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Prospective Student Scholarships

The College of Business offers many scholarships to prospective students. Check out the many opportunities below. Applications for Prospective Student Scholarships are now open for the 2025/2026 school year. Applications will close February 15, 2025.

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Prospective Student Scholarships List

  • Dunaway Family Dean's Scholarship For First Generation Students

    This scholarship provides financial assistance for students meeting the following criteria:

    • Student must be enrolled in the College of Business
    • Student must have a minimum GPA of 3.5
    • Preference given to a student who demonstrates financial need
    • Must be a First-Generation Student
    • Guaranteed renewable scholarship of recipient continues to meet the selection criteria
  • The Vince Bystrom Scholarship

    This scholarship provides financial assistance for students meeting the following criteria:

    • Student must be enrolled in the College of Business
    • Student must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
    • Student must demonstrate financial need
    • Guaranteed renewable scholarship of recipient continues to meet the selection criteria
  • Johnny Butler Memorial Scholarship Fund

    This scholarship was created in memory of Johnny Butler by his daughter, Tamra S. Connor. The purpose is to provide financial assistance and award students meeting the following criteria:

    • Student must be enrolled in the following major: Master of Science in Business Education.
    • Student must have intent to enter the teaching field after graduation or already have their teaching license.
    • Preference to a first-generation college student.
    • Student must have a minimum GPA of 3.0
    • Student must demonstrate financial need as established by the Financial Aid Office
    • Scholarship may be renewable for up to two years to support completion of the program.
  • Thomas Lorig Endowed Scholarship Fund

    For entering freshmen majoring in business.

    • Non-renewable awards will be made on an annual basis
    • Candidates must rank in the top quarter of their high school graduating class
    • Demonstrate an unmet need for financial aid
    • Preference will be given to students from McLean County.
  • College of Business Dean's Scholarships

    For incoming freshmen majoring in business.

    • Candidates must have at least a 3.0 high school GPA on a 4.0 scale
    • Rank in the top quarter of their high school graduating class or have an ACT composite score of 24 or above or equivalent SAT score.
  • Isabelle Purnell Memorial Scholarship Fund

    For incoming freshmen majoring in business.

    • Candidates must have at least a 3.0 high school GPA on a 4.0 scale
    • Rank in the top quarter of their high school graduating class or have an ACT composite score of 24 or above or equivalent SAT score.
  • William A. Fortsch Scholarship for Accounting Students

    The Department of Accounting is pleased to offer the William A. Fortsh Scholarship to Incoming Freshman students who have demonstrated prior academic excellence and have an interest in pursuing accounting as a career.  The scholarship amount is $1,250 per semester over a five-year term that is renewable on a yearly basis:

    • Student must remains an accounting major at Illinois State University
    • Maintains an overall grade point average of 3.0

    There wil be a zoom interview for the finalists.  Two Scholarships will be awarded beginning with the Fall 2023 semester.  It is expected that one of our alumni will provide career mentoring during the term of the scholarship.

    The scholarship application in ongoing.

    • Complete the application
    • Upload a complete copy of your high school transcript.
    • Attach a 100 word maximum essay explaining how this scholarship will benefit you.

    Apply online here for the Department of Accounting William A. Fortsch Scholarship for Accounting Students

  • Livingston Family Endowed Scholarship Fund

    The Livingston Family Endowed Scholarship was established in 2007 by Duane Livingston to honor his wife Sandra, mother Wilma, father T.O. and grandfather C.L. Livingston. It is awarded to incoming freshmen majoring in business.

    • Preference will be given to students of African/African American or Latino descent
    • Non-renewable awards
    • Candidates must have at least a 2.75 high school GPA on a 4.0 scale
    • Rank in the top quarter of their high school graduating class or have an ACT composite score of 23 or above or equivalent SAT score
    • Student must demonstrate an unmet financial need.
  • Dixie L. Mills Endowed Scholarship Fund

    For incoming freshmen majoring in business.

    • Non-renewable award will be made on an annual basis
    • Candidates must have at least a 3.0 high school GPA on a 4.0 scale
    • Rank in the top quarter of their high school graduating class or have an ACT composite score of 24 or above or equivalent SAT score.
  • Ron & Cathy Witton Dentsmart Endowed Scholarship

    For incoming freshmen or graduates of Illinois Central College majoring in business.

    • Non-renewable award will be made on an annual basis
    • Freshmen candidates must be graduates of Pekin High School
    • Preference will be given to ICC applicants that are also graduates of Pekin High School.
    • All qualified candidates must have at least a 3.0 high school or ICC GPA on a 4.0 scale or have an ACT composite score of 24 or above or equivalent SAT score
    • Qualified students will have demonstrated a commitment to serving others through involvement in school and/or community activities.
    • Recipients may apply for additional funding through his/her senior year if they maintain at least a 3.0 ISU GPA and show progress toward earning a degree in business. Future awards will be based on the amount of available funds and the quality of the candidate pool.
  • Larry E. Gustafson Scholarship

    For incoming freshmen majoring in business. Contingent upon funding, a one-time renewable award will be made on an annual basis.

    • Candidates must rank in the top quarter of their high school class or have an ACT composite score of 24 or above or equivalent SAT score.
    • Qualified students will have demonstrated involvement in school or community activities, and/or have substantial work history.
    • Preference will be given to dependents of a Union Carpenter.
  • Lois Violet Hobart Endowed Scholarship

    Lois Violet Hazard Hobart was born November 30, 1918, in Leaf River, Illinois, the daughter of William T. and Blanche (Church) Hazard. She received her degree in Business Teacher Education from Illinois State Normal University in 1939, later receiving her master’s in education from Northern Illinois University in 1965. She married Donald E. Hobart on January 18, 1947, in Rockford, IL.

    She taught high school in Byron, Illinois for 18 years. She taught shorthand, typing, office practice, business classes and was the Inkspot (school newspaper) advisor. She was a strict teacher and held her students to a very high standard. She retired from teaching in 1977. She lived to be 94 years young and passed away February 8, 2013.

    Award will be made on a one-year annual basis. Scholarship funds will be disbursed through the Financial Aid Office after the 10th day of the fall semester.

    Qualifications:

    • Must be an incoming first year or transfer student majoring in business
    • Must have a cumulative grade point average of at least a 3.5
  • Diversity Excellence Business Scholarship

    For incoming freshmen or new transfer students of color majoring in business.

    • Non-renewable award will be made on an annual basis.
    • Qualified students must demonstrate an unmet need for financial aid as determined by the Illinois State Financial Aid Office and/or federal regulation and/or personal circumstances and demonstrate involvement in school and/or community activities and/or substantial work history (list the number of hours worked per week to help fund his/her education expenses. (Financial need is a primary factor in the selection process.)
    • Candidates must have at least a 3.0 high school gpa or have an ACT composite score of 24 or above.
    • Transfer students must have at least a 3.0 transfer gpa.
  • Doroth Uphoff Camp Endowed Scholarship

    For incoming freshmen, new community college transfer or second bachelor’s degree candidate with a major in Business Teacher Education.

    • One non-renewable award will be made on an annual basis
    • Candidates must have at least a 3.0 high school or post-secondary GPA on a 4.0 scale or have an ACT composite score of 24 or higher.
    • Qualified students must demonstrate a commitment to serving others through involvement in school and/or community activities.
  • J.D.J. Riggs Endowed Scholarship

    For incoming freshmen or new community college transfers majoring in business.

    • Non-renewable scholarship will be made on an annual basis.
    • Candidates must have at least a 3.0 high school or post-secondary GPA on a 4.0 scale or have an ACT composite score of 24 or higher.
  • George & Martha Means Center E-Scholarship

    George R and Martha Means Center for Entrepreneurship offers at least two merit-based scholarship with priority given to incoming freshmen.

    • These scholarships are offered to students declaring a major in Entrepreneurship and Small Business.
    • Continuing undergraduate recipients who meet the initial scholarly requirements are then encouraged to re-apply for the award in subsequent semesters provided the requirements of earned hours and GPA are continually met.
    • Freshmen candidates must have at least a 3.0 high school GPA or have an ACT composite score of 24 or above.
    • Preference will be given to students graduating from Illinois high schools.
  • Warren S. Perry & Barbara Perry Endowed Scholarship Fund

    For entering freshmen with a major in Business Education

    • Award depending upon earnings from the endowment
    • Qualified candidates must demonstrate a wide range of interests including involvement and leadership in school and community organizations
    • Show unmet financial need
    • Have at least a 2.5 high school GPA on a 4.0 scale.
  • Cama Family Scholarship

    For incoming first year student or transfer student with a major in Accounting or Business Information Systems

    • Non-renewable award
    • Qualified candidates must demonstrate financial need
    • Have at least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.