Illinois Scholarships

Illinois resident artists and arts educators age 21 or older may apply for project grants up to $12,000. Individual applicants cannot be enrolled in a degree program (Ph.D. candidates must have completed coursework). Projects must include a public presentation or release of work during the grant period. Grants are administered regionally with separate fund pools. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until regional allocations are exhausted. Submit at least eight weeks before the project start date. The FY27 portal opened July 1, 2026 with an open deadline through August 31, 2027 grant period. Individual artists may include self-pay up to 15% of the grant under administrative expenses. The Illinois Arts Council Agency funds Creative Projects Grants to support artist-driven work with public benefit across the state.

U.S. citizens pursuing campus-based study in the 2027-2028 academic year may apply to one or more stand-alone UNICO Foundation scholarships if they meet each fund's criteria. Most require Italian descent; several funds are open to all ethnicities. Award sizes vary by named fund, from about $1,000 to $10,000, covering high school seniors, undergraduates, graduate entrants, nursing, medical school, study abroad in Italy, and field-specific awards. Online applications are due March 15, 2027 for the 2027-2028 academic year. Applicants generally must reside in or hold chapter sponsorship from listed states (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, or Wisconsin), with limited exceptions. UNICO National is an Italian-American service organization whose foundation promotes education, culture, and charitable projects nationwide.

Illinois resident first-year UIC applicants with strong academics and demonstrated financial need are automatically considered for the Chancellor's Fellows (AIM HIGH) merit scholarship. The award is worth up to $7,500 per year, renewable for up to eight consecutive fall and spring semesters while maintaining a 3.0 GPA and 12 credits per semester. Eligible students either rank first in their high school class or hold a 3.7 GPA with qualifying Honors, AP, or IB coursework and strong ACT or SAT scores. No separate application is required. The award amount appears on your financial aid notification. Accept your UIC offer by May 1 to retain the scholarship.

Illinois residents of Italian parentage who were orphans or raised in foster homes may apply for a one-time merit scholarship for music or education study. Awards of up to $6,500 are available. Preference goes to music majors beyond freshman year and to applicants who were orphaned. Submit a complete Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans application as one PDF to jcc@jccia.com between June 1 and November 1. Selection weighs academic achievement, talent, leadership, and commitment to the Italian-American community. The Nicholas and Helena Patti Foundation supports students pursuing personal and professional goals through college.

Practicing individual artists at least 18 years old who live in Chicago may apply for project or professional-development support across film, literary, music, performing, and visual arts. Chicago residency with valid Illinois Driver's License, State ID, or Chicago CityKey is required. Grants fund creation, development, or presentation of artwork and professional development. Requests up to $6,000 are accepted; DCASE anticipates funding roughly 15-20% of applicants. The 2026 cycle opened December 9, 2025 and closed January 15, 2026 at noon CT via ChicagoCulturalGrants.org. Prior IAP awardees must skip one year before reapplying. DCASE administers the program as part of the city's cultural grants portfolio for individual Chicago artists.

The Bridge Award at Northern Michigan University reduces the out-of-state tuition gap for non-Michigan residents from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Ohio, or Indiana who are admitted as first-year students with a high school GPA between 2.75 and 2.99. The award provides five thousand six hundred dollars per year and is assigned automatically at admission with no separate application. It stacks with Wildcat Merit scholarships for students with higher GPAs. Recipients must enroll full-time and maintain a 2.75 cumulative NMU GPA for renewal for up to eight consecutive semesters or until completing their first bachelor's degree.

First-generation graduate students who are permanent residents of California, Illinois, New York, or Texas and demonstrate financial need may apply for the David C. Lizárraga Fellowship from the TELACU Education Foundation, sponsored by Toyota. Priority goes to full-time Business or Engineering majors enrolled for the full academic year, though other graduate fields may be considered. Fellowships are $5,000. The number of recipients varies. Complete the online application with transcripts and financial documentation. Selected applicants participate in an interview evaluated on leadership, achievement, community commitment, and need. The fellowship supports students committed to economic empowerment in underserved communities.

Illinois residents of Italian extraction who demonstrate financial need and high academic achievement may apply for the Frank J. Vigilante Scholarship from the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans. One-time annual scholarships of up to $5,000 are awarded. Students may reapply in future cycles. Applicants must be admitted to or enrolled at an accredited college or university and submit a 500-word essay on how the scholarship will help them reach personal and professional goals. Apply between June 1 and November 1 each year.

Illinois high school seniors, community college students, and freshmen or sophomores at partner universities who plan to teach in Illinois schools-of-need may apply for the Golden Apple Scholars Program. U.S. residents (including citizens, noncitizens, and DACA recipients) with at least a 2.5 GPA are eligible. Scholars receive up to $2,500 per year in their first two years and up to $5,000 per year in years three through five toward tuition, fees, and room and board, plus paid summer institutes, mentoring, and job placement support. Recipients must earn Illinois teaching certification and teach at least five years in an approved Illinois school-of-need within seven years of graduation. Apply with references, personal statements, unofficial transcripts, and ACT or SAT scores (required for homeschooled students). Selected applicants participate in an interview.

Graduating high school seniors who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents of Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Utah, or select California counties may apply for the Greenhouse Scholars Whole Person College Program. Applicants need a 3.5+ unweighted GPA and household income at or below $80,000. Up to 37 scholars receive up to $5,000 per academic year in last-dollar tuition support over five undergraduate years, plus mentorship, professional networking, leadership training, internship support, flex funding grants, and community projects. Part 1 requires a short answer response; eligible applicants are invited to Part 2 with transcripts, test scores, two recommendations, four written responses, a five-minute video, and proof of income. Finalists attend in-person interviews. Semi-finalists and finalists complete a multi-stage application process.