SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY

The Rockford Promise provides a tuition-free college opportunity by covering any tuition and general fees not already addressed by other financial aid. This scholarship bridges the financial gap by covering the remaining tuition balance after all applicable state, federal, and institution-specific aids are deducted. Expenses such as books and housing are not covered under this program. Students in the Rockford Promise program also benefit from award-winning scholar support services designed to empower them toward degree completion.

Rockford Promise scholarships are currently available for students who have attended four years of high school at a local partner school, will graduate in 2025, and plan to attend school at one of our college partners, currently Rockford University, Rock Valley College, Northern Illinois University and Saint Anthony's College of Nursing.

The scholarships are competitive and require admission to the chosen institution. Before submitting your application, ensure you meet all the specified requirements. Applications that do not fulfill all criteria will not be considered.

To apply for a Rock Valley College scholarship, you must:

• Have attended a Rockford Public School for all four years of high school and are eligible to graduate from a Rockford Public School in 2025.
• Have completed and submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1, 2025, and have listed Rock Valley College to receive your FAFSA information (College Code: 001747)
• Have an overall unweighted grade point average (GPA) of 2.5
• Have applied to Rock Valley College by March 1, 2025

To apply for a Rockford University scholarship, you must:

• Have attended a Rockford Public School or Private Partner School for all four years of high school and are eligible to graduate and receive a diploma from the Partner School in 2025.
• Have completed and submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 1, 2025, and have listed Rockford University to receive your FAFSA information (School Code: 001748)
• Have an overall unweighted grade point average (GPA) of 3.0
• Are a resident of the City of Rockford
• Be eligible for a Federal Pell Grant and Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP).
• Have applied to Rockford University by March 1, 2025

(A limited number of non-resident scholarships will also remain available through private fundraising, and will be subject to a competitive process.)

To apply for a Northern Illinois University scholarship, you must:

• Be a resident within the city boundaries of Rockford (i.e., not township, county or other municipality). To check your address, please look up your most recent tax bill to see if ''City of Rockford'' is listed on the Taxing Bodies. Tax bills can be searched by address on the Winnebago County Treasurer's website:

• Have attended a Rockford Public School high school since November 10, 2020, and are eligible to graduate from a Rockford Public School in 2025.
• Have completed and submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid by February 1, 2025, and have listed Northern Illinois University to receive your FAFSA information (School Code: 001737)
• Have an overall weighted grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher, based on a 4.0 scale
• Have applied to Northern Illinois University by March 1, 2025. For additional information, visit:

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

Click the link below to apply for a Rockford Promise scholarship before the deadline listed below. Once we've reached the deadline, all students who meet the requirements may be contacted to schedule an interview. Results will be communicated to student's email address listed in application within 4-6 weeks after the scholarship deadline.

Rockford Promise
Scholarship Application

We will be accepting scholarship applications between January 1, 2025 and March 1, 2025.