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Scholarships

Merit-Based Awards for Students

Freshman Scholarships
Transfer Scholarships
Other Scholarships 
Scholarship Search 
Outside Scholarships

Elmhurst College offers scholarships based on academic performance, demonstrated talent in art, music, and theatre, legacy affiliation, United Church of Christ membership and underrepresented status. To be considered, students who are seeking their first bachelor's degree and plan to enroll full time should complete the Application for Admission by the dates indicated below.

Freshman Scholarships
2009-2010 Academic Year
Renewable scholarships are offered to outstanding entering freshmen based on a strong combination of grade-point average in English, mathematics, laboratory science, social science, and foreign language courses in a rigorous high school program and composite ACT or SAT scores. Other variables such as a student's essay, letters of recommendation and/or extracurricular activities may influence scholarship consideration. Students should apply for admission to Elmhurst by January 15 for scholarship consideration.

Presidential Scholarship
These scholarships range in value from $15,000 to $19,000 per year and require the maintenance of a 3.25 grade-point average and full-time enrollment for renewal. Generally speaking, Presidential Scholars will have excelled in a challenging high school curriculum including a number of advanced placement and honors courses and will have consistently demonstrated superior academic performance in all measures at the high school level.

Dean's Scholarships
These scholarships range in value from $10,000 to $14,000 and require the maintenance of a 3.00 grade-point average and full-time enrollment for renewal. Dean's Scholarship winners will have performed at a high level in advanced placement and honors courses in a strong high school program and will have shown superior abilities in most other academic endeavors.

Founders Scholarships
These scholarships range in value from $5,000 to $9,000 and require the maintenance of a 2.75 grade-point average and full-time enrollment for renewal. Founders Scholarship recipients will have performed at a superior level in a solid college-bound curriculum and will have demonstrated above average abilities in other academic indicators.

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Transfer Scholarships
2009-2010 Academic Year
Renewable scholarships are offered to the top 20% of entering transfer students each year. Scholarships are offered based on the grade-point average attained in previous college-level work and on the number of semester hours of college credit earned at the time of application. To be considered for a scholarship, transfer students should complete an application for admission by March 15.

Transfer Excellence Scholarships
These scholarships range in value from $13,000 to $18,000 and require a maintenance of a 3.25 grade-point average and full-time enrollment for renewal. To be considered for an Excellence Scholarship, students must have earned at least 45 semester hours of transferable college credit, and a cumulative transfer grade-point average of 3.50 on a 4.0 scale at the time of application.

Transfer Achievement Scholarship
These scholarships range in value from $9,000 to $13,000 and require the maintenance of a 3.00 grade-point average and full-time enrollment for renewal. To be considered for an Achievement Scholarship, students must have earned at least 32 semester hours of transferable college credit, and have a cumulative transfer grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale at the time of application.

Transfer Recognition Scholarships
These scholarships range in value from $5,000 to $10,000 per year for students with less than 32 semester hours of transferable credit at the time of application. The maintenance of a 2.75 grade-point average and full-time enrollment is required for renewal. To be considered for a Recognition Scholarship, students must have a cumulative transfer grade-point average of 2.80 on a 4.0 scale at the time of application.

Phi Theta Kappa Scholarships
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarships are offered to students who are members of Phi Theta Kappa, and have earned a cumulative transfer grade-point average of 3.50 on a 4.0 scale at the time of application. Renewal of these scholarships requires full-time enrollment and the maintenance of the grade-point average needed for the academic scholarship awarded (Excellence, Achievement, Recognition). The scholarship is valued at $1,000 and can be added to the Transfer or Music Scholarship funds offered by the College. Students must provide official college transcripts confirming PTK membership at the time of application to be considered for this award.

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Other Scholarships
Enrichment Scholarships
These scholarships are offered to qualified freshmen and transfer students who are members of traditionally underrepresented groups at the College. The scholarship is not limited by race or ethnicity. The award is valued at $8,000 and recipients must be enrolled on a full-time, degree-seeking basis. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years, provided the recipient maintains full-time enrollment and a cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 or above. To be considered for an enrichment scholarship, complete your admission application by May 1.

United Church of Christ Scholarships
Elmhurst offers one-third-tuition scholarships-valued at $8,666* for the 2008-2009 academic year-to freshmen and transfer students who are members of congregations of the United Church of Christ. These scholarships are renewable each year, provided that the recipient remains enrolled full time and in good standing at the College. To receive consideration, ask your pastor to submit a letter of nomination to the Director of Financial Aid, and complete your admission application by May 1.   * For students paying comprehensive fee.

Music Scholarships
Scholarships of up to $19,000 are offered to students majoring in music based on academic credentials and an audition.  All students who plan to major in music, music education, music business or jazz studies must audition.  To be considered for a music scholarship, apply for admission and schedule an audition by contacting: Kevin Olson, Director of Music Admission, (630)617-3524 or kevino@elmhurst.edu

Art and Theatre Talent Scholarships
Talent Scholarships are offered to students who demonstrate exceptional talent in art or theatre.  Students may receive these scholarships in addition to other scholarships offered by Elmhurst College.  To receive consideration, apply for admission and contact the relevant director for audition or portfolio details:
Art - Mary Lou Stewart, Chair and Associate Professor, (630)617-3553 or marylous@elmhurst.edu
Theatre - Alan Weiger, Director of the College Theatre, (630)617-3006 or alanw@elmhurst.edu

Legacy Scholarships
Legacy Scholarships are offered to students that have directly related family members (father, mother, brother, sister, grandfather, grandmother) who have graduated from or are currently enrolled full time at Elmhurst College. The scholarship is valued at $1,000 and can be added to other scholarship funds offered by the College.  Students must identify their legacy relative in their Application for Admission in order to receive the award. 

Please Note: Scholarship decisions are normally made at the time of admission and are based on the credentials and supporting materials that have been submitted to the Office of Admission at the time of application.

Students eligible for two scholarships receive the larger of the two. For example, an Enrichment Scholarship candidate who received a Presidential Scholarship of $15,000 will receive the Presidential Scholarship, but not the lesser Enrichment
Scholarship. Art, theatre, Phi Theta Kappa and legacy scholarships at $1,000 are exceptions to this policy.

UCC members who receive an academic or music scholarship that is greater than the UCC scholarship will receive a $1,000 UCC award in addition to their academic scholarship.

All of the scholarships mentioned apply to students who are regularly admitted to Elmhurst College as first-time bachelor's degree candidates enrolled on a full-time basis.  That is, graduate, part time, non-degree, second degree and special program students are not eligible for these scholarship programs.

The scholarships described above are intended for students who will pay the comprehensive tuition. Adult students planning to enroll in a program that is charged on a per credit hour basis are encouraged to inquire about literature which describes scholarships for students in accelerated programs.

The required grade point averages cited are based on a 4.00 scale.

Students who fall below the academic standard for renewal of a scholarship may regain the scholarship in a subsequent term by attaining the required grade point average.

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Scholarship Search
Free internet sites can be excellent sources of scholarship information. Fastweb (www.fastweb.com) is a private company that lists both obvious and obscure awards. After you register with Fastweb, you will receive periodic feedback. The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (www.collegezone.com) offers a similar service and a great deal of financial aid information. Another free scholarship search site is www.scholarshipexperts.com

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Outside Scholarships
Elmhurst College receives information about outside scholarships from various sources. The following is a listing of current outside scholarship opportunites.