Scholarships at College of DuPage

The Budilovsky Literary Endowed Scholarship, funded by the John and Leona Budilovsky Trust, encourages aspiring writers at College of DuPage by assisting with tuition, books, and fees. A $1,000 scholarship is awarded each semester to students from any major who submit their own autobiographical essay of 250 words or less. Essay prompts may explore a formative life experience, motivation for pursuing a college degree, adversity overcome, or a perspective-changing experience. Scholarships from this fund may only be awarded to College of DuPage students. Apply through the COD scholarship portal during the regular fall or spring application cycles.

The Trustees Scholarship is College of DuPage's premier merit-based award for recent high school graduates, renamed from the former Scholars Award Program starting in 2026-2027. It covers up to 60 credit hours of in-district tuition as last-dollar funding for a maximum of two academic years after federal, state, institutional, and external grants or scholarships are applied first. Applicants must be current high school seniors living in District 502 or attending a District 502 high school, hold a minimum 3.25 GPA, submit transcripts, complete a strong general application essay, and file a FAFSA or alternative application or sign a waiver. Recipients must stay full-time, maintain a 3.25 GPA, meet with an advisor each semester, and complete 16 approved volunteer hours in the first year.

The STEM Rise Scholarship supports College of DuPage students in STEM majors who pay at least part of their tuition themselves. It is especially intended for students who are single parents, care for family members, have significant health issues, are military veterans, face food or housing insecurity, or are first-generation college students. Awards cover one semester of in-district tuition not already paid by financial aid or other funding, with amounts based on credit hours enrolled. Health science majors are not eligible. Students may reapply each term through the COD scholarship portal at cod.academicworks.com.

The COD Succeeds Scholarship through the College of DuPage Foundation supports students who may not otherwise qualify for other financial assistance awards. Priority is given to first-generation, minority, and veteran students, with awards made through an application process emphasizing financial need. The scholarship helps cover tuition and educational expenses for College of DuPage students facing barriers to completion. Students apply through the COD scholarship portal at cod.academicworks.com during the regular fall or spring application cycles alongside other Foundation scholarship opportunities.

The Maren McKellin Scholarship for Field Studies and Study Abroad was established in 2026 to honor Maren McKellin, who managed Field Studies, Study Abroad, and Global Education at College of DuPage from 2000 until her passing. Under her leadership the program expanded community college access to international education. This scholarship provides financial support to College of DuPage students who might not otherwise consider field studies or study abroad classes. Students apply through the COD scholarship portal alongside other Foundation awards during the regular fall and spring application cycles.

The Alice M. Snelgrove Honors Scholarship is an endowed College of DuPage Foundation award named for the former English professor who led the Honors Scholar program. It supports current Honors Program students at College of DuPage who have completed or are enrolled in Honors credit. Students apply through the COD scholarship portal at cod.academicworks.com during the regular fall or spring application cycles alongside other honors scholarships. Complete all supplemental questions in AcademicWorks; drafted applications are not reviewed.

The Veterans Textbook Scholarship at College of DuPage helps veteran students cover textbook costs beyond what military education benefits provide. It is one of several veteran-specific Foundation scholarships listed by COD Veterans Services alongside the Patriot Scholarship, Attard Family Endowed Scholarship for Veterans, and others. Veterans apply through the COD scholarship portal during the fall cycle from February 1 through April 15 or the spring cycle from September 15 through November 1. Contact Veterans Services at veterans@cod.edu or (630) 942-3814 for application support.

The Sally N. Fairbank Paralegal Textbook Scholarship is an endowed College of DuPage Foundation fund created in honor of Sally N. Fairbank's leadership in Paralegal Studies at COD. It provides funds for paralegal students who are currently registered for paralegal classes and need extra assistance purchasing required textbooks. The endowment was established with a dollar-for-dollar match to reach funding level. Paralegal students apply through the COD scholarship portal during regular fall or spring application cycles alongside other program-specific Foundation awards.