- Published: Monday, February 01, 2021 04:15 PM
CHAMPAIGN – The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is accepting applications for the 2021 DCFS Scholarship Program, and State Senator Scott Bennett (D-Champaign) encourages eligible students to apply.
“Scholarships help reduce the financial burden of a college education, and it’s vital that we provide opportunities for students to have the means to be successful,” Bennett said. “Eligible students should take advantage of this opportunity so that they can focus on their studies instead of stressing about how they will pay for school.”
Scholarship recipients receive up to five consecutive years of tuition and academic fee waivers to be used at participating Illinois state community colleges and universities, a monthly grant of $1,235 to offset other expenses, and a medical card. On average, the department receives 200 application packets each year, and over 1,400 scholarships have been awarded since the program began in 1971.
The DCFS Scholarship Program is open to youth who have an open DCFS case, whose cases were closed through adoption or guardianship, or who aged out of care at 18 or older. Youth who are at least 16 years old and not yet 21 on March 31 may apply.
Applications are available at any DCFS regional office and online by clicking here. For more information or questions, call 217-557-2689.
