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Scholarships and Awards

• For Admitted DGS Students
• For Continuing DGS Students
• Other Scholarship Opportunities
• Top Scholars at Illinois

For Admitted DGS Freshmen

DGS Honors Achievement Award

• Eligibility: Granted to the top incoming freshmen who have been admitted to DGS. Students are selected based on their academic achievement, community involvement, leadership, and quality of submitted essays.
• Applying: Decisions will be made based on information included in the admissions application. All students who apply to DGS are considered for these awards.
• Notification: Those receiving the award will be notified by mail in an award letter. The DGS Honors Award totals $5,000 upon admission.

DGS Honors Award

• Eligibility: Granted to the top incoming freshmen who have been admitted to DGS. Students are selected based on their academic achievement, community involvement, leadership, and quality of submitted essays.
• Applying: Decisions will be made based on information included in the admissions application. All students who apply to DGS are considered for these awards.
• Notification: Those receiving the award will be notified by mail in an award letter. The DGS Honors Award totals $1,000 upon admission.

Phi Eta Sigma Scholarship

• Eligibility: Student must be in the top 10% of their class and have demonstrated leadership, involvement, and service.
• Applying: Decisions will be made based on information included in the admissions application. All students who apply to DGS are considered for these awards.
• Notification: Those receiving the award will be notified by mail in an award letter. The Phi Eta Scholarship amount will vary by year, with an expected total of up to $1,000 upon admission.

University Admissions-Based Scholarships

• All admitted DGS students are automatically considered for Illinois' Admissions-Based Scholarships for all Academic Disciplines.

For Current DGS Students

Phi Eta Sigma Scholarship

• Eligibility: Student must have a 3.5 cumulative GPA or higher. Applicants will be evaluated based on their leadership, involvement, service, and future career goals.
• Applying: The application will be available online and due mid-spring semester.

trACES Scholarship

• Eligibility: Available to high-achieving students who are transferring from the Division of General Studies into the College of ACES. First priority will be given to students who have earned at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and who exhibit leadership potential.
• Amount: The trACES scholarship has a value of $1,500 for the academic year.  A limited number of scholarships are available.
• Applying: An application is required. More information will be coming soon.

Honors Achievement Award

• Recognize students who have embodied the spirit of the DGS James Scholar Honors Program by demonstrating excellence in areas of either creativity, leadership, research, or service-learning.
• In addition to academic excellence, attention is paid to those students who have sought independent projects or involvements, demonstrated a high degree of intrinsic motivation and curiosity,
• Applying: The application will be available online and due mid-spring semester.

Honors Project Award

• Recognize outstanding DGS James Scholar students who have completed rigorous, creative, and/or unique honors works as part of an honors course, honors credit learning agreement, or independent honors-related projects.
• Strong consideration will be granted to students whose projects meaningfully reflect the four themes of the DGS James Scholar Honors Program: creativity, leadership, research, and service-learning.
• Applying: The application will be available online and due mid-spring semester.

Honors Student Endorsement

• Any DGS James Scholar interested in special opportunities on campus or beyond may be eligible for financial endorsement. These opportunities include participation in:
  • LeaderShape Conference
  • Undergraduate Research Symposium
  • Undergraduate Ethics Symposium (DePaw University)
  • Independent research projects undertaken with a faculty member
  • Many other events may apply. Curious students should contact the DGS Honors Director to inquire further.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

• Scholarships listed through the Office of Student Financial Aid
• Scholarships available for International Students

Top Scholars at Illinois

Nationally competitive scholarships are available for graduates and undergraduates, and the competition is steep. The National and International Scholarships Program administers many of these awards for University of Illinois students and alumni. Throughout the application process, we provide advice and feedback for applicants.