Scholarships for First-Year Students

Selection Criteria

There are a total of 200 awards that are open to Illinois residents who are also U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens whose families have a household income less than six times the federal poverty rate. See the Illinois Student Assistance Commission web page for more details.  

Please note, funding is limited, and meeting the following criteria does not guarantee receipt of the award. The award is only valid for the term in which it is offered. Other eligibility requirements exist, including: 

• Must have Illinois residency as determined by university policy
• Must meet all of the state requirements

Academic Criteria

• Must complete a first-year application for admission to UIC by the scholarship priority deadline of Nov. 1, 2023.
• Must be a 2024 graduating senior from an Illinois high school:
  • Ranked 1st in graduating class

-OR-

• • Unweighted GPA of 3.70 with a total of at least 8 Honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate (HL) in 11th and 12th grades combined in core subject areas (math, science, English/language arts, social sciences/humanities, foreign languages)
    -OR-
  • Unweighted GPA of 3.70 with a 33 cumulative ACT score or 1450 SAT test scores

Financial Criteria

• Must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Rise Act application with the UIC school code (001776) by February 15, 2024.
• Total family income cannot exceed 6 times the Federal Poverty guidelines.

Lake County, Indiana Tuition Award

The award is administered to new incoming first-year students who are residents of Lake County, Indiana giving recipients the opportunity to study at UIC for the equivalent of in-state tuition. Applicants are evaluated for the award during the admissions process.

President’s Award Program (PAP)

Outstanding Illinois students from underrepresented groups may qualify for the President’s Award Program. High school records and performance, standardized test scores and other materials determine a student’s eligibility. Qualifying underrepresented students are defined as those that fall under one or more of these categories:

• From ethnic groups historically underrepresented in higher education
• From a county with low representation in the university system
• From a family not expected to contribute to their student’s education (must be verified with a FAFSA report)

Tribal Nation Tuition Award

This award, administered to new incoming first-year students who are members of one or more of the tribal nations recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, gives recipients the opportunity to study at UIC for the equivalent of in-state tuition. Applicants are evaluated for the award during the admissions process.

UIC Merit Tuition Award

The merit-based tuition award is applicable for high-achieving nonresident students. To be considered, students must be high-achieving nonresident applicants that are U.S. citizens or permanent residents who do not qualify for in-state tuition. Students’ grade point average, standardized test scores, and major selection are taken into consideration.

COE WIEP Scholarship Program

Candidates for this program are women admitted to UIC Engineering as first-year students with a GPA of 3.2+. Participants of WIEP initiatives such as Girls Who Code and Women in Engineering Summer Program are automatically considered. Students will be identified as candidates in early December and will be invited to attend a WIEP Scholarship Brunch Event to meet with faculty, staff, and students. During this time, they will be interviewed for the program and based on faculty’s feedback and financial aid status, we determine which award to grant. Scholarships vary in amount, but are within the range of $5K, $15K, $20K, and $30K scholarships. WIEP Scholarship Brunch Events 2023 will be held in February. Student recipients will be notified of their award in mid-March.

Davee-History and English First-Year Scholarships

Funding support is for students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) who are majoring in either history or English. Preference is given to students from the greater Chicago area with high financial need. For consideration, students must be admitted to UIC with at least the equivalent of a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.

DuSable Scholars Program

The DuSable Scholars Program is named after Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, the founder of the first non-Indigenous settlement amongst the Potawatomie people on the Chicago River. DuSable is widely credited as the founder of modern-day Chicago.

The DuSable Scholars Program (DSP) is a community of talented students and faculty and staff working towards the goal of achieving excellence in academics and research. Candidates for the program should be talented Black and Native American students who are underrepresented in a STEM major at UIC with the goal of matriculation to a research-based, STEM graduate program.

Honors College Scholarships

The Honors College offers a range of scholarships for incoming first-year students. Scholarships are awarded based on the competitiveness of a student’s admissions application and the strength of their interview, an additional requirement for the college. (Supplemental Honors College application is required).

Honors Scholars President’s Award Program (PAP)

The PAP Honors Scholars Program is a four-year residential scholarship program that provides opportunities for academic engagement and mentoring as a member of the UIC Honors College. The PAP Honors Scholars Program promotes academic excellence within and beyond the Honors College community, connects students with Honors College Faculty Fellows and other faculty members, and fosters civic engagement and leadership. The Honors College provides a collaborative and supportive educational environment that allows students to explore issues in depth through small classes and specialized research projects. The scholarship covers four years of tuition and housing and a week-long Summer College orientation program. Students must apply separately to the Honors College for consideration.

Ida B. Wells Scholars

The scholarship is a part of a robust campus student success program for students demonstrating academic excellence, leadership and community engagement. Preference is given to students identifying as underrepresented and graduating from a Chicago Public School (high school) or partnering high school. Funding support is up to $5000 for the academic year.

Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services (LARES) First Year Scholar Award

The LARES First-Year Scholar Award was established to support the academic success of incoming first-year UIC students. Recipients are recognized for their leadership and high school involvement. The $2500 award must be applied toward tuition, fees, and educational related expenses.

UIC Business Scholars

UIC Business Scholars is a selective leadership development honors program for top performing, highly motivated undergraduates. Working closely with faculty and business professionals, Business Scholars receive a solid foundation in business coupled with in-depth knowledge and technical skills to ensure they excel in the competitive world of international business. Prospective students should submit a completed Common Application along with the UIC First Year Supplement. Students can apply to the Business Scholars program with submission of their Common Application by clicking “Yes” on the “Business Scholars Program” section under the “Questions” tab.

UIC Greer Scholarship Program

Priority is given to underrepresented students (Black, Hispanic, and Native American) admitted to UIC Engineering with a GPA of 3.2+. First-year students receive $20K for 4 years and transfer students receive $10K for 2 years. Candidates will be identified in January and requested to meet for an interview for final selection. Students will be notified if they have been selected in March.

Scholarship notifications are in the form of letters from Admissions, Colleges and  Departments.

The scholarship notification process begins in December and typically concludes in March.

Financial aid notifications list the maximum financial support in grants, loans and/or scholarships offered to a student.

Financial aid notifications for incoming students are distributed in March.