Yehiri Gonzalez, Truman College
“[The scholarships] not only help me pay for school, but they are helping develop me as an urban teacher.”
Your College Education—Tuition-Free
Chicago Public Schools students–and students from one of our Chicago-based Big Shoulders Fund partner schools–can pursue a degree or certificate at City Colleges at no cost as a Star Scholar.
Read our Success Stories
Valori Laudarji, Wright College
“Receiving college acceptances wasn’t the problem—coming to terms with the enormous amount of debt I would be taking on for the next four years was. It wasn’t until a friend of mine mentioned the Star Scholarship offered by City Colleges of Chicago that I started to see a path ahead.”
Edgar Cruz, Daley College
“As a first-generation college student, I am grateful for this scholarship, which helps relieve the financial burden of paying for college, so I can focus on my education.”
Benefits of the Star Scholar Program
Debt-Free College Degree
You can save thousands of dollars on tuition and books by earning your associate degree or a certificate as a Star Scholar. You could also earn a bachelor’s degree at no cost or a discounted rate.
Transfer Opportunities
Star Scholars can access scholarships from our partners at 4-year universities to earn a bachelor’s degree. You can even start working with 4-year universities while still at City Colleges.
Career Connections
Employers all over Chicago know that Star Scholars are some of the city’s best and brightest students. Having the Star Scholarship on your resume can lead to great work opportunities.
Scholarship Basics
You could save thousands of dollars with free tuition and books!
What Does the Scholarship Cover?
City Colleges will provide waivers for all eligible tuition, books, and class materials not covered by financial aid.
Who Is Eligible for this Program?
Chicago Public High School graduating seniors and graduating seniors from one of our Chicago-based Big Shoulders Fund partnered Catholic high schools who meet these academic requirements: Graduate from a Chicago-based partner high school with a 3.0 or higher GPA
How Long Is the Scholarship Good for?
High school graduates will have up to three years to use the funds, starting in the first fall City Colleges semester after their high school graduation.
Those students who don’t matriculate to City Colleges immediately have up to one year to apply before the start of the second fall semester at City Colleges following their high school graduation.
Steps to Apply
Frequently Asked Questions
No—but students are required to complete their applicable financial aid process, as the Star Scholarship is a last-dollar scholarship which covers tuition and books not covered by financial aid from federal/state grants.
Possibly—some 4-year colleges and universities have committed to providing scholarships and other benefits to Star Scholars. If the Star Scholar meets the respective institution’s academic and scholarship requirements, they will get:
- Recruiting and advising support while they’re still at City Colleges
- Invitations to university events
- Academic and financial support after transferring
Each 4-year college and university funds their version of the Star Scholarship with their internal funding and are subject to different policies and application procedures. You can learn more about transfer scholarships through our Transfer Center.
No—Star Scholars may attend City Colleges on a part-time or full-time basis. However, the scholarship will be available for a maximum of 3 years from the start of the fall semester following high school graduation.
Yes—the Star Scholarship can be used to cover any remaining costs after all other grant and scholarship dollars have been applied.
Yes.
Yes—the deadline to apply for the Star Scholarship is always the last day of registration for the upcoming semester’s 16-week credit term. If you miss the deadline, your application will be reviewed and processed for the start of the following academic semester. To view registration deadlines, please check the academic calendar.
Yes—students who are attending or have graduated from a CPS charter/contract/alternative/option school or partnered Big Shoulders Fund Catholic High School will need to provide a high school transcript to our inbox, starscholarship@ccc.edu for processing.
No—students must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher at high school graduation. Students with a GPA of 2.99 or lower do not qualify.
Log in to the student portal or email starscholarship@ccc.edu.
No—if you want to enroll elsewhere during the academic year and are only at City Colleges of Chicago for summer courses, you would be classified as a “visiting student.” To be eligible for Star Scholarship funding, a student must be enrolled in a program working toward a degree or certificate for more than one semester.
Students, parents, or college advisors who have questions not addressed in the complete Star Scholar FAQ can direct them to starscholarship@ccc.edu.
- Christ The King Jesuit College Preparatory School
- Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
- De La Salle Institute
- DePaul College Prep
- Holy Trinity High School
- Josephinum Academy of the Sacred Heart
- Leo High School
- Mount Carmel High School
- Our Lady of Tepeyac High School
- St. Francis de Sales High School
- St. Rita of Cascia High School