Financial Aid

All undergraduate applicants (who apply as a music major as their primary major to the University of Illinois) are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships from the School of Music. These awards are made at the recommendation of faculty and are based on the applicant’s audition and application. Scholarships range from several hundred dollars up to full tuition. The School of Music merit-based scholarship are applied to the cost of tuition and do not cover fees, room, or board.

Current music students can participate in talent competitions as well.

Many of these are for first-year and transfer students in any college based on academic excellence, though awards are also given out based on major. The following are select merit-based scholarships available to University of Illinois students:

Illinois Achievement Scholarship

Requirements: Incoming non-resident freshman with demonstrated financial need
Amount: $10,000
Renewable: Yes, for 4 years, provided you maintain full-time continuous enrollment , meet satisfactory academic progress requirements, and are assessed non-resident tuition
Number: Variable

Provost Scholarship

Requirements: Incoming freshmen
Amount: Full tuition
Renewable: Yes, for 4 years, provided you maintain a 3.0 GPA and full-time continuous enrollment
Number: Variable

President’s Award Program (PAP)

Requirements: High achieving newly-admitted freshmen are considered for the PAP award, which is open to all freshmen without regard to any legally protected trait. To be eligible for consideration, students must be Illinois residents and have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement.
Amount: Up to $5,000
Renewable: Yes, for 4 years, provided you maintain continuous full-time enrollment, continue to be assessed tuition at the in-state rate, and meet satisfactory academic progress requirements
Number: Variable

President’s Award Program (PAP) Honors

Requirements:  The highest achieving newly-admitted freshmen are considered for the PAP Honors award, which is open to all freshmen without regard to any legally protected trait. To be eligible for consideration, students must be Illinois residents and have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement.
Amount: Up to $10,000
Renewable: Yes, for 4 years, provided you maintain continuous full-time enrollment, continue to be assessed tuition at the in-state rate, and meet satisfactory academic progress requirements
Number: Variable

James Hunter Anthony & Gerald E. Blackshear Endowment

Requirements: Incoming freshmen who have graduated from an Illinois high school
Amount: Equal to full tuition and fees for an academic year
Renewable: Yes, for 4 years, provided you maintain a 3.0 GPA and full-time continuous enrollment
Number: Variable

Matthews Scholars

Requirements: Incoming freshmen
Amount: $2,000 per year
Renewable: Yes, for 4 years, provided you maintain a 3.0 GPA and full-time continuous enrollment
Number: Variable

Native American Scholarship – Peoria Tribe Scholarship

Requirements: This scholarship is available to any undergraduate level student who is a member of the Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, connected historically with the state of Illinois. To be considered for this scholarship, a student must have a processed 2025-2026 FAFSA. Application for this scholarship is required.
Amount: The scholarship will cover the remaining cost of tuition, campus fees, and the food and housing allowance not covered by other federal, state, institutional, and private awards including the Federal Pell Grant and the State of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant.
Renewable: Varies.
Number: Variable.

Native American Scholarship – Tribal Nations Scholarship for Non-Illinois Residents

Requirements: This scholarship is available to any undergraduate or graduate level student who is not a resident of the state of Illinois and is a member of any of the Tribal Nations federally recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. To be considered for this scholarship, a student must have a processed 2025-2026 FAFSA. Application for this scholarship is required.
Amount: The scholarship will cover the difference between non-resident and resident tuition at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Renewable: Varies.
Number: Variable.

To be considered for need-based financial aid, students must completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For more information, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid website.

Illinois Commitment for in-state Illinois students

• Covers tuition and campus fees
• Must be a US citizen or eligible noncitizen
• Illinois resident (parents listed on FAFSA are also Illinois residents)
• Family income $75,000 or less (effective Fall 2025)
• Family assets $75,00 or less (effective Fall 2025)
• Under age 24
• Admitted as a new freshman or transfer student
• Attended and graduated from an Illinois high school
• Enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program for at least 12 hours during the semester

Illinois Promise for in-state Illinois students

• Covers tuition and fees, food and housing, books and supplies through grants/scholarships, need to work 10-12 hours a week.
• Student and parents must be Illinois residents
• Attended and graduated from an Illinois high school.
• Be under the age of 24 and admitted as a new freshman or new transfer student.
• Student Aid Index determined through the FAFSA must equal 0
• Family income must be at or below the federal poverty level. For the 2025- 2026 academic year, please see the 2023 federal poverty guidelines.

School of Music Fellowships
Fellowships are one-year renewable awards carrying a full tuition and partial fee waiver and a stipend of $5,000 up to $12,000.

University of Illinois Fellowships
It is recommended that applicants who wish to be considered for campus academic fellowships submit or complete an audition as early as possible.

School of Music Assistantships
The School of Music typically awards Teaching and Research Assistantships.  These are one-year renewable awards with a stipend. Assistantships at 25% or higher carry a full tuition waiver and partial fee waiver with a stipend.

University of Illinois Assistantships
Graduate Assistantships are available through other departments on campus and require a separate application. For a list of available positions, visit the Graduate Assistantship Clearinghouse.

Additional Requirements for Teaching Assistants
Domestic applicants must complete the FAFSA and indicate that they are interested in Federal Work Study. A large percentage of our assistantship funding comes from the Federal Work-Study program and applicants will not be considered until this has been completed. Please forward a copy of your Student Aid Report (SAR) to musicadmissions@illinois.edu.

International applicants who are non-native English speakers must submit a recent iBT score in order to be considered for teaching or graduate assistantships. Students without an official score of 24 or higher on the spoken portion of the TOEFL or a speaking score of 8 on the IELTS will not be considered for assistantships.

School of Music Graduate Tuition Scholarships
One-year renewable awards that include a partial tuition and fee waiver.

Need-based aid for domestic students (grants, loans, and work-study) is administered by the Office of Student Financial Aid.  The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required for consideration.

MM students: can be considered for up to two years of aid from the School of Music

DMA / PhD students: are generally considered for up to three years of aid from the School of Music; however, some programs, including Composition, Music Education, and Musicology, may be able to offer additional years of assistance as circumstances permit.