Our Mission

"Scholarship Student in Front of Residence Hall."The WIU Foundation Scholarship Office mission is to provide extensive broad-based financial support and assistance to the diverse population of students attending Western Illinois University.

Scholarships are a tradition at Western Illinois University. The WIU Foundation Scholarship Program was first introduced in 1946 to help enhance the educational goals and mission of Western Illinois University. The scholarship program continues to serve its original purpose and to promote and share a special conviction that academic excellence needs and deserves encouragement and continuing financial support. Students receiving highly competitive scholarships exhibit academic accomplishment and promise. Because of their diverse backgrounds and interests, WIU Foundation scholarship recipients frequently serve as representatives of the University and Foundation in numerous co-curricular and extra-curricular activities and serve as student leaders.

In addition, the Scholarship Office also provides financial support to students in need of short/long-term assistance. This for of support, as well as traditional scholarship awards help to increase enrollment, retention and graduation rates, and keep a Western education affordable and accessible.