DeKALB, Ill. — Chicago, IL – Mayor Emanuel and City Colleges of Chicago today announced that Northern Illinois University (NIU) is the newest Star Scholarship transfer partner, becoming the 26th university offering Star Scholars additional scholarships towards completion of their bachelor’s degrees.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
NIU will provide eligible transfer students with $3,000 in scholarship funds annually over the course of two years to complete a bachelor’s degree. To qualify for the scholarship, students must be a Star Scholar and have completed an Associate in Arts or Science degree at City Colleges with a 3.0 GPA or higher and maintain that same GPA while at NIU.
“The Star Scholarship is about creating opportunities for thousands of Chicago students to earn a college education and the future they want without the burden of debt,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “I am thrilled that NIU will be a part of helping students pursue a four-year degree at an affordable price.”
More than 820 Star Scholars have already transferred to more than 90 four-year colleges and universities. More than 640 of those students have gone on to attend one of the Star Scholarship transfer partner schools, where they have earned more than $3.8 million in scholarship offers.
“This agreement helps break down barriers for our students—it gives them another opportunity to continue their education and pursue a bachelor’s degree close to home,” said City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Juan Salgado. “The more transfer partners like NIU recognize the value of Star Scholars and backup their commitment with financial assistance for tuition, the more we will see Chicago students succeed and reach their goals.”
“We are very excited to become a Star Scholarship transfer partner,” said NIU President Lisa Freeman. “NIU is devoted to being an agent for social growth, and this is a perfect example of our commitment to helping students from all backgrounds prepare for meaningful lives and careers.”
To ensure more students can access a viable pathway to college, Mayor Emanuel created the Star Scholarship in Fall 2015, providing CPS students with an opportunity to pursue a degree or certificate at City Colleges at no cost. More than 6,400 students have been named Star Scholars since the program launched. Star Scholars have a retention rate of 86 percent, nearly double the average at City Colleges. Nearly 50 percent of first-time, full-time Star Scholars who started at City Colleges in 2015 graduated within three years.
Students are eligible for the Star Scholarship if they have graduated from a Chicago Public Schools (CPS) high school with a 3.0 GPA and test nearly college-ready in math and English, and enroll in a city Colleges structured, relevant pathway.
In addition to NIU, City Colleges has Star Scholarship transfer partnerships with 25 4-year colleges and universities, including: The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Columbia College, DePaul University, Dominican University, Elmhurst University, Governors State University, Illinois Tech, Illinois State University, Kendall College, Loyola University, Marquette University, National Louis University, North Park University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northwestern University, Robert Morris University, Roosevelt University, Saint Xavier University, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Chicago State University, Florida Memorial University, Stillman College, and University of Chicago. CME Group, the Star program’s first corporate partner has provided 50 students with $5,000 scholarships and connected CCC students with paid summer internships at elite trading firms.
To learn more about the Star Scholarship, go to www.ccc.edu/starscholarship.
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About NIU
Northern Illinois University is a student-centered, nationally recognized public research university, with expertise that benefits its region and spans the globe in a wide variety of fields, including the sciences, humanities, arts, business, engineering, education, health and law. Through its main campus in DeKalb, Illinois, and education centers for students and working professionals in Chicago, Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Oregon and Rockford, NIU offers more than 100 areas of study while serving a diverse and international student body.
