Scholarships

Chicago-Kent Merit Scholars are selected based on factors that include academic achievement, test scores, leadership ability, and potential contributions to the law school community. There is no separate application for scholarship consideration. Students selected to receive scholarship awards will be notified in the letter of acceptance. Awards range from first-year grants to renewable full- and partial-tuition scholarships. All renewable scholarship awards are guaranteed as long as the student is enrolled in classes at Chicago-Kent. There is no GPA renewal requirement.

Admitted first-year full- and part-time J.D. applicants with significant financial need may apply for need-based scholarship assistance. Awards are extended as three (or four) year scholarships and are renewable annually as long as the recipient is enrolled in classes at Chicago-Kent. The total amount of all Chicago-Kent scholarships (merit and need-based) awarded to an applicant may not exceed the cost of tuition.

To apply for need-based scholarship consideration, you must be eligible to borrow federal financial aid (be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident) and must not be in default on a prior federal loan. Undocumented applicants who are ineligible for federal financial aid may also apply. The following J.D. applicants are not eligible to apply for need-based scholarships: transfer applicants, international applicants, applicants receiving Illinois Tech employee tuition benefits, Honors Law BA/JD students, and Chicago-Kent merit scholarship recipients receiving annual awards of $40,000 or more (full-time) or $30,000 or more (part-time).

Award determinations will be made based on the information submitted on your FAFSA and on the need-based scholarship application and will also consider merit scholarship aid you are receiving. To be considered for need-based aid, applicants who are eligible to complete the FAFSA (as indicated on the FAFSA) must submit the FAFSA and include Chicago-Kent's FAFSA school code (E00773). Applications are considered on a rolling basis beginning in February. Funds are limited, and applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

The link to the need-based scholarship application will be sent to first-year applicants who are admitted to the entering class.

The Chicago-Kent Honors Scholars Program provides renewable scholarships of full-tuition and special seminars to a select group of students who demonstrate exceptional academic and leadership ability.
 

Continuing students who received renewable scholarships upon admission to Chicago-Kent will have their award automatically renewed for the upcoming academic year.

Class rank merit scholarships reward upper-level law students without renewable awards who demonstrate outstanding academic performance. See the sections below for the eligibility criteria and award amounts based on your entering class year.

Renewable scholarships and class rank merit scholarships are not cumulative, and students will receive only the highest award for which they qualify. For example, a student receiving a renewable scholarship, who then qualifies for a merit scholarship based on class rank, will receive the higher of the two awards.

2021 Entering Class and Beyond

Beginning with the 2021 entering class, students are eligible for merit scholarship awards based on academic performance in law school if they rank in the top 5% or 10% of their graduating class at the end of the first academic year at Chicago-Kent. Class rank awards will be made to rising 2L students and will be renewable in subsequent years as long as the recipient is enrolled in classes at Chicago-Kent.

Class Rank Merit Award Amounts

2014-2020 Entering Classes

For the 2014-2020 entering classes, students are eligible for merit scholarship awards based on academic performance in law school if they rank in the top 5% or 10% of their graduating class at the end of each academic year. Students must meet the specified class rank at the end of each academic year in order to qualify for a class rank merit scholarship for the upcoming year.

Class Rank Merit Award Amounts

Currently, students may be eligible for activity scholarships if they hold select leadership positions on the Chicago-Kent Law Review, Moot Court Honor Society and Student Bar Association. These awards supplement any existing renewable or class rank merit scholarships. However, the total of all awards may not exceed the cost of tuition.

Chicago-Kent occasionally has donor-funded scholarships for which current students may apply. Available awards and application instructions are posted in the "Scholarships" section of the Chicago-Kent Record as awards become available.