Scholarship Opportunities

Lewis and Clark Community College and the Lewis and Clark Community College Foundation together award more than 150 scholarships each academic year valued around $422,000. Nearly half are for full tuition and fees, approximately a $4,500 value for a full-time student. The scholarships administered by the college are guided by the philosophy that scholarships will be distributed to qualified students as widely as possible. All students are encouraged to apply for a scholarship.  Scholarships established by private donors and L&C Trustees exist for students of all ages, abilities, levels of academic standing and full or part- time enrollment status. The online application is available at www.lc.edu/scholarships. Students complete one online form. The online application automatically matches scholarships to qualifying applicants. The application process begins each November, with the application deadline in March. Students are notified in May of their awards for the upcoming academic year. To apply or learn more, visit www.lc.edu/scholarships, or contact the Financial Aid office at 618-468-2223, or the Foundation office at 618-468-2011.

Other Grants/Scholarships Administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, the State of Illinois and/or Illinois Counties, and Other Groups

Please see Grant/Scholarship descriptions for contact information.

Calvin and Juanita Ritchey Whitlock Education Foundation - Multiple scholarships are available for Jersey County residents who can show residency in Jersey County at their birth and graduation from Jersey Community High School, Southwestern High School, successful completion of a GED with a score of 2500 or higher on the GED test, or a score of 2500 or higher on the GED test if home-schooled. Applicants must have a GPA of at least 2.0, and be enrolled in 12 or more credit hours. Applicants may receive no more than $3,000 in scholarship funds for any given school year. The number of awards granted annually will vary based upon available funds. Applications are available through Jersey State Bank in Jerseyville, IL.

Illinois Department of Public Health Nursing Education Scholarship -   Applicant must be a resident of Illinois for at least one year prior to application; be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States; be enrolled in or accepted for admission to a nursing program in Illinois that is approved by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation or the Illinois Board of Higher Education; contact program staff to see which schools are approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education; demonstrate financial need based on the applicant’s Student Aid Report; and agree to the nurse employment or nurse educator employment obligation. Applications are available http://dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/life-stages-populations/rural-underserved-populations/nursing-education-scholarship-program. Application submission period is March 1, 2021 through April 30, 2021.

Illinois MIA-POW Scholarship - Available through the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs to any spouse, natural child, legally adopted child, or any child in legal custody of an Illinois resident prior to or during the time the U.S. Department of Defense has declared such serviceman or service woman to be a prisoner of war, a person missing in action, a person killed in service, a person who died as a result of a service-connected disability or a serviceman or service woman who has been declared by the U.S. Department of Defense or the U.S. Veterans’ Administration to be permanently disabled with 100 percent disability. Recipients may be able to receive other financial aid including a Federal Pell Grant. Contact the L&C VA Certifying Official in the Financial Aid Office for more information.

Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant - Basically limited to active NG members who have served at least one year in the Illinois National Guard, but check eligibility details. This grant pays for tuition and activity fees only. Student must be enrolled at least half-time (6 hours or more) each semester. Online applications are available at http://www.isac.org. Students cannot use ISAC MAP if eligible for the IL National Guard Grant. The deadline dates for submitting applications and school changes are as follows:

 A new application is required to establish your eligibility each academic year. Contact the L&C VA Certifying Official in the Financial Aid Office for more information.

Illinois Veterans’ Grant (IVG) - Limited to veterans who were Illinois residents at the time of entry in the military service, who returned to Illinois as permanent residents within six months following discharge from the military service, who were honorably discharged, and whose DD-214 separation paper indicates one year or more of continuous active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces. Effective September 15, 2004, any member of the Illinois National Guard or a Reserve component of the U.S. Armed Forces who meets the eligibility requirements is considered a qualified applicant for the IVG Program, along with Illinois veterans or members of the U. S. Armed Forces. This grant pays tuition and some fees. Usage for the grant is computed on a point system with a 120 unit maximum. One hundred twenty (120) units are equivalent to four academic years of full-time enrollment. IVG does not cover course fees, lab fees, or late fees. Online applications are available at http://www.isac.org. Contact the L&C VA Certifying Official in the Financial Aid Office for more information.

Madison County Economic Development Scholarship - A $1,500 scholarship for the academic year ($750 for fall and $750 for spring) to the applicant(s) who demonstrate financial need (as defined by the Madison County Economic Development), who have lived the majority of their life in Madison County, and meet academic standards. This scholarship will first be applied to unpaid balances in the following order: Tuition and fees, books and supplies. Any unused amounts will be disbursed to the student. L&C Financial Aid Committee recommends the top applicants and the Madison County Board selects the recipient(s). This scholarship is not automatically renewed each academic year. Students need to reapply. Applications are available in the Financial Aid Office. The application deadline is tentatively the last Friday in April.

Reserve Officer Training Commission (ROTC) Scholarship - Three annual awards are available to students who transfer from Lewis and Clark Community College to a senior state university or college. Contact the ROTC office at the school to which you are transferring. For full consideration, the L&C Financial Aid Office must receive a nomination from your college or university.  Note: A recipient of a scholarship or award that pays for tuition and fees only cannot receive a tuition reimbursement if a second scholarship or award is also received that pays tuition and fees only. For example, the recipient may not receive a tuition reimbursement from the ISAC MAP award if an L&C award has been granted. If a MAP grant is awarded, tuition will be charged to MAP and the scholarship or award will be reimbursed. There are some exceptions. Students may also receive Federal Pell Grants if they are receiving a L&C, L&C Foundation, or a private donor scholarship because Pell Grants can be used for other education expenses. Scholarship recipients may also be eligible for Federal Work Study and student loans. L&C tuition waivers cannot be used to pay tuition at another college for cooperative or concurrent enrollment programs. Contact the L&C Financial Aid Office for further information.

Are There Other Scholarships Available?

L&C posts and distributes new scholarship information around campus as it is received. Information is also forwarded to the L&C student radio station, WLCA, and to the L&C student newspaper, The Bridge, as well as to local newspapers. Students should also do their own research on scholarships offered by foundations, religious organizations, fraternities or sororities, community clubs, and professional organizations.  The internet is a great resource to search for scholarship information. Please see the Financial Aid section of the college’s website for more details.

Other Student Employment Opportunities

Institutional Student Employment - This is an employment program which is not based on financial need and which requires a student to be enrolled in at least one credit hour in the term for which work is performed. Contact the Financial Aid Office for further information.

Other Resources

Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)

The WIOA grant is for underemployed, unemployed, under-skilled and unskilled students. WIOA entities also certify Dislocated Worker status for Title IV and ISAC aid applicants. Contact your county WIOA office at:

Southwestern IL workNet Center (Madison, Bond, Jersey, Greene)
101 East Edwardsville Road, Wood River, IL 62095, 618-296-4301

The Job Center (Morgan, Scott, Shelby, Greene, Macoupin, Montgomery)
116 South Plum, Carlinville, IL 62626, 217-854-9642

Employers

Many local employers will also provide educational assistance to employees or their dependents through grants, scholarships, tuition reimbursements, etc. Contact your employer for details. Please be advised that if you live out of L&C’s district, but work 35 hours per week at an employer within the district, you may be eligible for the lower in district tuition rate. Contact the Enrollment Center for forms and procedures.

Educational Opportunity Center (EOC)

The EOC will help adult students research and apply for college admissions, scholarships, financial aid, and helps re-establish aid eligibility for those students with defaulted loans. These services are not available to those who are eligible for the L&C Talent Search Program. The EOC can be reached at:

11 West Third Street, Alton, IL 62002 618-465-5124

Illinois Department of Human Services Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS)

The DORS program may assist qualified individuals with the cost of education. If you have a disabling condition and want to develop employability skills, contact:

606 W. St. Louis Avenue, East Alton, IL 62024 618-258-9996