CSBG Scholarship Information
The DFSS CSBG Scholarship Program provides financial assistance to income-eligible individuals in Chicago pursuing their higher education goals. Students enrolled full-time for the 2024 Fall semester in any Illinois college, university, or vocational training program are eligible to apply. The funds may be used to cover tuition and institutional fees. We encourage all income-eligible students attending any post-secondary institution to apply.
Scholarships range from $1,000 to $5,000 for income-eligible residents.
Applications for the 2024 fall semester/quarter will be accepted from Friday, August 2nd, through Friday, September 20th, 5:00 PM.
Click Here to Apply for the CSBG Scholarship
CSBG Training Webinars on YouTube
SCHOLARSHIP AFFIDAVIT:
Download 2024 CSBG No Income Scholarship Application Affidavit
Download 2024 CSBG No Identification Scholarship Affidavit
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be a City of Chicago resident.
- Must be enrolled as a full-time student in an Illinois Educational Institution for the entire fall semester of 2024.
- Must have an e-mail address to apply. If you do not have an e-mail address, you will need to create one before applying.
- Must provide an official educational institution transcript to validate your full-time enrollment for the entire 2024 fall semester/quarter.
- Must demonstrate academic achievement, career potential and educational motivation.
- Must meet income eligibility requirements (see table below)
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2024 Annual & 1-Month Maximum Income Levels Section, as follows: |
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Household Size |
Maximum 1- Month Income |
Maximum Annual Income |
|
1 |
$2,510 |
$30,120 |
|
2 |
$3,407 |
$40,880 |
|
3 |
$4,303 |
$51,640 |
|
4 |
$5,200 |
$62,400 |
|
5 |
$6,097 |
$73,160 |
|
6 |
$6,993 |
$83,920 |
|
7 |
$7,890 |
$94,680 |
|
8 |
$8,787 |
$105,440 |
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*For family units with more than 8 members, add $10,760 for each additional member to arrive at yearly amounts for 200%. |
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Webinars to provide guidance through the application process are on YouTube.
For questions, to register for the webinar, or for more details about the CSBG Scholarship, please contact: DFSScsbgscholarship@cityofchicago.org
Scholarship applications are available during the spring months of each year and awarded for the following fall semester.
- Download CSBG Scholarship Application Flyer
FINANCIAL AWARDS CAN BE APPLIED TOWARD THE 2024 FALL SEMESTER/QUARTER:
- Tuition Cost
- Other Costs Directly Related to Education/Training
APPLICANTS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS WITH THEIR APPLICATION:
- Official Transcripts
- Acceptance Letter for Newly Enrolled Students
- Proof of All Family/Household Member's Income for June of 2024 (June 1, 2024-June 30, 2024)
- Current Financial Aid Awards or a Written Statement Why You are Not Eligible for Financial Aid
- Proof of Chicago Residency – Legible Copy of Illinois Driver's License of Illinois State ID
- Copies of Illinois Driver's License of Illinois State ID for All Family/Household Members
- Copies of Social Security Cards for All Family/Household Members
- Minimum 300-Word Personal Essay
- Letter of Recommendation on Letterhead and Signed
WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER YOU APPLY
Your application will be reviewed and scored in the following areas:
- Completion of Online Application
- Grade Point Average (GPA) or Graduate Equivalency Degree (GED) Test Scores
- Essay
- Submittal of All Required Documents
ESSAY TOPICS
- Reflecting on your unique personal qualities, how do you envision them influencing your future career? Provide specific examples of how these traits could propel you on your professional journey.
- Discuss a transformative personal experience that has significantly influenced your personal growth or altered your perspective. How has this experience shaped your career aspirations?
- Describe a specific instance when you assumed a leadership role during a challenging situation. What were the circumstances, your actions, and the outcomes? How did this experience enhance your leadership skills?
- What are your long-term goals in your academic and professional journeys? Discuss how your current endeavors are paving the way toward achieving these aspirations.
OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS
- Official transcripts must be submitted electronically.
- Transcripts must be received by 5:00 p.m. on September 20th, 2024.
- Mailed, hand-delivered, or late transcripts will not be accepted.
- Send official electronic transcripts to: DFSScsbgscholarship@cityofchicago.org
- Must demonstrate proof of full-time enrollment verification from the institution
WEBINAR
Webinars to provide guidance through the application process will be hosted on August 12th and August 19th at 10 a.m. and will be posted on YouTube. Please contact: DFSScsbgscholarship@cityofchicago.org to register.
WHEN WILL I BE NOTIFIED
Acceptance and denial letters will be emailed by November 2024.