Nationally Competitive Scholarships

Please note that some scholarships listed below require a WIU selection, nomination or endorsement, and thus have a campus deadline in advance of the national deadline.

Scholarship

 Description

Deadline
 

Jack Kent Cooke

 Provides up to $50,000 annually to fund tuition and fees for seniors and recent graduates planning to attend graduate school. www.iackkentcookefoundation.org/

Eligibility: Candidates must be nominated by Western Illinois University and be a current student or a recent graduate with a cummulative grade point average of 3.5 or better. Students must also be planning to begin a full-time graduate degree program in the fall semester after application. 		May 1

Freeman-Asia

 Provides $3,000-$7,000 to students studying abroad in one of 15 Asian countries. Seeks to encourage study abroad by American students in Asian counties. Students who participate must commit to promoting study abroad in Asia on their home campus upon completion of the program. http://www.iie.org/pgms/freeman-asia

Eligibility: U.S. citizens. Applicants must be enrolled as an undergraduate in a US college or university, receive financial aid or have verifiable financial need. Priority will be given to students with no previous experience in the country where they plan to study.		  
Fulbright Provides round-trip transportation, tuition and a monthly stipend for one academic year in any of over 140 countries. The applicant designs the program of study/research. Approx. 1000 awards.  www.iie.org/fulbright

Eligibility: U.S. citizens, must hold B.A. before beginning of grant, proficiency in language of host country (if required). Apply at WIU during fall of senior year. Candidates must apply through WIU.		 October 21, 2004

 

Gates-Cambridge

 Provides expenses for studying at Cambridge University for 1-4 years. Seeks students who hope to use their talents to improve the life circumstances of citizens in their respective countries. Number of awards not yet definite. www.gates.scholarships.cam.ac.uk

Eligibility: Citizens from any country can apply. Two types of awards: for graduate study and for a 2nd BA. Applicants are normally under 30. Must be admitted to Cambridge and have first BA by time of departure. Candidates must apply through WIU.

 

Gilman

 Provides up to $5,000 for students participating in a study abroad program of any duration, up to one year. Students must be accepted for up to one year of study on a program of study abroad approved for credit by the student’s home institution. http://www.iie.orq/gilman

Eligibility: U.S. citizens. Applicants must be undergraduate students at an institution of higher education in the United States, and must be receiving a Pell Grant.

 

Goldwater

 Provides tuition, fees, room & board (up to $7,500) for 1-2 years for undergraduates studying and planning a research career in math, natural science, or engineering.Approx. 300. www.act.org/qoldwater

Eligibility: U.S. citizen or resident, active in field, research experience, 4.7 GPA and up.Universities can only nominate 4 candidates. Apply at WIU during fall of sophomore or junior year. Candidates must apply through WIU.		 February 1, 2005
lIE Midwest Provides several awards from $1 ,000-$4,000 for study abroad program of at least 4 weeks in duration. Applications for semester-long programs or longer are encouraged, as are applications for non-Western countries. www.iie.org/midwest/grant

Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents in good academic standing who are residents of Illinois or another Midwestern state. No previous study abroad experience at the university level.

 

Javits
Provides a one-year, renewable stipend for students pursuing doctoral or MFA study in the arts, humanities and social sciences at an American university. Scholarship pays up to $10,857 to the institution and no more than $18,000 as a stipend to the student. www.edu.gov/offices/OPE/HEP/iegps/javits.html

Eligibility: U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Applicants must demonstrate financial need. If in graduate school, must not be beyond the first year.
 November 30

Madison

 Provides tuition, fees, books, room & board for potential and actual high school teachers pursuing a graduate degree in U.S. history, political science, education social science or government focusing on the Constitution. Approx. 53. www.jamesmadison.com

Eligibility: U.S. citizens or nationals, commitment to civic responsibilities & professional activities, qualify for graduate admission, future in high school teaching.		 March 1, 2005

Marshall

 Provides expenses for studying at a university in the U.K. for 2 years. Highly competitive, seeks “movers and shakers.” Up to 40 awards www.marshallscholarship.org

Eligibility: U.S. citizens, within 2 years of graduation, minimum 4.75 GPA, scholarship and leadership, graduate goals consistent with preparation. Demonstrated potential in your field. Good rationale for study in the U.K Candidates must apply through WIU.

October 1, 2004

McKelvie

 Provides up to $2,000 to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in public service. Approximately 20 awards per year. No website. Contact SSP during Spring semester for more information.

Eligibility: Undergraduates or graduate students with demonstrated interest in a career in public service

Late March

Mellon

 Provides $14,000+ and tuition and fees for one-year fellowship in humanistic studies for students committed to teaching and research. 80 awards. www.woodrow.org/mellon


Eligibility: U.S. citizens or permanent residents, high CPA and GRE, college senior or graduate (5 yrs.), not yet enrolled in M.A. or Ph.D., goal of teaching. GRE must be taken by Dec. 1.

 

Mitchell

 Provides expenses for studying at university in Ireland for 1 year. Highly competitive, seeks students with academic distinction and potential for leadership. Up to 12 awards. www.us-irelandalliance.org/mitchell.


Eligibility: U.S. citizen, 18-30 by Oct. 1 of 2002, bachelor’s finished before departure for Ireland. Candidates may not apply directly.

 

NSEP Undergraduate

 Provides funding based on financial need for study abroad program in a non-English speaking country outside of western Europe. Requires work with an agency or office of the federal government or higher education equal to time funded within 8 years of return. Language study must be a part of each program. www.iie.org/ndsep

Eligibility: Undergraduate status, U.S. citizens. Study must take place in approved country. Candidates must have university endorsement.

 

National Defense
Science &
Engr. Grad.
Fell.

Provides tuition, fees and an average of $18,500 for a yearly stipend for students pursuing doctoral degrees in mathematical, physical, biological, ocean, and engineering sciences. Award covers 3 years. www.asee.orq/ndseg/

Eligibility: U.S. citizens or nationals who are beginning graduate study.

National
Science Foundation

 Provides $15000+ and tuition for 3 years for students pursuing graduate work in science, math or engineering. NSF also has fellowships for minorities in these fields and for women in engineering, and computer and information science. Many social science fields are also eligible. 1000 in U.S. www.orau.org/nsf/nsffel.htm

Eligibility: US. citizens, nationals or permanent residents, senior or graduate student with fewer than 20 graduate hours, outstanding GRE, GPA 4.8+ in science, math or engineering and some social sciences.

 

Phi Kappa Phi

 Provides fifty $7,000 awards in support of the first year of graduate or professional study.

Eligibility: Membership in Phi Kappa Phi is required. Membership is by invitation based on GPA during the junior and senior year. WIU may nominate one candidate.

Rhodes

 Provides expenses for 2 or 3 years of study at Oxford with the goal of preparing students for service to others. 32 awarded in U.S. www.rhodesscholar.org

Eligibility: under 24, scholarship, leadership, service, GPA 4.75+, U.S. citizens or from eligible country. Demonstrated potential to lead or serve others. Good rationale for study at Oxford. Bachelor’s degree complete by beginning of study at Oxford.

October 4,
2004

Rotary

 Provides expenses for studying abroad for one year to further individual international understanding. Any major. www.rotary.org/foundation/educational/amb_scho/index.html

Eligibility: no relationship to Rotarian, language skills for country, scholarship, leadership, articulate, well informed. Contact hometown Rotary club for information. SSP can also provide guidance about the application process.

Deadlines vary, between March and July annually

Soros

 Provides a maintenance grant of $20,000 and 1/2 tuition at a U.S. graduate program for up to two years of study for “New Americans,” including resident aliens, naturalized citizens and children of 2 naturalized citizens. Field of graduate/professional study is not limited. Approx. 30 awards. www.pdsoros.org.


Eligibility: “New American”, bachelor’s finished by Fall 2003, or in 1st or 2nd year of graduate program, under 30 when applying.

Truman

 Provides $30,000 scholarship to junior or senior students planning to go to graduate school in preparation for careers in government or public service. $3,000 awarded for senior year. Up to 80 each year. www.truman.qov

Eligibility: sophomore, junior or senior status (depending on graduation date), committed to a career in public service, in upper 113 of class, U.S. citizens or nationals.

Universities limited to 4 nominees. Candidates must apply through WIU.

Udall

 Provides expenses up to $5,000 for one year for those with career plans related to environmental public policy or to Native American and Alaska Native undergrads in health care and tribal public policy. 50+ each year. www.udall.gov


Eligibility: U.S. citizens, nationals or permanent residents, sophomore or junior, be in tribal policy or health care. Universities limited to 6 nominees. Candidates must apply through WIU.

February 3, 2004

USA Today

 Provides a $2500 award and trip to Washington D.C. in recognition of students with academic talent as shown by an original, creative intellectual product in any field and leadership. www.allstars.usatoday.com

Eligibility: For students in any year, outstanding community achievement and leadership and an intellectual product (news article, program, invention, etc.), excellence in scholarship and leadership.

 

Elle Wiesel

 An essay contest that awards a first, second, and third prize and two honorable mentions. Students write a thought provoking personal essay that reflects on an ethical issue. Suggested topics are on the website. A faculty sponsor is required. This is not an essay in ethics in the traditional philosophical sense. www.eliewieselfoundation.org/

Eligibility: must be a full time junior or senior currently enrolled. No citizenship requirement.