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First-Year Scholarships

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You worked hard to get here and
we want to reward you.

Academic merit-based scholarships, based on grade point average (GPA), are awarded during the admission review process.

Scholarships are renewable up to four years provided you maintain the required GPA each year and maintain full-time undergraduate status. Merit scholarships are not based on need. Your achievements and special talents in other academic and activity areas, like education and the fine arts, could result in additional scholarship opportunities.

 

Academic Merit Scholarships

  • Presidential Scholarship 
    • $29,000-$30,000 annually 
    • Based on cumulative high school GPA of 4.25 - 5.00*
  • Dean Scholarship 
    • $28,000-$29,000 annually
    • Based on cumulative high school GPA of 3.96 - 4.24*
  • Honor Scholarship 
    • $27,000-$28,000 annually
    • Based on cumulative high school GPA of 3.69 - 3.95*
  • Achievement Scholarship 
    • $25,500-$26,500 annually
    • Based on cumulative high school GPA of 3.34 - 3.68*
  • Academic Scholarship
    • $24,500-$25,500 annually
    • Based on cumulative high school GPA of 3.34 and below*
  • Presidential Housing Award
    • $3,000 annually
    • Based on cumulative high school GPA of 4.40 and higher*
    • Students must live on campus

*Application and scholarship decisions are based on a holistic review. GPAs are recalculated to a 4.0 scale. High school profiles will be referenced as needed.

Talent

As an incoming student, you may audition for talent scholarships in the areas of music, theatre, art, and forensics. They are renewable depending on department funding and your continued participation. For further information, contact the Office of Admission.

marching band performing at homecoming

Alumni

Incoming students may be recommended by an alum of North Central College to receive a $1,000 annual scholarship. Each alum is only entitled to one recommendation per academic year and students are limited to one alumni scholarship applied to their first academic year. Deadline to refer a prospective student is March 15th. If you know an alum, have them recommend you for this scholarship. Click HERE to refer a student!

Alumni at football tailgate

Donor/Endowed

North Central is fortunate to receive donations from generous alumni and friends of the College for the establishment of endowed scholarships. 

To apply for endowed scholarships from our donors, please visit Academic Works and sign in with your Merlin ID and Password.

Several donors and affiliates of the College also offer opportunities for incoming students. Listed below are some brief overviews of a few of the opportunities listed on Academic Works.

 

Religious Affiliation 

  • Grant for Children of Full-Time United Methodist (UM) Clergy
    • Parent must be a full-time UM clergy person
    • Renewable, provided student continues to meet criteria
  • United Methodist Grant Fund of the Northern Illinois Conference
    • Student must be a member of UMNIC with financial need 
    • Renewable, provided student continues to meet criteria
  • United Methodist Scholarships
    • One scholarship application that will consider only North Central students for over 15 different UM scholarships
    • Scholarships are not renewable, but can be re-considered upon new application 
  • United Methodist Scholarships - General Board of Higher Education & Ministry 
    • Available to active student members of UM church
    • Applications available in early January at gbhem.org 
Koten Chapel

Communication

  • Bockholdt Speech/Communication Scholarship
    • Student must be full-time and interested in speech communication and theatre
  • Emerging Writers Spotlight Scholarship 
    • Applicants must be a high school senior or incoming transfer student interested in literature or writing
    • Renewable with department approval of meeting criteria 
    • Student will have the opportunity to be published in the North Central Review literary journal 
students researching online in class

Education

  • Scholarships for Education Majors (John J. Bohlander, Roger K. and Mildred Rife Goodwin, Jeanene Yule)
    • Must have cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
    • Bohlander and Goodwin are renewable by re-application and selection annually
    • Yule is renewable by department confirmation
professor talking in front of class

Music

  • John Miller Cowlishaw Memorial Scholarship for Music
    • Students majoring/minoring in music, music education, or musical theatre
    • Must have cumulative GPA of at least 3.0

Math/Science/Business

  • FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition 
    • Students majoring in mechanical, electrical, or computer engineering 
    • Must have actively participated in the FIRST Tech Challenge or the FIRST Robotics Competition during junior or senior year of high school
  • Verne E. Dietrich Memorial Scholarship
    • Incoming freshmen majoring in physics, chemistry or math
  • Harold Emery Meiley Scholarship
    • Must be a DuPage county resident
    • Career objective must be computer science, business, engineering, pre-med or pre-law
    • Renewable, provided student continues to meet criteria
  • Navistar Emerging Leaders in Engineering 
    • Students majoring in mechanical, electrical, or computer engineering 
    • Preference is given to underrepresented students 
    • Renewable, provided student continues to meet criteria
  • Leadership Experience and Advancement Program in STEM (LEAPS)
    • Major in biology, computer science, environmental studies, mathematics, or neuroscience
    • Meet federal eligibility requirements for Pell Grants
    • Renewable, provided student continues to meet criteria 

Leadership

  • Bill Shatzer and Suzanne Shatzer Doerge Scholarship
    • Student must demonstrate leadership and determination to overcome disadvantages
    • Financial need considered