Scholarships

SnAP! is UIC’s internal scholarship information system. If you are a UIC student, you can log in using your UIC netid and password. SnAP will show you a list of scholarships that you qualify for based on a number of criteria including major, financial need, GPA, and other factors.

• UIC SnAP Website

The Chicago Latino Caucus Foundation was established to support the advancement of Latino Youth through scholarships, internships, and mentorship opportunities in the City of Chicago. Each year, the CLCF selects deserving young people of good character and high academic achievement to receive a scholarship to help them achieve their educational objectives.

Eligibility:

• U.S. Citizenship is NOT required for this scholarship.
• Students must be at least one-half Hispanic/Latino. Hispanic/Latino is an ethnic category, not a racial category; students may be of any race.
• Applicants must be a resident of the City of Chicago.
• Applicant must be a current high school senior graduating in 2023, OR a General Education Diploma (“GED”) certificate holder, OR an undergraduate student with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0/4.0.
• Graduate level students are NOT eligible.
• Applicants must be enrolled or planning to enroll as a full time student at an accredited 2 or 4 year institution.

Application and Selection:

• Applicants must answer all questions via the online application.
• Professional resume including work history/internships, extracurricular activities, volunteer, leadership, and community service roles and honors/awards received.
• Typed statement that describes your personal/career goals and your plan to achieve those goals (500 word limit).
• Typed essay that answers the following: How has your family background affected the way you see the world? (500 word limit).
• Current college students must submit official or unofficial transcripts from the most recent attended college.
• Currently enrolled college/university students, must submit an enrollment verification form.

• Apply here.

The Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship is a highly selective scholarship for the nation’s top community college students seeking to complete their bachelor’s degrees at four-year colleges or universities. Each Cooke Scholar has access to generous financial support for two to three years, college planning support, ongoing advising, and the opportunity to connect with the thriving community of fellow Scholars.

Eligibility:

• Be a current student at an accredited U.S. community college or two-year institution with sophomore status as of January 1, 2024, or a recent graduate (since spring 2019)
• Plan to enroll in a full-time baccalaureate program at an accredited college or university for the term applying
• Have a cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.5 or better on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent)
• Demonstrate unmet financial need. Applicants with a maximum annual gross income of $95,000 will be considered. During the selection process, the Foundation will conduct a full financial review which will take into account all income and assets of the student and the student’s parents.
• No previous enrollment or attendance at a four-year institution. Students who have attended a four-year institution in the past are not eligible for this scholarship.
• U.S. citizenship is not required. Candidates, however, must have attended an accredited two-year institution in the United States.

USHLI has awarded over $1.6 million in scholarships and internships to students from disenfranchised communities from coast to coast. Most notably, the Dr. Juan Andrade Jr. Scholarship for Young Hispanic Leaders seeks to recognize students who share Dr. Andrade’s commitment to servant leadership. Undergrad recipients will receive a non-renewable $1,000 scholarship for those attending a 4-year institution or $500 for those attending a 2-year institution and complimentary registration to attend the USHLI National Conference including airfare and lodging.

Eligibility:

• Enrolled or accepted for enrollment as full-time undergraduate student, in an accredited four-year or two-year institution in the U.S. or U.S. territories
• Must demonstrate a verifiable need for financial support.
• At least one parent must be of Hispanic ancestry.
• Non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply (DACA or Undocumented).
• Applicants must be full-time undergraduate students for the academic year to which they are applying to scholarship. This includes high school seniors, college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors up to age 25.

Application and Selection:

• Apply here.

Golden Door Scholars provides DACAmented & undocumented students with the financial aid and support needed to invest in their education and define their futures. More than scholarships, GDS is a vibrant and determined community that offers comprehensive support including career readiness programs, mentorship, and intentional programming, going beyond financial assistance.

Eligibility:

• Applicants must have one of the following documentation or immigration statuses
  • DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals)
  • Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
  • U-1 visa
  • Pending Asylum case open with USCIS
  • Pending Refugee
  • Undocumented, foreign-born people who do not possess a valid visa or other recognized immigration documentation in the United States
• Applicants must have high financial need
• Applicants can be high school seniors, recent high school graduates, current college/community college students, or obtained a GED (General Education Development) certificate from a United States Program
• Applicants must live in the United States for at least four (4) years before applying for the Golden Door Scholarship
• For high school seniors, applicants must have an unweighted high school GPA of 3.2
• For college transfers, applicants must have a college GPA of 3.0 and a high school GPA of 3.2 or a GED

Application and Selection:

• Step 1: Review Eligibility and Apply
  Applicants must ensure they are eligible for the Golden Door Scholarship, then review the application process and expectations before submitting their application. Applications are considered on a rolling basis, so applying early is helpful.
• Step 2: Application Received
  After successfully submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation from Golden Door Scholars. There, you will find a list of GDS partner schools to consider while you wait to hear back from the GDS team.
• Step 3: Eligibility Screen
  After the Golden Door Scholar team has reviewed your application, select candidates will move on to the eligibility screening process. Should you be selected to move forward with the screening, you will receive a form that must be filled out by the due date. If Golden Door has questions regarding the eligibility form, select candidates will have a short phone call with a Golden Door Application Committee member. If Golden Door has no questions regarding the eligibility form, select candidates will move to final interviews.
• Step 4: Interviews
  At this stage, select candidates will move forward for an interview via Zoom, where interviewers and GDS staff will have a chance to get to know you as an individual.
• Step 5: Awards
  By the end of November, finalists will be notified if they have received the Golden Door Scholarship!
• Step 6: Onboarding, Applying, and Matching
  Once scholarship recipients are selected and have accepted the Golden Door Scholarship, scholars will work with GDS staff to gain a deeper understanding of how the scholarship works. They will begin applying to colleges with the support of the Golden Door Scholars team and Golden Door will start matching students. Some students will be matched as early as December, while others will be matched as late as June. The majority of students are matched in April.

• Apply here.

The Fiesta del Sol Guadalupe A. Reyes Scholarship Program has celebrated over two decades of awarding scholarships to students from the Southwest side of the city and beyond. Due to Guadalupe A. Reyes’ dedication and commitment to people in need, the scholarship program has been named in her honor. The scholarship program offers an opportunity for students to get $1,500 for their college expenses. Additionally, the Scholarship Program strives to give students an opportunity to exercise leadership skills, learn how to build relationship, and engage in teamwork. Fiesta del Sol has given over $1.1m in scholarships to over 500 students.

Eligibility:

• Be of Latino/Hispanic descent
• Must be currently enrolled or have plans to enroll in an accredited college or university in an undergraduate, degree or certificate program for a minimum of 6 semester hours or 8 quarter hours.
• Have earned a cumulative minimum of a 2.5 GPA (on a 4 point scale or its equivalence);
• Meet one of the following requirements:
  (1) Live on the southwest side of Chicago within the following boundaries: Between 16th and 79th streets, and between Cicero Ave. (4800 West) and Canal (500 West); or
  (2) Be a volunteer in a Fiesta del Sol committee; or
  (3) Be sponsored by member institution of Gamaliel of Metro Chicago
• Demonstrate community or school service;
• Demonstrate financial need.

Application and Selection:

• Completed application
• Resume outlining your work experience, service learning/community service, and extracurricular activities
• Two (2) letters of recommendation on a official letterhead from places where you have provided school or community service. One (1) letter must be from a school official.
• Official high school transcript (if applicable). College students with 30 credits or more do not have to submit a high school transcript. Transcripts MUST be OFFICIAL
• A personal statement, typed 500-750 words.

• Apply here.

Every year, the Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) selects 10,000 outstanding students as HSF Scholars from a broad and talented pool of applicants. HSF Scholars have access to a full range of invaluable Scholar Support Services, including career services, mentorship, leadership development, knowledge building, and wellness training. HSF awards more than $30 million in Scholarships annually and, depending upon available funds, HSF Scholars may also be eligible to receive a scholarship, which range from $500-$5,000 and are awarded directly to students.

Eligibility:

• Must be of Hispanic heritage
• U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA
• Minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for high school students; minimum of 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for college and graduate students
• Plan to enroll full-time in an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year university, or graduate school, in the US, for the 2023-2024 academic year
• Submit the FAFSA or state-based financial aid forms (if applicable)

• Apply here.

Each year, the members of the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation (ILLCF) select outstanding young people who meet the eligibility criteria to receive The Michael W. Gonzalez scholarship to help them achieve their educational objectives.

Eligibility:

• Illinois residents
• Individuals with Latino ancestry
• DACA recipients
• Individuals seeking an certificate, undergraduate, or graduate degree
• Individuals who have never received the ILLCF scholarship

• Apply here.

The Maestro Cares scholarship provides financial support to academically talented students studying in the United States, Puerto Rico, or Latin America. They seek individuals with significant financial need, who despite personal or social setbacks, have a compelling desire to pursue a higher education.

Eligibility:

• Be of Latino origin
• Be between the ages of 17-24 as of the application deadline date
• Proof of acceptance or enrollment as current undergraduate student at an accredited university within the United States, Puerto Rico, or Latin America
• Proof of enrollment as a full-time student
• Have a university cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (where A = 4.0). High school seniors entering the university in the fall must have at least a “B” average as of the time of application
• Proof of involvement in community service or volunteering in the community

Application and Selection:

• Submit Maestro Cares Scholarship Application
• Most recent academic transcript (may be unofficial). Incoming freshmen submit a high school transcript
• Personal statement of no more than 500 words (one single-spaced page) discussing your background and personal/academic goals
• Proof of past/current community service or volunteer work (for example, letters of recognition, photographs, record of hours served, or verification letter issued by the organization
• Two (2) academic or professional letters of recommendation

• Apply here.

Awards of up to $5,000 are funded by TOYOTA, Telacu’s largest corporate partner since 2007, for undergraduate students pursuing degrees in Business or STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. TOYOTA/TELACU Scholars benefit from all elements of the College Success Program to ensure attainment of their Bachelor’s degree.

Eligibility:

• Be a first-generation college student
• Be from a low-income household
• Have a minimum 2.5 GPA
• Be enrolled full-time for the entire academic year
• Attend mandatory Sessions throughout the academic year, some will be held on Saturday mornings
• Be a college Junior or Senior
• Be pursuing a degree in Business or Engineering fields
• Be a permanent resident of the Greater Chicagoland Area

• Apply here.

The Alma Cruz Zamudio Empowerment Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship dedicated to helping first-generation students of color at the University of Illinois Chicago who show a commitment to helping their community and want to continue the legacy of Alma C. Zamudio.  The scholarship is open to UIC juniors and seniors and graduate students who demonstrate leadership and commitment to community organizing and social justice in areas including but not limited to: affordable housing, immigration, transportation, workers’ rights, and environmental justice.

Two $2,000 scholarships will be provided for the fall 2022 semester.

Eligibility:

• UIC Junior or Senior undergraduate student with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 at the time the award is allocated.
• UIC Graduate student with a minimum GPA of 3.5 at the time the award is allocated.
• Student should be enrolled in at least part-time status.
• First-generation college student of color.

Application and Selection:

• The application and all supporting documents must be submitted by deadline.
• Resume.
• At least one letter of recommendation from UIC Advisor or UIC Professor on official UIC letterhead.
• A 600-word personal essay that answers three questions. Questions provided in the application.
• Unofficial UIC transcript.

• Apply here.

The Illinois Latino Council on Higher Education (ILACHE) offers three (3) $1,000 scholarships to Latino/a/x students in Illinois who exhibit outstanding commitment to learning, community service, and leadership. This scholarship is open to graduating seniors and undergraduate college students.

Eligibility:

• Must be an Illinois resident future or continuing Latino/a/x undergraduate student who has a current cumulative GPA of at least a 3.00 from a regionally accredited Illinois college/university or high school GPA of at least a 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) or a 4.00 (on a 5.0 scale).
• Graduating high school seniors (must be registered as a full-time student at an Illinois college or university in the Fall 2023 semester before the scholarship funds are disbursed).
• Undergraduate students must be enrolled full-time during the Fall 2023 semester.
• Must be of Latinx descent. Undocumented students, including DACA recipients, U.S. citizens (U.S. born or naturalized) and permanent legal residents are welcome to apply.
• Students must demonstrate leadership potential, which could be seen in their involvement through community service, and/or leadership positions in school clubs, organizations, or extra curricular activities.
• All majors are eligible
• The scholarship is non-renewable

• Apply here.