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 are now open for the 2023 fall semester/quarter. The application deadline has been extended. Applications are now due on Friday, September 15th, by 5:00 PM.

Click Here to Apply for the CSBG Scholarship

Download 2023 CSBG Scholarship Application Affidavit

CSBG Training Webinars on YouTube. 

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 2023.
• 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 2023 fall semester/quarter.
• Must demonstrate academic achievement, career potential and educational motivation.
• Must meet income eligibility requirements (see table below) 

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 2023 FALL SEMESTER/QUARTER:

• Tuition Cost
• Purchase of Uniforms
• Purchase of Books
• School, Lab, or Class Fees
• Other Costs Directly Related to Education/Training

FINANCIAL AWARDS CAN NOT BE APPLIED TOWARD: 

• 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 2023 (June 1, 2023-June 30, 2023)
• 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 6th, 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

WHEN WILL I BE NOTIFIED 

Acceptance and denial letters will be emailed by November 2023.