Scholarships at Cottey College

Student-athletes at Cottey College may be considered for athletic scholarships in sports including basketball, volleyball, softball, cross country, golf, track and field, esports, flag football, cheer, and dance. Award amounts vary by sport and available funding and are determined by coaches based on demonstrated ability. Accepting a Cottey scholarship permits release of the recipient's name and address to donors, who expect a thank-you note. Cottey is a private women's college that offers institutional aid alongside federal and state assistance.

Cottey College theatre fine arts scholarships are open to qualified students regardless of academic major who commit to sustained participation in the theatre program. Applicants must be accepted for admission and submit the theatre scholarship application. Acting candidates audition for faculty or submit a one-minute monologue recording; designers and technicians provide photos or a one-page resume plus application responses. Recipients enroll in at least one theatre course each semester and participate meaningfully in all main-stage productions. Theatre majors and minors receive priority. A theatre scholarship cannot be combined with an athletic scholarship because of scheduling demands.

Cottey College music fine arts scholarships support students who audition for the music program, including both music majors or minors and non-major participants. Applicants must first be accepted for admission, then submit the online fine arts application through myCottey with a recorded or in-person audition using contest solos, etudes, or comparable repertoire. Non-major recipients enroll in lessons and a specified ensemble each semester; major or minor recipients also take a harmony-block course. Students receiving multiple fine arts awards may need to choose one. Priority deadline is February 1; later applications are considered if funds remain.

The Lucille H. Smith Scholarship for Foreign Study supports Cottey College students and alumnae who study abroad outside their native country during the third or fourth undergraduate year or for a summer term at a college or university. Established in 1985 by the Illinois State Chapter in honor of past International Chapter President Lucille H. Smith, the award uses endowment income to fund international study. Applications are available from Cottey Financial Aid beginning February 1 and are accepted until April 1. Students must be accepted to a study-abroad program in a country other than their country of citizenship.