Awards and Scholarships

Outstanding quality in performance and academic excellence are incredibly inportant to everyone at Illinois State University. Within the School of Music we acknowledge and reward this excellence through a variety of financial awards, scholarships, and assistantships.

Scholarships in the School of Music serve two purposes: to recruit talented students and to recognize student contributions to the School. Scholarships are administered through the Scholarship Committee, which acts in advisement to the Director of the School. All scholarships are awarded in compliance with Affirmative Action policy of the University.

In all that we do, the School of Music strives to honor and reward excellence within the students, both incoming freshmen and current majors within the school. One way we do this is through scholarships.

Forms of Scholarships and Awards

Tuition Scholarship

Generally, new Music majors (new first-year and new transfers) receive priority in the awarding of Tuition Scholarships by the School of Music. For incoming students, these awards are based upon the evaluations of performance auditions and written tests, academic potential, and the needs of the School. Review Eligibility Information and complete the application.

Friends of the Arts

These cash grant scholarships are made available through the efforts of the Friends of the Arts - an organization of interested people (members) who appreciate and support the music, theatre, art, and arts technology students and programs at Illinois State University.

The scholarships are generally granted to continuing Music majors, who are evaluated on academic achievement, musicianship, and service to the School. They are granted for one semester, although students may apply every semester.

Endowed Scholarships

These cash scholarships are awarded to continuing music majors, who are evaluated on academic achievement, musicianship, and service to the School. These awards may have additonal criteria. Students are nominated by the music faculty each spring. Review list of all the Endowed Scholarships offered through the School of Music.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate Assistantships are a combination of tuition waivers and cash stipends awarded to graduate music majors on a competitive basis. They are intended to facilitate progress towards a graduate degree and assistantship regulations and procedures are designed to promote this academic objective. Review more information about Graduate Assistantships at Illinois State University.

Important: The number of scholarships is limited and dependent upon outside funding sources.