University of Illinois President’s Award Program Scholarship

About this scholarship

The University of Illinois President’s Award Program Scholarship provides up to $5,000 per year for four years to high-achieving Illinois residents entering Urbana-Champaign as first-year students. The standard award can therefore provide as much as $20,000. A separate PAP Honors tier may provide a larger benefit, but this record describes the standard President’s Award Program rather than merging the two. Applicants do not file a stand-alone PAP form. Illinois automatically reviews newly admitted first-year students through the same holistic application used for admission, considering academic achievement and the full context of the student’s record. Current university guidance says the program is open to all first-year students without regard to a legally protected trait, while requiring Illinois residency and outstanding academic performance. For fall 2027, the Common Application opens September 1, 2026. Early action applications are due November 1 and regular applications are due January 5, 2027; required materials have separate November 7 and January 11 cutoffs. Scholarship decisions arrive after admission and by April 1. Recipients must remain continuously enrolled full time, continue to be assessed tuition at the Illinois resident rate, and meet satisfactory academic progress requirements to renew the award.

Eligibility

• Apply as a newly entering first-year student to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Be an Illinois resident and qualify for in-state tuition assessment
• Demonstrate outstanding academic achievement in the admission review
• Submit the Common Application by November 1, 2026 for early action or January 5, 2027 for regular consideration
• Provide all required application materials by the corresponding November 7 or January 11 deadline
• If selected, enroll continuously as a full-time undergraduate
• Maintain Illinois resident tuition status and satisfactory academic progress for renewal