Illinois State University Scholarships
Explore our awards to learn about your financial options.
Devoted to our own
From scholarships to grants, there are many funding options to make your dream of an Illinois State education a reality. You can see what you qualify for by answering a few quick questions.
Freshman Scholarships
Redbird Scholarship
Domestic freshmen with a cumulative 3.3+ GPA (4.0 scale) will automatically qualify. This scholarship is valued from $1,000 to $5,000 and is renewable for up to three additional years.
Presidential Scholarship
Domestic freshmen with a cumulative 3.75+ GPA (4.0 scale) are invited to apply to this highly competitive award. This scholarship is valued at up to $11,000 per year and is renewable for up to three additional years.
University Scholarship
Freshmen from traditionally underrepresented groups or first-generation college students with a 3.5+ GPA (4.0 scale) are invited to apply for this highly competitive award. This scholarship is valued at a minimum of $6,000 and is renewable for up to three additional years.
Freshman Scholarships Continued
McLean County Full Tuition Scholarship
Five McLean County students will win four years of free tuition based on the student’s leadership, community service, and civic engagement in this county. Available to new freshmen, each of these scholarships carries a present-day value of $50,000.
Legacy Scholarship
New freshmen students who have a parent or grandparent that attended Illinois State will receive a $500 scholarship each year for up to four years.
More options >
Transfer Scholarships
Transfer Scholarship
First-time domestic Illinois State students with a minimum 3.5 GPA and 24 college credit hours completed at another collegiate institution are automatically awarded the Transfer Scholarship. This award is valued up to $3,000.
Legacy Scholarship
New transfer students who have a parent or grandparent that attended Illinois State will receive a $500 scholarship each year for up to four years.
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
Students who meet the Transfer Student Scholarship criteria and are a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society are eligible for this award. This award is valued at $500 per year and renewable for up to two years.
Transfer Scholarships Continued
STAR Scholarship
STAR Scholars attending a City College of Chicago will be considered for this award valued at $5,000 per year.
Bird to Bird Scholarship
Up to five transfer students from Heartland Community College will receive an award valued at a minimum of $1,000 annually. Some are renewable for multiple years.
Other Scholarship Opportunities
These are just a few of our scholarships available to incoming freshmen and transfer students.
$5.5 Million added to Redbird Academic Scholarship
In association with Illinois’ AIM HIGH initiative, Illinois State is adding $5.5 million to assist students with financial need through our Redbird Academic Scholarship program. New freshmen with a high school grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and an SAT of 1200 or ACT of 25 will automatically qualify for a Redbird Academic Scholarship of at least $1,000 and as much as $4,000 per academic year.
Invested in those with greatest financial need
For many years, Illinois State has been fully invested in our students with the greatest financial need, and we will continue to provide nearly $13 million in ISU Access Grants annually to serve students from families in the lowest income levels. Combined with MAP and Pell Grants, these students generally pay little or nothing for tuition and fees. In many cases, the Pell Grant can also cover a portion of student's housing charges.
Apply Today
To apply for any of the scholarships listed that you are eligible for, submit your application for admission to Illinois State University. It's that easy!