Illinois State University

Merit scholarships

Automatic Redbird award of $1,000-$5,000 a year at a 3.0+ GPA, and the competitive Fell Scholarship of $8,000-$12,000 a year at 3.75+.

• Redbird Academic Scholarship

  Automatic

  $1,000–$5,000 per year

  • GPA 3.0+

  Renewable: 2.75+ cumulative GPA and continuous enrollment with 12 hours or more; up to three additional years

  Automatic with admission; apply by the priority deadline to be notified by mid-December

  For domestic freshmen. Amount depends on the competitiveness of the applicant pool. Cannot be combined with the Fell Scholarship.

• Jesse W. Fell Scholarship

  Competitive

  $8,000–$12,000 per year

  • GPA 3.75+

  Renewable: 3.0+ cumulative GPA and continuous enrollment with 12 hours or more; up to three additional years

  Apply to the University by November 1; invited students submit the scholarship application by December 4; finalists interview

  Highly competitive. Students who complete the process but are not selected receive an enhanced Redbird Academic Scholarship instead.

• International Baccalaureate Scholarship

  Competitive

  $1,000 one time

  No published minimums; chosen from applicants.

  Not renewable

  Apply to the University by November 1, submit the IB Scholarship Application by March 1, verify credentials by July 15

  For new freshmen who complete the IB Diploma Programme or IB Career-related Certificate Programme.

Students: add profile GPA and scores to check.

Requirements change yearly; colleges may recalculate GPAs. Confirm requirements and deadlines with the college.

College scholarship pageChecked Oct 30, 2026