Impressive Scholarships for Students in Illinois for 2024

Do scholarship applications make you look like a white-tailed deer in the headlights? Don’t worry – we’ve got your back on this one! We like to make searching and applying for scholarships in Illinois easy.

Check out the list of Illinois scholarships you could apply for!

1. Kelli Joy O’Laughlin Memorial Scholarship

Provider: Kelli Joy O’Laughlin Memorial Foundation

Amount: $2,000

The Kelli Joy O’Laughlin Memorial Foundation is proud to offer five scholarships to Illinois high school seniors of the class of 2024. In remembering Kelli Joy, the foundation seeks exceptionally caring and compassionate students who have demonstrated kindness in their communities.

2. Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program

Provider: Illinois Student Assistance Commission

Amount: $7,500

The MTI Scholarship Program awards Illinois students who plan to teach within the state. Students must plan to teach at a nonprofit Illinois public, private or parochial preschool, elementary school, or secondary school in which the enrolled students include no less than 30 percent of African American/Black, Hispanic American, Asian American or Native American origin.

3. Women in Science Graduate Fellowship

Provider: The Field Museum

Amount: $32,000

The Field Museum offers a limited number of fellowships to graduate students engaged in dissertation research associated with the museum. The Women in Science Graduate Fellowship provides a stipend and limited funds for research and travel.

4. Gryphon Scholarship Program

Provider: Churchill Asser Management

Amount: $2,500

The Gryphon Scholarship Program is offering up to five awards of at least $2,500 each to graduating seniors or high school graduates from schools located in the New York, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Charlotte, North Carolina and Los Angeles, California metropolitan areas.

5. Pilchard Foundation Scholarship

Provider: A. Franklin Pilchard Foundation

Amount: $8,000

The Pilchard Foundation Scholarship is open to Illinois resident Seniors with a GPA of a B average. Must also show financial need and attend a university in Illinois. Covers tuition and fees for up to $8,000 per year.

6. DMSF Scholarship

Provider: Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund

Amount: Varies

DMSF proudly celebrates the growth and impact of our mission while also looking forward to what our future growth can be through the DMSF Scholarship.​ Our mission to unlock educational opportunities for talented Chicago-area students facing financial need is ever-present. DMSF partners with Scholars, families and schools through high school and beyond by providing scholarships, academic programs and personal support so that each Scholar can reach their potential.


Loving these scholarships, but need help applying for your government financial aid? We can help you fill out your FAFSA and state aid.


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Still need help with financial aid and college scholarships?

We know the feeling. Financing college tuition can be difficult, and with so many scholarships out there, how do you know which ones to apply for? Start by submitting your FAFSA form as soon as possible since this will help determine what financial aid you might qualify for–and therefore how much more money you need to find to pay for college (your “financial gap”).

Then, consider filling your financial gap with some of these Illinois scholarship options:

Or, better yet, sign up for Going Merry today for access to our scholarship library. At Going Merry, we make finding and applying for scholarships easy. You’ll be matched with the scholarships you’re eligible for, favorite the ones you like, and then apply for those scholarships.

Get started today. Sign up here.

Kelly Lamano

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