Navigating Harper College Scholarships: A Comprehensive Guide

Securing financial aid is a crucial step in making higher education accessible. Harper College offers a variety of scholarships designed to support students in achieving their academic goals. This guide provides a detailed overview of the scholarship opportunities available at Harper College and outlines the requirements and application process.

Accessing the Scholarship Application

The first step in applying for Harper College scholarships is accessing the online application portal.

Sign In: Start by clicking the ‘Sign In’ button located in the top right-hand corner of the Harper College website.
Institutional Login: Select the “Sign-in with your institution’ button and log in using your MyHarper Portal username and password, if you are not already logged in.
Automatic Redirection: Upon successful login, you will be automatically directed to the Scholarship Application.

Once inside the system, you can complete and submit your Scholarship Application.

Types of Scholarships Available

Harper College offers a diverse range of scholarships, catering to various student profiles and academic pursuits.

Automatic Consideration Scholarships

By completing the general Scholarship Application, students are automatically considered for over 200 scholarships for which they meet the specified criteria. These scholarships are awarded based on the information provided in the application.

Read also: Harper College Fees

"Apply-To" Scholarships

In addition to the automatically considered scholarships, there are "Apply-To" scholarships, which require further action from the applicant. Based on your answers to your application you may be recommended to apply to other opportunities. These opportunities require applicants to answer supplemental questions and/or include references to be considered. Harper College typically offers around 24 Apply-To Opportunities.

Harper College Foundation Scholarships

The Harper College Foundation manages numerous scholarships funded by community members, businesses, and other organizations who are invested in the future success of Harper College students. These scholarships may cover part or all of your first two years of college. The scholarships are awarded by the scholarship sponsors.

Ignite Scholarship

The Ignite Scholarship is an academic year scholarship that will be applied to students' accounts. The Ignite scholarship is a set amount of $1,500.

Study Abroad Scholarships

Harper College recognizes the value of international experiences and offers scholarships to students participating in faculty-led study abroad programs.

Harper College Foundation Study Abroad Scholarship: Awards $500 for summer programs and $1,000 for semester programs.

External Scholarship Opportunities

Students can also explore external scholarship opportunities, such as the DiversityAbroad.com/AIFS Blogging Scholarship.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility requirements vary depending on the specific scholarship. However, some general requirements apply to most Harper College scholarships.

Enrollment: Applicants must be enrolled in a program that results in a degree at Harper College. Students should confirm that they are, in fact, enrolled.
Academic Standing: Many scholarships require students to maintain a minimum semester GPA. For the Ignite Scholarship, students must maintain a minimum semester GPA of 2.0.
Credit Hours: For certain scholarships, such as the Ignite Scholarship, students must be enrolled in a minimum number of credit hours. To meet the Ignite criteria, students need to enroll in at least 6 credit hours. Students enrolled in less than 6 credit hours may lose the scholarship.
FAFSA Completion: All participants are required to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA (Social Security number required).

Specific Eligibility for the Ignite Scholarship

In-District Residency: To receive the full Ignite Scholarship, students must be in-district. However, students who were in-district in the fall semester but are out-of-district in the spring semester may still receive the Ignite Scholarship, but only in-district tuition will be paid.
First Year Students: The Ignite Scholarship is generally for first-year students.

High School Specific Scholarships

Some scholarships have specific eligibility requirements based on high school performance.

Senior Year: A minimum GPA, such as 2.3 GPA, is required for the senior year.
No Failing Grades: No semester grades of D or F are allowed during the Junior and Senior year.

Application Process

The application process for Harper College scholarships is streamlined through the online portal.

Online Application: Complete the Scholarship Application form online.
Supplemental Materials: For "Apply-To" scholarships, submit any required supplemental questions and references.
Deadlines: Pay close attention to deadlines, as they vary by scholarship. The application typically opens on March 1st. For some high school scholarships, materials must be submitted by September 15th.

Post-Acceptance Requirements

Scholarship recipients will need to accept the award and submit a post-acceptance questionnaire.

Scholarship Disbursement

Scholarships are awarded throughout the academic year. If your tuition and fees are fully covered by scholarships, you can receive a refund via check or direct deposit (if you have set it up on your My Harper Portal).

Important Considerations

Scholarship Scams: Be wary of scholarship scam services and utilize resources to protect yourself.
Apply for Everything: It is advisable for everyone to apply for scholarships, regardless of age or background.
Contacting Advisors: For advising questions, contact the Advising department or call 847.925.6208 for new students.
Academic Plan: Students should discuss their academic plan with their advisor to ensure they meet the requirements for their scholarship.
Financial Aid: Contact the Financial Aid office for assistance to pay for your program abroad.

Study Abroad Specifics

Students participating in Study Abroad programs have additional considerations.

Enrollment Verification: Students participating in study abroad or internship programs may need to verify their participation after the completion of their program.
Using Financial Aid: Students can use financial aid to pay for these costs.

Additional Scholarship Programs

Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program: A fully-funded summer overseas language and cultural immersion program for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students. To remain eligible for the CLS Program, applicants may only apply once, for one language, each year.
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program: Supports American students pursuing academic studies or credit-bearing internships abroad.

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