Financial Aid

The Office of Student Financial Aid is located at 620 East John Street. Students who have federal- or state-funded aid packages should direct all questions to the staff in this office. The following list of financial aid packages is a brief description of some assistance programs earmarked for future educators.

Illinois Future Teacher Corps Scholarship

The Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) Program is generally for academically talented and financially needy students with junior standing or above with priority given to minority students, individuals pursuing a teacher shortage discipline, and/or to those who make a commitment to teach in a hard to staff school. The IFTC Scholarship Program is administered by ISAC and carries a five-year commitment for teaching service in Illinois. For additional information about IFTC, contact a client services representative at 1-800-899-4722 or www.collegezone.com/studentzone/416_945.htm.

Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver Program (SETTW)

Academically talented students who are enrolled in a public 4-year institution and who are seeking initial certification in any area of special education may be eligible for the Illinois SETTW. This program is administered by ISAC and will exempt individuals from paying tuition and mandatory fees for up to four calendar years. Recipients of this scholarship must be Illinois residents and agree to teach in the special education field in an Illinois school for two years. Illinois freshmen must be enrolled in the Education General curriculum to receive this award. For additional information about SETTW, contact an ISAC client services representative at 1-800-899-4722 or www.collegezone.com/studentzone/416_941.htm.

Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program

Students who are planning to become preschool, elementary or secondary school teachers and who are of African American, Hispanic, Asian or Native American origin may qualify for the MTI Scholarship Program. The MTI Scholarship Program is administered by ISAC and pays for tuition, fees, room and board, or commuter allowances, if applicable. Recipients of this scholarship must teach full-time for one year for every year in which the scholarship was received. The teaching obligation must be fulfilled at a school at which no less than 30 percent of the enrolled students are minority. For additional information about MTI, contact an ISAC client services representative at 1-800-899-4722 or www.collegezone/studentzone/416_947.htm.

Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois (Illinois Scholars Program)

The Golden Apple Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, which promotes excellence in Pre-K through 12th grade education. Based in Chicago, the foundation recruits academically talented and ethnically diverse high school graduates for successful teaching careers in high need schools throughout Illinois. A limited number of positions in the program are open to college sophomores who attend one of the colleges or universities that partner in the program. Golden Apple Scholars agree to teach for five years in an Illinois school of need in exchange for financial assistance from the foundation. Information about the Golden Apple Scholars program may be obtained from the Illinois liaison, Kathy Ryan, or by contacting Patricia Kilduff, Director of Recruitment and Placement, at 312-407-0433.

College of Education Students Awards Program

The College of Education annually awards undergraduate and graduate merit scholarships, which are funded from gifts of alumni and friends of the College of Education. Undergraduate applicants must be enrolled in the College of Education or the Minor in Secondary School Teaching, be in good academic standing (not on probation), and maintain satisfactory and continuous progress toward the degree objective. The criteria used for selection include service and leadership to community, university or college; academic achievement; and letters of recommendation. The scholarship is in the amount of $1,000 or $1,500. Detailed information is available online.

FMC Merit Scholarship Program

The FMC (formerly Link-Belt) Educational Fund was established in 1963 when the donor, Bert A. Gayman, assigned 10,000 shares of the Link-Belt Company common stock to the University of Illinois Foundation. The College of Education annually awards this merit-based scholarship to one outstanding entering Freshman student. Qualified students will be identified prior to the beginning of the freshman year. Selection is made by the college Student Awards Committee, and the stipend is awarded to the student early in the Fall term when he/she enters the pre-professional program in the College of Education.

ROTC Scholarship Program

The University of Illinois participates in ROTC programs for Air Force, Army and Navy. Scholarships opportunities may be available for these programs. Please visit the following websites for additional information.

• Army ROTC, https://netfiles.uiuc.edu/ro/www/armyrotc
• Navy ROTC, https://www.nrotc.navy.mil
• Air Force ROTC, www.afrotcdet190.com