Scholarships & Awards

You can also use the Illinois State University ScholarshipFinder to search for University-wide awards and funding opportunities.

Colwell Outstanding Pre-Medical Student Award Description:

Based on outstanding achievement and demonstration of personal qualities needed to become a competent, dedicated, and compassionate physician. Must 3.5 GPA, MCAT, finished pre-med requirements; must be a senior following year.

Deadlines: April 6

Where to get application: No application is needed.  Students in the School of Biological Sciences are evaluated based on the critera above.

Approximate Amount: $500
 

The Kathryn S. Bohn, M.D. and Thomas E. Nielsen, M.D. Scholarship Description:

Applications are open to all students completing BSC 298.02 Professional Practice: Mentorship in the Healthcare Professions during the current academic year who will be students during the following summer or fall.

Deadlines: April 6

Where to get application: No application is needed. Students in the School of Biological Sciences are evaluated based on the critera above.

Approximate Amount: $400
 

Undergraduate Teaching Assistantship Description:

Each semester, undergraduate teaching assistantships (UTAs) are awarded to juniors and seniors who have demonstrated high scholastic achievement. This assists the faculty in improvement of instruction and provides UTAs with a valuable experience. UTAs assist in teaching two or three laboratory sections of undergraduate biology courses with a graduate teaching assistant and a faculty member. UTAs receive receive academic credit by registering for up to three hours in BSC 291 Undergraduate Teaching Experience: Biological Sciences. These are competitive positions and open to all biological sciences majors, not just for teacher education students! Must have Junior standing, 3.00 minimum GPA, faculty recommendations.

Deadlines: Apply by end of each semester for following semester.

Where to get application:  Biology office

Approximate Amount: (for credit)
 

Cook Scholarships Description:

These awards are given to incoming Freshmen who apply for University or Presidential Scholarships and do not receive those awards. Selection is conducted by the Undergraduate Studies Committee on the basis of materials submitted to the University.

Deadlines: May 15

Where to get application: No application is needed, the committee reviews the previously submitted materials

Approximate amount: $500-1000 annually for up to 4 years
 

Graduation with School Honors Description:

Students in the Honors Program can choose to pursue various designations to earn upon graduation, including Honors in the Major: General Biology; Conservation Biology; Physiology, Neuroscience and Behavior; Plant Biology; Zoology; Biology Teacher Education; Molecular and Cellular Biology.

By completing Honors in the Major, students will:

  • Engage in an enriched and extended learning experience
  • Develop as scholars and gain an edge over their peers by choosing a rigorous preparation in their field of study
  • Be recognized in the Commencement Book, transcript, and on the diploma.

Students earn this designation at graduation. Requirements, including being in good standing with the Honors Program, are reviewed at the end of the final semester:

  • 3.3 cumulative GPA
  • 3.5 major GPA
  • Fulfill Honors Program participation requirements: 1 Honors Learning Experience per semester in the program, including the final semester (students are not required to complete an Honors Learning Experience when they are off-campus). Complete 2 Honors Learning Experiences in BSC, specifically:
    • Honors Contract in a BSC course at the 200 or 300 level
    • Honors Contract in a BSC course at the 200 or 300 level
    • 3 hours of BSC 299: Honors Independent Study in preparation for BSC 303
  • Complete an Honors Capstone Experience, specifically BSC 303: Senior Thesis, after the completion of 3 hours of BSC 299

Deadlines: Should apply by junior year

Where to get application: Biology Academic Advisor;  Amanda Martin

Approximate Amount: Certificate/graduation cords

Also see the Honors Program in the Biological Sciences Major .

Robert G. Bone Scholar Award Description: Highest university-wide scholarship. Must have 3.7 GPA and graduate following year. Based on community service as well as scholarly activity.

Deadlines: Jan. 31

Where to get application: Ask faculty for nomination

Approximate Amount: Financial Award for Senior Year

Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship Description: National Scholarship awarded to sophomores and juniors studying mathematics and natural sciences. (Pre-med not considered)

Deadlines: Sept. 15 for nomination Dec. 15 for full application including essay.

Where to get application: Ask faculty for nomination

Approximate Amount: $7,000

Class of '85 Scholarship Description: University-wide. Must have a 2.5 GPA and be a junior or senior. Based on financial need, leadership, and participation in campus activities.

Deadlines: March 22

Where to get application: Class of 1985 scholarship information

Approximate Amount: $500

Class of '86 Scholarship Description: University-wide. Must have a 3.0 GPA and be a junior or senior. Based on leadership and participation in campus activities. No financial need.

Deadlines: March 22

Where to get application: Class of 1986 scholarship information

Approximate Amount: $500

Lincoln Laureate Award Description: Given to a senior in the university who has demonstrated educational achievement with one of the following characteristics: has faced physical or economic difficulties, has artistic or technical talent, has leadership skills. Must have 2.5 GPA.

Deadlines: Oct. 3

Where to get application: Office of Student Affairs, 301 Hovey Hall, Nomination from faculty*

Approximate Amount: Certificate from the Governor

University Club Scholarship Description: University-wide. Any officially enrolled student who has been at ISU for more than one semester (undergraduate or graduate) with an established Illinois State GPA is eligible to apply. Students may apply online or download forms starting October 1.

Deadlines: November 1

Where to get application: University Club Scholarship

Approximate Amount: $500

Red Tassel/Mortar Board Description: University-wide. Based on scholarship, service, and leadership.

Deadlines: January

Where to get application: Nomination from faculty*

Approximate Amount: Award

MJ Scholarship Description: University Wide. Senior with high academic achievement, must develop a special community project

Deadlines: Sept 15. Click here for more information

Where to get application: Selected by Honors Program

Approximate Amount: $1500

For more information on each of these scholarships, see the College website .

The Carl D. Heldt Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund Description: The intent of the Carl D. Heldt Scholarship is to enable natural sciences students of promise who are otherwise unable to attend college to attend Illinois State University free from the costs of tuition and fees. Must be admitted as an incoming full-time freshman or transfer student to Illinois State University and enrolled in one of the following academic areas: Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Physics or other natural science, demonstrated financial need and a willingness to supplement this scholarship by work while attending Illinois State University, Multi-talented Illinois high school graduate who can be expected to contribute to society in meaningful and exceptional ways, demonstrated strong academic achievement, as evidenced by an enrolling cumulative grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale and continued academic success while at Illinois State University. Participation in high school athletics is a recommended criterion for selection and is not a requirement.

Deadlines: February 1

Where to get application: CAS Scholarships

Approximate amount: covers tuition and fees

The College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Scholar Fund Description: Provides professional meeting expenses for outstanding undergraduate students majoring in the college of arts and sciences. Must have peer-reviewed works accepted at major meeting. Awards assist with travel, registration, and housing costs.

Deadlines: apply before the meeting you wish to attend

Where to get application: CAS Scholarships

Approximate Amount: per request

John and Susan Freed Scholarship Description: Must be or have: a. a second-semester junior enrolled in good standing in the College of Arts and Sciences; b. demonstrated strong academic achievement,(3.5GPA); c. completed at least seventy-five semester hours; d. classified by the Office of Disability Concerns as disabled; e. participated in extracurricular activities

Deadlines: February 1

Where to get application: CAS Scholarships

Approximate Amount: ~$1,000

Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program

The Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program provides a scholarship award plus tuition and fee waivers for up to two years to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) students studying biology, chemistry or mathematics teacher preparation programs. In return, recipients will commit to teach at least two years in a Chicago Public School (CPS).

Redbird 5 Scholarship Description: Must be an undergraduate student enrolled in good standing; have demonstrated financial need; be enrolled in any major in the College of Arts and Sciences; have a GPA of at least 2.8 .

Deadlines: February 1

Where to get application: CAS Scholarships

Approximate Amount: ~$3000

Laurine Reiske Scholarship Description: Must be or have: a. GPA at least 2.5; b. sophomore standing or above; c. will be eligible for renewal.

Deadlines: February 1

Where to get application: CAS Scholarships

Approximate Amount: ~$9000

Neil and Joan Styczynski Scholarship Description: must be accepted and enrolled in good standing at Illinois State University as a transfer student from a community college. Preference will be given to transfer students from Heartland Community College. Must be declared major in a teaching discipline within the College of Arts and Sciences.Must have academic standing of at least 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.Must have demonstrated financial need as determined by the Financial Aid Office at Illinois State University. Scholarship must be used for educational expenses, including tuition, fees, books and/or costs associated with student teaching. Award is applied to expenses incurred the semester following selection of the recipient.

Deadlines: Feb 15

Where to get application: CAS Scholarships

Approximate amount: The amount of the award will equal tuition and fees for an academic year (30 hours) for each scholarship recipient.