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Scholarships and Waivers

To be considered for any social work scholarship, you need to have completed one semester of social work major courses.

Schorlaships List

    • Patty Berndt Memorial Scholarship for BSW Students

      Number Available: 1

      Amount: $1,500

      Deadline to Apply: February 29

      Patty Berndt had deep ties to the School of Social Work. She was an alum, instructor, and also served as the Director of Student Services. Patty's life was dedicated to making a difference in people's lives, including students. This scholarship serves to honor her legacy.

      Requirements

      • Undergraduate BSW student
      • Accepted for enrollment or enrolled in good standing at Illinois State in the School of Social Work
      • Demonstrated financial need through FAFSA filing

      Apply for the Patty Berndt Memorial Scholarship

    • Wilma and Donald R. Haerr Endowed Scholarship for Nontraditional Students

      Number Available: 2

      Amount: $1,000

      Deadline to Apply: February 29

      Since childhood, Wilma felt no child should ever be left alone. Her experiences made her more sensitive to the needs of others. She developed a strong commitment to social work while serving underprivileged families and, with her husband, established an endowed scholarship for nontraditional social work students.

      Requirements

      • 25 years of age or older (preference given to older students)
      • Enrolled in good standing at Illinois State
      • At least a 2.50 GPA for undergraduates and 3.0 GPA for graduates
      • Demonstrated financial need through FAFSA filing

      Apply for the Wilma and Donald Haerr Scholarship

    • Dr. Mark Moran Endowed Scholarship for BSW Students

      Number Available: 1

      Amount: $500

      Deadline to Apply: February 29

      This scholarship was established to honor the legacy of Dr. Mark Moran, a former Illinois State social work faculty member. Dr. Moran spent several years in the criminal justice system and brought a wealth of knowledge to his teaching career. He taught his students that all people deserve dignity and hope for a better future. He also had a strong commitment to the professional development of students in social work.

      Requirements

      • Overall GPA of 2.50 in social work coursework or 2.50 cumulative GPA in academic coursework at a previous institution
      • Demonstrated financial need through FAFSA filing

      Apply for the Mark Moran Endowed Scholarship

    • Graduate Tuition Waiver for Social Work Students

      Number Available: Multiple

      Amount: Varies

      Deadline to Apply: Fall/Spring – August 1; Summer (depending on availability) – March 1

      Department tuition waivers are awarded on a competitive basis to students who are enrolled in graduate level social work courses and who show promise for success. Students may not be receiving tuition waivers through a graduate assistantship to be eligible to apply for a departmental tuition waiver. Tuition waivers cover partial tuition only; department tuition waivers do not cover full tuition. Students are responsible for paying required fees.

      Requirements

      • Students with an established graduate GPA must maintain a minimum of 3.0; students without a graduate GPA must have a minimum of 2.8 for the last 60 hours of undergraduate GPA.
      • Students must be enrolled in graduate level social work courses.
      • Students must be in academic good standing.
      • Application must be submitted on time.

      Apply for the Graduate Tuition Waiver for Social Work Students

    • Mildred Pratt Student Assistance Fund

      Number Available: Multiple

      Amount: Varies

      Deadline to Apply: As Needed

      The Mildred Pratt Fund exists for the purpose of helping students with specific unexpected crises (e.g. transportation or health related emergencies, etc.). Many students experience financial need; this program does not cover personal budget shortfalls which are not of an unexpected nature.

      Requirements

      • Financial Need: This scholarship requires a student to have Financial Need to be eligible to receive the scholarship. Financial Need is established by completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can file the FAFSA at: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ . Additionally, you must discuss your individual financial crises with the financial aid office before applying for this fund. 

      Apply for the Mildred Pratt Student Assistance Fund

    • Diversity Tuition Waivers

      Number Available: Multiple

      Amount: Up to 9 hours of in-state tuition. Cannot be used for fees or other expenses

      Deadline to Apply: Best chance at funding: Fall - August 1; Spring - January 1; Summer - May 1

      The Graduate School of Illinois State University offers the opportunity for graduate students who are U.S. citizens to apply for tuition assistance. Waivers are awarded competitively on a holistic evaluation that includes students' articulation of how their unique contributions to their respective graduate program, academic discipline, and overall campus community will impact their profession. Waivers are awarded subject to available funds and may be received in addition to most other types of financial assistance

      Requirements

      • Graduate degree seeking individuals that seek to advance Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • Must be admitted to a degree program to apply.
      • Must be in good academic standing with a GPA of at least a 3.0 to be awarded a waiver.
      • Because these awards are also need based, all applicants will need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) prior to application for the waiver. 

      Apply for the Diversity Tuition Waiver