Undergraduate Student Scholarships & Awards

Thanks to the support of alumni and friends, the College of Education is proud to award a wide variety of scholarships to deserving students. More than 100 scholarships were awarded for the 2025-2026 academic year. If you have questions, please email undergradawards@education.illinois.edu or call 217-333-2800.

Incoming Students

Incoming College of Education students need not apply for College of Education scholarships. If you are an admitted student, you will be automatically considered for scholarships administered by the College of Education. The information from your application for admission to the university will be used for scholarship consideration.

Continuing Students

All eligible continuing students pursuing a College of Education major or minor are encouraged to apply. Scholarships are awarded on a variety of factors, including academic achievement, commitment to the education profession, volunteer and civic engagement, leadership, or financial need. 

Scholarship Eligibility

• Students must be in Good Academic Standing (i.e., not on Low GPA/College Academic Warning)
• Students should have a commitment to maintaining satisfactory and continuous progress toward a College of Education major or minor through the 2026-2027 academic year.
• Select scholarships are available to students who meet one or more of the following criteria:
  • First-generation, community college transfer, or non-traditional college students
  • Illinois community college transfer students who earned an associate's degree
  • Students studying Middle Grades or Secondary Education with STEM concentration(s)
  • Illinois residents with permanent addresses located in Galesburg, Illinois, or one of the following Illinois counties: Knox, Logan, St. Clair, or Tazewell
  • Students enrolled in a teacher licensure major or minor who graduated from a Chicago high school
  • Students with an interest in music (via course enrollments, campus involvement, etc.)

Dates & Deadlines

The deadline to apply for the 2026-2027 academic year scholarship & awards is 11:59 pm on Sunday, March 1, 2026. The application may be saved and completed over time prior to submission. Recipients will be notified via email through Secure Message Delivery (SMD) by late May or early June.