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Freshman Scholarships

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

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

Scholarships are renewable 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

  • Academic, Achievement, Cardinal, Dean, Honor, or Presidential Scholarship
    • Award based on high school GPA
    • Range of $20,000-$27,000 ($80,000-$108,000 over four years) per academic year.
    • Contact the Office of Admission for further details on eligibility.
    • Available for 4 academic years provided the minimum GPA requirement is maintained.
  • International Scholarships
    • Must be an international student.
    • Range of $27,000 to $30,000 ($108,000-$120,000 over four years) per academic year.
    • For eligibility requirements, visit the International Scholarship page.
    • Available for four academic years provided the minimum GPA requirement is maintained.

 

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

The Montaigne Scholarship

Students who plan to enroll in the Shimer Great Books School at North Central College may participate in a scholarship competition. All students who submit a successful essay will then be invited to visit and meet current Shimer School students and faculty for a discussion of their essay. Recipients will receive the Montaigne Scholarship up to $5,000 annually in addition to their current academic scholarship. This scholarship is renewable annually at the same dollar amount pending departmental approval.

Shimer Great Books School class discussion

Alumni

Incoming students may be recommended by an alum of North Central College to receive a $1,000 annual scholarship. Recommendations are encouraged prior to December 1st. Please contact the Office of Admission for questions. Students may only receive one Alumni Scholarship. If you know an alum, have them recommend you for this scholarship through the Alumni Office.

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 30North
  • Mock Trial Scholarship
    • Open to high school seniors and incoming transfer students.
    • Student must participate in NCC mock trial team
    • Renewable with department approval of meeting criteria
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
  • Teach First Generation Scholarship
    • Must be a first-generation college student
    • Renewable with participation in Teach First program
  • Dunham Foundation Education Scholarship
    • Must live in the Dunham Foundation Service Area
    • Financial need is considered
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

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