Adult Scholarships
HICF Adult Scholarship Program
Application portal now open for Spring 2025 Semester - Moultrie and Piatt County Residents Now Eligible!
The Heart of Illinois Community Foundation Adult Scholarship Fund provides adults and nontraditional students with the opportunity to earn their degrees. The Heart of Illinois Community Foundation encourages individuals who interrupted their schooling to pursue completion of their education. This scholarship supports two- and four-year degrees, or a master's degrees at Richland Community College, Millikin University or any other regionally accredited college/university by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) nationwide in person or online. However, the applicant still must reside in Macon, Moultrie or Piatt County. In addition, individuals participating in Macon County union apprenticeship programs also are eligible for adult scholarships to cover fees, books, and equipment.
Eligibility requirements
- Applicants must be Macon, Moultrie or Piatt County residents age 22 or older.
- Applicants must demonstrate legal residency in Macon, Moultrie or Piatt County for at least the past year. Documentation such as housing receipts, utility bills, tax forms or a voter's registration card may be used to verify residency.
- Selected applicants may attend Richland Community College, Millikin University, or any other regionally accredited college/university by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) nationwide in person or online. However, the applicant must reside in Macon, Moultrie or Piatt County. In addition, applicants participating in Macon County union apprenticeship programs are eligible for adult scholarships to cover fees, books, and equipment.
- Applicants must have earned a high school diploma or GED.
- Financial need is considered when determining award recipients. Applicants must provide relevant financial documents for the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation to review, including a completed FAFSA form (available at fafsa.gov) or income tax documentation.
- For applicants pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree: Applicants must have a gap of at least three years before pursuing an associate or bachelor’s degree. Applicant’s three-year break must be reflected through transcripts. Currently enrolled college students are eligible if a three-year break occurred at some time, or the student previously received a HICF Adult Scholarship and is therefore eligible to renew for consecutive semesters.
- For applicants pursuing a master’s degree or PhD: Applicants do not have to have a 3-year gap in education. For example, if the applicant received a bachelor’s degree in Fall 2024 and is immediately pursing a master’s in Spring 2025, they are eligible to apply for an adult scholarship.
Available funding
Scholarship awards range up to $2,500 per individual and may be used for tuition, course/program-related fees and books. The Heart of Illinois Community Foundation will provide total funding for the adult scholarship program of up to $100,000 annually over two scholarship cycles, spring and fall.
Selected applicants may apply for successive semesters of scholarship support.
Healthcare Adult Scholarship
Application Portal Open Year-Round
Cancer Care Specialists of Illinois Scholarship
This scholarship provides tuition assistance to graduating seniors of Central or South Illinois High Schools as well as to healthcare professionals seeking further education who provide oncology/hematology-related services in the same geographic regions.
Meet Chelsi
"Being a recipient of the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation's Adult Scholarship gave me the opportunity to prioritize my education. The scholarship removed financial burdens and allowed me to focus on completing my studies. Because of this, I was able to graduate with a 3.9 GPA, high honors, and retained enrollment in elite academic honor societies.
Adult Scholarship Testimonials
Andrea Gerhard
Questions
If you have a question about the application process, contact Andrea Gerhard, HICF Director of Scholarships and Grant Administration, by calling 217.429.3000 or by email at agerhard@heartofillinois.org.
