Illinois Institute of Technology has introduced a new scholarship initiative aimed at providing zero-tuition education for top-performing students from Illinois. The program, named the Illinois Tech Purpose scholarship, targets students from lower-income families, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder their academic pursuits.
The scholarship covers full-time tuition and mandatory fees for up to four years of undergraduate study or five years for those in the architecture program. It applies after all other federal and state grants have been utilized.
Mallik Sundharam, Vice President for Enrollment at Illinois Tech, emphasized the university's mission: “Our university was founded on a noble mission to provide opportunity for those who may lack financial resources but have the commitment, perseverance and entrepreneurial spirit needed to advance technology and innovation for the common good."
Eligibility criteria include being an Illinois resident with a family income of $75,000 or less. First-year students need a minimum GPA of 3.7 and must rank in the top 10 percent of their class. Transfer students under 24 should have a 3.4 GPA and fewer than 61 credits from previous institutions.
Beyond financial aid, the program offers additional support through advisers, mentors, tutoring services, and career counseling. Sundharam noted that “Illinois Tech Purpose is more than just a scholarship,” highlighting programs like Elevate that provide comprehensive student support.
The United States Department of Education highlights the necessity of such holistic services for lower-income students due to barriers they face in accessing support services.
In recognition of its efforts to assist lower-income students in achieving college degrees, Illinois Tech was named an American Talent Initiative High-Flier by Bloomberg Philanthropies in 2023.
Research by Opportunity Insights ranked Illinois Tech first in Illinois and #32 nationally for helping students rise economically from low-income backgrounds. It also ranked third among selective private colleges for graduates' upward mobility.
Illinois Tech's reputation extends beyond economic mobility; it ranks highly for graduate salaries both statewide and nationally according to reports by Wall Street Journal/College Pulse and New York Times.
Located in Chicago, Illinois Tech is recognized as the city's sole tech-focused university offering various degree programs across engineering, computing, architecture, business, design, science and human sciences, and law.
For further information about this initiative or other inquiries:
Petra Kelly
Communications Director
Illinois Institute of Technology
Cell: 773.771.1064
pkelly6@iit.edu
Kevin Dollear
Communications Manager
Illinois Institute of Technology
Cell: 773.860.5712
kdollear@iit.edu