Deadline: November 15
No separate application required.
Illinois Tech established the Collens Scholarship—now part of The Chicago Difference, an Illinois Tech initiative—to benefit Chicago Public Schools and charter high school students across Chicago entering Illinois Tech.
The Collens Scholars come to Illinois Tech from public and charter high schools across Chicago, bringing greater knowledge and understanding of the communities around them. They are some of the strongest and most dedicated students in the city and on our campus.
Scholarship Benefits
- Full-tuition and fee scholarship, renewable annually. This scholarship covers tuition and mandatory fee increases each year.
- Housing scholarship of up to $2,000. It is competitive and offered to students who demonstrate a high standard of academic excellence, social service, and a desire to pursue a high-quality educational experience.
How to Apply
- Apply via the Early Decision or Early Action application deadline
- Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by January 15, using Illinois Tech's FAFSA code: 001691
Application Timeline
| November 15 | Last day to submit your completed Illinois Tech application through the Common App and submit your FAFSA |
| March | Scholarship recipients will be notified |
| May 1 | Decision deadline to accept the Collens Scholarship and confirm enrollment to Illinois Tech |
Eligibility Requirements
- Graduate from a Chicago public/charter high school; transfer students are not eligible.
- Demonstrate significant financial need with Pell Grant eligibility through the FAFSA.
- Be a United States citizen or permanent resident.
- Complete verification process with the Office of Financial Aid.
All majors are open to receive the Collens Scholarship. Most Collens Scholars have ACT scores that range from a 23–30, have an average weighted grade-point average of a 3.9, or rank in the top 10 percent of their class.
PLEASE NOTE: The Collens Scholarship cannot be combined with other Illinois Tech merit scholarships such as Elevate, Heald, FIRST Robotics, VEX Robotics, Duchossois, Crown, Leadership Academy, Chicago Police and Fire, Camras, and more. If a student earns multiple Illinois Tech merit scholarships throughout the admission process, the university will award the highest merit award for which the student is qualified but will not combine multiple awards.
The Collens Scholarship covers costs for the bachelor's degree program only. If a student chooses to pursue an accelerated master's degree at Illinois Tech, they can apply their original Heald Scholarship award towards their tuition for graduate-level courses at the undergraduate tuition rate.