Scholarships & Other Awards

Get free money for college. Each year, Elmhurst University offers many scholarships to recognize academic achievement, talent in the arts and more.

A scholarship is gift aid that doesn’t need to be paid back. Most Elmhurst scholarships are renewable so long as you maintain the required Elmhurst GPA. 

All students who apply for admission are automatically considered for scholarships. You don’t have to submit a separate application. If you’re interested in a talent scholarship, though, you’ll need to schedule an audition or portfolio review.

BROWSE BY CATEGORY

Academic Scholarships for First-Year Students

What we look for:

  • Performance in a challenging high school curriculum, including AP and honors courses
  • Superior high school academic performance including excellence in standardized testing or writing

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst GPA and-full time enrollment

What we look for:

  • Performance in a strong high school program, including advanced placement and honors courses
  • High-level performance in standardized testing or writing and grade patterns across the academic curriculum

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst GPA and full-time enrollment

What we look for:

  • Performance in a solid college-bound curriculum
  • Above-average abilities in standardized testing or writing and grade patterns across the academic curriculum

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst GPA and full-time enrollment

What we look for:

  • Performance in a solid college-bound curriculum
  • Demonstrated abilities in standardized testing or writing and grade patterns across the academic curriculum

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University GPA and full-time enrollment

What we look for:

  • Performance in a mostly college-bound curriculum
  • Demonstrated abilities in standardized testing or writing and grade patterns across the academic curriculum

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University GPA and full-time enrollment

Academic Scholarships for Transfer Students

What we look for:

  • Up to $24,000: Cumulative 3.75 transfer GPA on a 4.00 scale at the time of application & membership in Phi Theta Kappa
  • Up to $21,000: Cumulative 3.5 transfer GPA on a 4.00 scale at the time of application & membership in Phi Theta Kappa

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University GPA and full-time enrollment

What we look for:

  • Up to $20,000: Cumulative 3.75 transfer GPA on a 4.00 scale at the time of application
  • Up to $18,000: Cumulative 3.5 transfer GPA on a 4.00 scale at the time of application

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University GPA and full-time enrollment

What we look for:

  • Cumulative 3.25 transfer GPA on a 4.00 scale at the time of application & membership in Phi Theta Kappa

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University GPA and full-time enrollment

What we look for:

  • Cumulative transfer grade-point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale at the time of application

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University GPA and full-time enrollment

What we look for:

  • Cumulative transfer GPA of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale at the time of application

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University GPA and full-time enrollment

What we look for:

  • Demonstrated abilities in college-level courses

To renew your scholarship:

Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University grade-point average and full-time enrollment

What we look for:

  • Membership in Star Scholars Program at one of the City Colleges of Chicago
  • Cumulative transfer GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale at the time of application

To be considered:

  • Identify your Star Scholars membership on your application for admission

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University GPA and full-time enrollment

Other Scholarships

Who’s eligible:

  • Most students attending Elmhurst University full-time to earn an additional bachelor’s degree. Students enrolled in the Online Accelerated BSN program are not eligible for this scholarship.

To be considered:

  • Apply for admission and provide official transcripts showing a conferred baccalaureate degree. Please note that this is the only award for which post-baccalaureate students are eligible.

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain good academic standing at Elmhurst University and full-time enrollment

The President’s Scholarship for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a $5,000 renewal scholarship awarded to two incoming first-year students per year who have demonstrated contributions to and appreciation for diversity, equity, or inclusion initiatives in the area(s) of racial or ethnic diversity, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, social justice, and/or other areas underrepresented or otherwise important to diversity, equity and inclusion.

To be considered for this scholarship, you must:

  1. Be admitted to Elmhurst University as a first-time freshman and submit the President’s Scholarship for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion application by April 1 May 15, 2023, for the upcoming academic year.
  2. Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid to Elmhurst University as soon as possible.

The Office of Admission shall select the recipient(s). The application requires a short personal statement or video that describes your distinct experiences and contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion. Examples of possible experiences and contributions include, but are not limited to, working with local community organizations, volunteering, starting social justice-based initiatives, and participating in diversity- and equity-rooted school organizations.

Submit your application

Who’s eligible:

  • Students with directly related family members (father, mother, brother, sister, grandfather, grandmother) who have graduated from or are currently enrolled full time at Elmhurst University

To be considered:

  • Identify your legacy relative on your application for admission

Who’s eligible:

  • First-year, transfer and adult students who belong to congregations of the United Church of Christ or Disciples of Christ

To be considered:

  • Apply for admission, select “United Church of Christ” under the Religious Affiliation question, and list the name of your congregation. The name of your congregation is required to be considered for the scholarship.

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain full-time enrollment and good academic standing at Elmhurst University

Who’s eligible:

  • First-year, transfer and adult students who indicate on the application for admission that they are first-generation college students (neither parent or guardian has earned a bachelor’s degree)

To be considered:

  • Apply for admission

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University GPA and full-time enrollment

Who’s eligible:

  • First-year or transfer students who are not residents of Illinois and who live in campus housing

To be considered:

  • Apply for admission

To renew your grant:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University grade-point average and full-time enrollment

Who’s eligible:

  • First-year, transfer or adult students who are undocumented individuals or DACA students

To be considered:

  • Apply for admission

To renew your grant:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University grade-point average and full-time enrollment

Who’s eligible:

  • Students who have earned an associate degree from an accredited community college and enroll full-time as degree-seeking students at Elmhurst University.

To be considered:

  • Apply for admission and provide official transcripts showing a conferred associate degree.

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University grade-point average and full-time enrollment (12 semester hours).

Who’s eligible:

  • Transfer students from the City Colleges of Chicago.

To be considered:

  • Apply for admission.

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University grade-point average and full-time enrollment.

Talent Scholarships

Who’s eligible:

  • First-year and transfer students who plan to major in music, music education, music business, music theory and composition, or jazz studies.

Award based on:

  • Academic credentials
  • Audition

To be considered:

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain the Elmhurst University GPA associated with your awarded academic scholarship and full-time enrollment.

Who’s eligible:

  • Art majors who demonstrate exceptional talent in art.
    • Admitted students can submit a digital portfolio of their best work.

To be considered:

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain good academic standing at Elmhurst University and full-time enrollment.

Who’s eligible:

  • Students who demonstrate exceptional talent in theatre and will major or minor in theatre, theatre arts education, or musical theatre.
    • Performance majors can perform two 1-minute monologues, or a monologue and a song.
    • Technical majors can submit a portfolio.

To be considered:

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain good academic standing at Elmhurst University and full-time enrollment.

Who’s eligible:

  • Students who demonstrate exceptional talent in digital media.
    • Admitted students can submit a 1-minute movie for consideration.

To be considered:

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain good academic standing at Elmhurst University and full-time enrollment.

Who’s eligible:

  • Students who participate in one of our competitive eSports rosters.
  • An interview is required to determine if a roster space will be offered.

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain good academic standing at Elmhurst University and full-time enrollment.

Academic Scholarships for Degree Completion Programs

Who’s eligible:

  • Adult students studying in a degree completion program at the undergraduate level
  • Graduates of Harper College, Moraine Valley Community College, Oakton Community College or Triton College
  • Cumulative transfer grade-point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale

To apply:

  • Submit a scholarship application along with a 500-word essay outlining your personal and professional goals and how an Elmhurst degree will help you reach them
  • Apply by July 15 for fall enrollment, December 1 for spring

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University GPA and full-time enrollment (12 semester hours)

Who’s eligible:

  • Adult students studying in a degree completion program at the undergraduate level
  • Cumulative transfer GPA of 3.50 on a 4.00 scale at the time of application.

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University GPA and full-time enrollment (12 semester hours)

Who’s eligible:

  • Adult students studying in a degree completion program at the undergraduate level
  • Cumulative transfer GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale at the time of application.

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University GPA and full-time enrollment (12 semester hours)

Who’s eligible:

  • Adult students studying in a degree completion program at the undergraduate level
  • Cumulative transfer GPA of 2.50 on a 4.00 scale at the time of application.

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University GPA and full-time enrollment (12 semester hours)

Who’s eligible:

  • Students who have earned an associate degree from an accredited community college and enroll full-time as degree-seeking students at Elmhurst University.

To be considered:

  • Apply for admission and provide official transcripts showing a conferred associate degree.

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University grade-point average and full-time enrollment (12 semester hours).

Who’s eligible:

  • Adult students studying in a degree completion program at the undergraduate level

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University GPA and full-time enrollment (12 semester hours)

What we look for:

  • Membership in Phi Theta Kappa
  • Cumulative transfer GPA of 3.50 on a 4.00 scale at the time of application (award amount determined by cumulative GPA)

To be considered:

  • Identify your PTK membership on your application for admission

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University GPA and full-time enrollment

What we look for:

  • Membership in Star Scholars Program at one of the City Colleges of Chicago
  • Cumulative transfer GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale at the time of application (award amount determined by transfer GPA)

To be considered:

  • Identify your Star Scholars membership on your application for admission

To renew your scholarship:

  • Maintain a 2.00 Elmhurst University GPA and full-time enrollment

The Fine Print

  • Elmhurst makes scholarship decisions at the time of admission, based on credentials and supporting materials submitted at the time of application.
  • Scholarships described here apply to students regularly admitted to Elmhurst as first-time bachelor’s degree candidates enrolled full-time (with the exception of the Post-Baccalaureate scholarship and the academic scholarships for adult students in evening and online programs).
  • Students who fall below the academic standard for renewal of a scholarship may regain the scholarship in a subsequent term by submitting an appeal for consideration to the Office of Student Financial Services.
  • UCC or Disciple of Christ members will receive, at minimum, 1/3 in tuition scholarships.
  • Out-of-State Residential Grants are restricted to cover on-campus housing only.
  • Post-Baccalaureate (second-degree or licensure only) students are only eligible for the Post-Baccalaureate Recognition Scholarships. No other scholarships or grants will be awarded.
  • Scholarship aid cannot exceed $3,500 per term for adult students studying in evening or online programs.
  • Students in the distance nursing programs are not eligible for Elmhurst University scholarships.

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