Academic Scholarships for New Students

Illinois State University offers the following scholarships for incoming freshmen, based on their academic achievements in high school. For more information on applying for these scholarships, please visit the Office of Admissions, or contact the Office of Admissions at (800) 366-2478.

• Presidential Scholarship
• Redbird Academic Scholarship
• Honors First-Year Scholarship
• Other Scholarships

Presidential Scholarship

The Presidential Scholarship Program is the most prestigious scholarship program available to new freshmen.  Presidential Scholars receive up to $32,000 ($8,000 per year renewable for up to four years).

Applications for the Presidential Scholarship are automatically reviewed for admission to the Honors Program.  Students who are awarded a Presidential Scholarship participate in the Honors Program and the Presidential Scholars Program.

• Selection process for the Presidential Scholarship

Recent Presidential Scholars have had an average ACT score of 32 and an average cumulative GPA of 4.0 (or above) on a 4.0 scale.

Presidential Scholarships are scholarships awarded to outstanding students based on factors without regard to financial need, including:

• High school academic record
• Scores on college admissions tests (ACT/SAT)
• Demonstrated leadership qualities
• Evidence of commitment to service
• Essay
• Personal interview

Explore the Presidential Scholars Program

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Redbird Academic Scholarship

The Redbird Academic Scholarship is an award valued at up to $4,000 per year, renewable for up to four years, for new freshmen.  Recent recipients have had an average ACT score of 26 and a cumulative high school GPA of 3.8 on a 4.0 scale.

Applications for the Redbird Academic Scholarship from students who are eligible for the Honors Program will be reviewed for Honors Program admission.

• Selection process for the Redbird Academic Scholarship

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Honors First-Year Scholarships

Honors First-Year Scholarships are tuition scholarships awarded based on academic performance in the amount of $2,000. Scholarships are awarded to entering freshmen for two semesters of full-time study in their first year at Illinois State University.

The standard Honors Program application is used in consideration for these scholarships. To be considered for a scholarship, application materials should be postmarked to the Honors Program by March 1.

• Honors Program Admission and Scholarship Application

 Eligibility

• Applicants must be admitted to Illinois State University and have either applied or have already been accepted into the Honors Program in order to be eligible for this scholarship.
• Students awarded an Honors First-Year Scholarship must enroll for two semesters of full-time study and participate in the Honors Program in order to receive their scholarships.
• Students awarded Presidential Scholarships at Illinois State are not eligible to receive Honors First-Year Scholarships.
• Receipt of an Honors First-Year Scholarship may affect, and be affected by, the receipt of other scholarships. (A student awarded two tuition scholarships, for example, amounting to more than the cost of tuition, can only receive awards up to the total tuition cost.)

Evaluation Criteria

• Excellent high school work, shown by cumulative grade point average in high school and by class rank
• Outstanding writing skills, as shown in essay
• Leadership potential, as shown in extracurricular activities
• Superior college entrance exam scores

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Other Scholarships

Additional scholarship information can be found by visiting the Scholarship Resource Office or contacting them by phone at (309) 438-2740. This office can assist you in seeking out a variety of private scholarship opportunities and provide tips for conducting a scholarship search.

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