knox County • Lee County • Clinton County • Scott County • Muscatine County • Louisa County • Iowa • Illinois • Industrial Engineering • Information Sciences • IT/Information Technology • Kinesiology/Physical Therapy • Materials Science • Mathematics • Mechanical Engineering • Meteorology • Nuclear Engineering • Physics • Science • STEM • Technology • Aerospace • Agricultural Science • Animal Sciences • Astronomy • Aviation/Aeronautical • Biology • Chemical Engineering • Chemistry • Civil Engineering • Climate Sciences • Computer Engineering • Computer Science • Digital Communications/Media • Electrical Engineering • Electrical/Electronics • Energy • Engineering • Environmental Engineering • Environmental Science • Freshmen

The STEM Scholarship offers up to $10,000 for underrepresented students in sustainability and STEM with a 3.0 GPA and community impact.

Deadline:

January 28, 2025

Get Up To $1,500

Moline Regional Community Foundation Scholarships

Moline • Illinois • Freshmen

Moline Regional Community Foundation offers $64,000+ in scholarships annually for local students. High chances to win! Apply now.

Deadline:

February 1, 2025

Get Up To $5,000

Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation

Oak Park • River Forest • Illinois • Freshmen

The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation offers scholarships up to $5,000 for local students based on merit and need.

Deadline:

February 17, 2025

Get Up To $5,000

Edwardsville Community Foundation Scholarships

Edwardsville • Illinois • Freshmen

Edwardsville Community Foundation offers $2,000+ scholarships for local students based on merit, need, or activities. One application for 50 awards.

Deadline:

March 1, 2025

Get Up To $1,000

Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation Scholarships

Christian County • Coles County • Effingham County • Moultrie County • Shelby County • Illinois • High school • Freshmen • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors • Graduate Students

Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation offers scholarships for local students. Apply online with an essay and recommendations.

Deadline:

March 18, 2025

Get Up To $5,000

Jimmy Rane Foundation Scholarship

Alabama • Arkansas • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maryland • Mississippi • Missouri • Nebraska • New Jersey • New York • North Carolina • Ohio • Oklahoma • Pennsylvania • South Carolina • Tennessee • Texas • Virginia • West Virginia • Age • Sophomores • Juniors • Freshmen

The Jimmy Rane Foundation Scholarship offers $500 to $5,000 for eligible high school students in select states.

Deadline:

February 7, 2025

Get Up To $250

Southern Illinois Community Foundation Scholarships

Alexander County • Franklin County • Gallatin County • Hamilton County • Hardin County • Jackson County • Jefferson County • Johnson County • Massac County • Perry County • Pope County • Pulaski County • Randolph County • Saline County • Union County • Williamson County • Whiteside County • Illinois • Freshmen

Southern Illinois Community Foundation offers scholarships based on merit, need, and activities. High chances for local students! Award: $250+.

Deadline:

February 28, 2025

Get Up To $10,000

Community Foundation of Macon County Scholarships

Macon County • Illinois • Freshmen • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors • Graduate Students

Apply for scholarships from the Community Foundation of Macon County. Local students can win up to $10,000 with an essay and recommendations.

Deadline:

March 1, 2025

Get Up To $20,000

CBC Spouses Education Scholarship

Alabama • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • District Of Columbia • Florida • Georgia • Illinois • Indiana • Louisiana • Maryland • Massachusetts • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Nevada • New Jersey • New York • North Carolina • Ohio • Pennsylvania • South Carolina • Texas • Virginia • Washington • Wisconsin • For Black and/or African American students • Freshmen • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors • Graduate Students

The CBC Spouses Education Scholarship offers $2,500 to $20,000 for Black high school seniors pursuing higher education. Apply now!

Deadline:

March 29, 2025

Get Up To $3,500

GFAI Scholarship Experience

Illinois • Agricultural Science • Agriculture • Business Administration • Management • Freshmen • Juniors • Sophomores

The GFAI Scholarship offers $3,500 to Illinois students in grain handling and feed industries. Work experience and blogging required.

Deadline:

April 15, 2025

Get Up To $1,000

Ella T. Grasso Literary Scholarship

California • Connecticut • Delaware • Illinois • Florida • Massachusetts • Minnesota • Missouri • New Jersey • New York • Pennsylvania • Tennessee • Wisconsin • Freshmen • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors

The Ella T. Grasso Literary Scholarship awards $1,000 for original works celebrating Italian heritage. Open to U.S. citizens of Italian descent.

Deadline:

April 15, 2025

Get Up To $40,000

George M. Pullman Scholars Program

Cook County • Illinois • High school

The George M. Pullman Scholars Program provides $10,000 annually for four years to eligible Cook County seniors with financial need.

Deadline:

January 31, 2025

Get Up To $20,000

ATLAS Fellow Scholarship Program

Chicago • New York • Teton County • Illinois • Wyoming • Accounting • Advertising • Agriculture • Business (MBA) • Business Administration • Economics • Finance • Hospitality • Human Resources • Management • Marketing • Operations Management • Public Relations • Restaurant/Culinary/Food Services • Sports Management • Travel & Tourism • Freshmen

The ATLAS Fellow Scholarship offers up to $20,000 for high school seniors in select cities pursuing financial services careers.

Deadline:

March 3, 2025

Get Up To $23,000

Golden Apple Scholars Program in Illinois

Illinois • Teacher Education • Teaching • Freshmen • Sophomores • Juniors

The Golden Apple Scholars Program offers up to $23,000 in tuition assistance for aspiring teachers in Illinois.

Deadline:

April 1, 2025

Get Up To $1,200

Chicago Engineers Foundation Awards for Graduating HS Seniors

Illinois • Engineering • High school • Freshmen

CEF awards $1,200 to Chicago high school seniors accepted into engineering programs with a minimum GPA of 2.5 and test scores.

Deadline:

April 1, 2025

Get Up To $1,000

Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley Scholarships

DeKalb County • DuPage County • Grundy County • Kane County • Kendall County • La Salle County • Will County • Illinois • Freshmen • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley offers over $3M in scholarships annually, with an average award of $1,000 for local students.

Deadline:

January 24, 2025

Get Up To $5,500

The Community Foundation for McHenry County Scholarships

McHenry County • Illinois • Freshmen • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors

The Community Foundation for McHenry County offers scholarships up to $5,500 for local students. Apply via the Universal Application.

Deadline:

January 31, 2025

Get Up To $10,000

Community Foundation of Northern Illinois Scholarships

Boone County • Ogle County • Stephenson County • Winnebago County • Illinois • Freshmen • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois offers scholarships up to $10,000 for local students. One application matches you with options.

Deadline:

February 1, 2025

Get Up To $10,000

Wentcher Foundation Scholarship

Chicago • Illinois • Freshmen

The Wentcher Foundation Scholarship awards $10,000 to Chicago public high school seniors with a 3.0 GPA and leadership skills.

Deadline:

February 7, 2025

Get Up To $10,000

Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln Scholarships

Sangamon County • Cass County • Christian County • Logan County • Macoupin County • Menard County • Montgomery County • Morgan County • Illinois • Freshmen

The Community Foundation offers $2,500+ scholarships for local students in several counties. High chances of winning! Apply now.

Deadline:

March 1, 2025

Get Up To $500

Sad Sacks Nursing Scholarship

Military • Illinois • Nursing • Sophomores • Juniors • Seniors

The Sad Sacks Nursing Scholarship offers $500 for nursing students, prioritizing dependents of veterans. Essay and recommendations required.

Deadline:

March 1, 2025

Get Up To $2,500

The Community Foundation of Central Illinois Scholarships

Woodford County • Tazewell County • Stark County • Putnam County • Peoria County • Marshall County • McHenry County • Illinois • Freshmen • Seniors • Sophomores • Juniors

Explore scholarships from the Community Foundation of Central Illinois for students based on merit, need, or activities. Apply online!

Deadline:

March 6, 2025

Get Up To $2,000

CBC Spouses Essay Contest

Alabama • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • District Of Columbia • Florida • Illinois • Georgia • Indiana • Louisiana • Maryland • Massachusetts • New Jersey • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Nevada • New York • North Carolina • Ohio • Pennsylvania • Texas • South Carolina • Virginia • Washington • Wisconsin • For Black and/or African American students • High school

The CBC Spouses Essay Contest offers up to $2,000 for African American high school juniors and seniors. Apply now!

Deadline:

March 29, 2025

FAQ

You can find Illinois scholarships by searching on scholarship databases, educational institution websites, and local community organizations. A great resource to explore is Mos, which provides a comprehensive list of available scholarships.

Yes, you can apply for multiple Illinois scholarships. In fact, applying for several scholarships can increase your chances of receiving financial aid for your education.

Illinois scholarships are financial awards available to students who are residents of Illinois or who are attending educational institutions within the state. These scholarships can help cover tuition, fees, and other educational expenses.

Some Illinois scholarships may be available to international students, but many are restricted to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. It's important to check the eligibility requirements for each scholarship.

It's advisable to start applying for Illinois scholarships as early as possible, ideally during your junior year of high school or as soon as you decide to pursue higher education. Many scholarships have early deadlines.

Yes, many Illinois scholarships are legitimate and offered by reputable organizations, educational institutions, and government entities. It's important to research each scholarship to ensure its legitimacy.