Scholarships
Scholarships are a vital tool in affording a world-class education and, in combination with University financial aid, can reduce the cost of attending the University of Chicago. Below are several types of scholarships that you may be eligible to pursue.
UChicago's merit scholarships are among the oldest in the country and are given to applicants on the basis of outstanding academic and extracurricular achievement, demonstrated leadership, and community commitment. Exemplary students are selected during the admissions process to receive merit scholarships that are guaranteed for four years of study (as long as good academic standing is maintained). Merit scholarships are determined by a merit scholarship committee without consideration of financial need.
All students, including first-year applicants, are automatically considered for merit scholarships; no additional merit scholarship application is required. Only transfer students are not eligible for merit-based scholarships. Scholarship winners will receive notification on a rolling basis through the end of April. Please note that only scholarship winners are notified.
If you have further questions concerning merit scholarships, please contact your Regional Admissions Counselor.
As part of an overall commitment to providing resources to students in the area, UChicago offers several different scholarships to high school students in Chicagoland. Please read more about these scholarship opportunities below. UChicago Promise
UChicago Promise is the University of Chicago’s pledge to help increase college access and readiness for Chicago high school students. UChicago Promise offers special scholarships for students from the Chicago area and also includes an Admissions Academy, which guides Chicago high schoolers toward selective four-year institutions, as well as mentoring, preparation, internships, and more. Explore UChicago Promise.
Chicago Police and Fire Scholarship
In honor of Chicago Fire Fighters’ and Chicago Police Officers’ service to the University community and the city, the University of Chicago offers full-tuition scholarships to select children of active Chicago firefighters and police officers. To be considered for a full-tuition scholarship, candidates must qualify for admission to the University of Chicago and be children (or legally adopted children) of sworn Chicago Fire Fighters and Chicago Police Officers who will remain active for the duration of their children’s college careers. Students whose parent lost their life in the line of duty are also eligible for the scholarship. Each winner is guaranteed full tuition for four years of undergraduate studies (12 academic quarters), provided he or she makes satisfactory academic progress. All Police and Fire Scholarship candidates must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Chicago Public Schools Scholarship
The University of Chicago awards full-tuition, four-year scholarships to select graduates of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) who are admitted to the University. Awards are given to outstanding students who show the greatest potential for making contributions to the academic, extracurricular, and community life of the College. CPS student applicants will automatically be considered and need not submit any additional information beyond the required application materials.
UChicago Charter School Scholarship
In an ongoing effort to support the students in our community and make higher education an affordable option for our local families, the University of Chicago will award a full-tuition, four-year scholarship to a graduate of the University of Chicago Charter School—Woodlawn Campus who is admitted to the College of the University of Chicago. The award will be given to an outstanding UCCS Woodlawn student who demonstrates great potential for making contributions to the academic, extracurricular, and community life of the College.
City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) Star Scholarship (Transfer Students)
The University of Chicago awards up to full-tuition scholarships to select recipients of the City Colleges of Chicago Star Scholarship who are admitted to the College of the University of Chicago. Awards are given to outstanding students who show the greatest potential for making contributions to the academic, extracurricular, and community life of the College. CCC Star Scholar applicants will automatically be considered when they apply for transfer admission and need not submit any additional information beyond the required application materials.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of the anonymous donor “Homer” and additional gifts from alumni and friends of the University, for over 15 years the Odyssey Scholarship program has provided enhanced academic, social, and career support to students who are from lower-income families or the first in their families to attend college. Odyssey Scholars are selected on the basis of financial need and family circumstances and will be eligible for additional funding for study abroad and other costs such as health insurance. Students must apply for need-based financial aid in order to be considered for the Odyssey Scholarship.
No Student Loans in Your Financial Aid Package
Odyssey Scholars are not expected to borrow student loans as part of their financial aid package. Instead, students receive University grant and scholarship funding, which does not need to be repaid. Please note that you will be eligible for Federal Student Loans, but they will not be included as a part of your financial aid package.
Many other universities will first package student loans before any other gift aid. UChicago replaces this loan expectation with grants and scholarships and leaves the decision to borrow up to the student.
Contact Financial Aid if you have questions concerning loans.
Internships for Odyssey Students
The University of Chicago is committed to providing you with an education that enhances your personal and professional development. To that end, Odyssey Scholars have the opportunity to receive a funded summer internship or research opportunity after their first year in the College. To qualify for the opportunity, you will need to participate in Career Advancement programs and meetings with your career adviser. You will meet with your adviser throughout the year to discuss your academic and career interests in order to ensure that you are in a strong position to find an internship that fits your interests and goals.
For information on internships for Odyssey students, please visit Career Advancement
Networking
Through programs and events offered by both Career Advancement and the Center for College Student Success, students enjoy opportunities to meet other current Odyssey Scholars as well as alumni who benefited from and support the Odyssey Scholarship program.
Funding for Study Abroad
Odyssey Scholars are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the wide range of study abroad offerings in the College. Scholars will receive funding for program fees and housing costs associated with study abroad. Additionally, scholarships available through the College can be used to assist with additional costs related to study abroad, such as airfare to the program site and meals.
Financial Wellness Skills
Financial literacy seminars for Odyssey Scholars assist students in learning the basics of budgeting a student income, managing personal expenses, and understanding student loans, credit cards, and other consumer debt. Visit our Financial Literacy pages for more information and tips on managing your money in college.
Assistance with Health Insurance Costs
Students are required to have health insurance while enrolled in the College. You must purchase the University Student Health Insurance Plan (U-SHIP) unless you are covered under another plan (e.g. a parent’s health insurance plan). As an Odyssey Scholar, the cost of U-SHIP is paid for you by Odyssey Scholarship funds. These funds come from a specific U-SHIP fund and do not reduce the amount of your Odyssey Scholarship.
Odyssey Scholars who wish to utilize U-SHIP and have their Odyssey funding cover the cost must actively enroll in the U-SHIP plan. The enrollment/waiver period is August 6th to October 19th. If you enroll in U-SHIP, your financial aid will be updated after your enrollment request has been processed. To learn more and to enroll or waive U-SHIP, please visit the USHIP website.
You are encouraged to apply for scholarships from agencies outside of the University. One popular scholarship search resource is Fastweb. If you receive a scholarship from an outside agency, you must report it to the Office of College Aid as soon as you are notified of the scholarship. These non-University scholarships can help reduce your family’s out-of-pocket expenses paid to the University.
UChicago students benefit from 100% of their outside scholarship funds, meaning their institutional aid will not be reduced to accommodate the outside scholarship. Any outside scholarship funds earned will go toward reducing the family's out-of-pocket cost. Institutional aid may be reduced if the sum of all gift aid and outside scholarship funds exceeds the total yearly cost of attendance.
Below is a link to Fastweb, a third-partyscholarship search engine. Third-party scholarships are managed by the outside donor and not the University of Chicago, and therefore eligibility is determined by their criteria. If you have questions about the individual scholarships, please refer to the donor contact information on their websites.
All scholarship checks from third party sources should be mailed directly to the Bursar's Office for processing:
University of Chicago Bursar 6030 South Ellis Avenue Chicago, IL 60637
If your costs have been fully met by other financial aid and you receive an outside scholarship, the Office of Financial Aid allows for a one-time cost of attendance adjustment for the purchase of a computer with the outside scholarship funds. Please reach out to our office for more information.
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