At a reception for the hundreds of incoming Star Scholars, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Juan Salgado today recognized more than 445 Star Scholar graduates who have transferred to a 4-year college or university since 2016.  Many of the college and university partners have increased the number of Star Scholar transfer students accepted in the same time period.

“The Star Scholarship is about helping our hard-working students pursue the high-quality education they deserve without the burden of cost to receiving a degree, and I am incredibly proud of the hundreds of students who are now pursuing the future they deserve,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Our many college and university partners see the promise of our graduates, and have been eager to help supports hundreds of students to pursue a four-year degree at an affordable price.” 

Students in the Star Scholarship program are projected to graduate at a rate double the national average for first-time, full-time students at two-year public institutions. The 2018 Star Scholarship preliminary IPEDS graduation rate, which includes the Fall 2015 class, is 47 percent. 

“Star is more than just a scholarship.  It’s a tool that challenges our students to succeed,” said Chancellor Juan Salgado. “When 9^th grade CPS students know that working hard guarantees them a tuition-free college experience, it gives them one extra motivator to keep their grades up.” 

More than 800 students have graduated from City Colleges as part of the Star Scholarship program. Now entering its fourth year, the Chicago Star Scholarship has helped more than 5,300 CPS graduates – representing more than 75 zip codes and more than 200 high schools citywide – to enroll in college at no cost. 

To date, Star Scholars have been earned more than $3.1 million in scholarship offers from four-year colleges and universities, including: DePaul University, Dominican University, Governors State University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Loyola University, National Louis University, Northwestern University, North Park University, Roosevelt University and the University of Illinois at Chicago. 

“We are excited about the next cohort of Star Scholars and we want City Colleges students to know that they are welcome at the University of Illinois at Chicago,” said UIC Chancellor Michael Amiridis. “We have seen first-hand how the program has opened the doors of opportunity to Chicago students who are in need of an affordable, accessible education and we are proud to partner with Mayor Emanuel and Chancellor Salgado to invest in talented, hard-working students.” 

“Loyola University Chicago is honored to partner in the Star Scholarship program,” said Dr. Jo Ann Rooney, President, Loyola University Chicago. “We are committed to student success and to preserving and enhancing the quality and affordability of higher education for students from all backgrounds. Loyola will welcome a new class of Star Scholarship students this fall, and they join a tradition of success with other Star Scholars and many talented students who have transferred to Loyola to pursue their dreams and aspirations.” 

“Northwestern University is deeply committed to making college more affordable for talented, hardworking students, and we greatly value our partnership with Chicago and with the City Colleges of Chicago to assist low- and middle-income students with scholarships to help toward their degrees here,” said Northwestern University President Morton Schapiro.

"We especially welcome community college transfers, who bring a unique perspective to campus,” he added. "We appreciate the strong leadership from the mayor and City Colleges on this program that ensures such critical opportunities for these students.” 

To ensure more students can access a viable pathway to college regardless of financial means, Mayor Emanuel created the Star Scholarship in 2014, rewarding hard-working CPS students with an opportunity to pursue a degree or certificate at City Colleges at no cost. Sixty-four percent of Star Scholars are Latino, and 60 percent are female. This program is open to undocumented students as well as to students attending CPS charter schools.

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