The Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) offers an annual scholarship for residents pursuing undergraduate study. The 2026–27 award was $2,000 and could be used for tuition, books, or supplies. Although it is described as college support, that cycle is closed: the official deadline was May 30, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time. The page checked here does not yet list a date for the next application.
Eligibility was tied to CHA housing, not simply living in Chicago or having a low income. A student had to be a current resident in CHA public housing or a CHA Housing Choice Voucher household and be listed on the lease. The household also had to fall below HUD’s low-income limit, defined in the FAQ as 80% of area median income for Cook County; CHA verifies this. The dollar limit changes with household size and current HUD tables.
Applicants could be high-school seniors or undergraduates in their first through fourth year. The program had to be a certificate, associate, or bachelor’s degree at a two- or four-year college or university in the United States. Master’s and doctoral study were not eligible. The minimum GPA was 2.0 on a 4.0 scale; 2.5 was recommended, but neither GPA alone guaranteed an award. CHA directs students planning to attend City Colleges of Chicago to PiE, a separate programme.
The 2026 application opened January 30; applicants were to hear results in July, with funds distributed in August. The application ran through a portal administered by International Scholarship and Tuition Services (ISTS): students first created an account and completed an eligibility check, then submitted materials. Documents depended on academic standing and included a high-school transcript for incoming college freshmen or a college transcript for continuing students. ACT/SAT scores and the FAFSA Student Aid Report were optional in that year’s FAQ.
Selection considered academic records, community involvement, and an essay. The award was not automatically renewable, though recipients could reapply annually if they remained eligible and a new cycle opened. Do not count it as guaranteed income before receiving a written decision. The official description also limits its use to tuition, books, or supplies; it does not say that it covers housing, transport, food, or the full cost of college.
CHA directs students interested in City Colleges of Chicago to PiE, which has different rules and scope. Do not treat the two awards as one fund. If you do not hold a CHA voucher and are not listed on a CHA lease, this scholarship likely does not fit; a college financial-aid office can still help check other local scholarships, FAFSA, state aid, and payment plans. Never provide another person’s information or pay a broker who claims to guarantee eligibility.
As of October 12, 2026, the page does not show a dated next-cycle application. Check the CHA Scholarship Program page and keep the 2026–27 FAQ only as a record of the prior cycle. CHA publishes housing and education resources through its education resources profile; for a closed-cycle question, use the current contact details on the official page rather than an old link that appears to accept applications.
Before the next opening, check that your name appears on the housing lease and gather your academic records. Ask CHA or ISTS whether income rules, eligible institutions, and required documents have changed. A $2,000 award may ease specific costs, but it is not a complete attendance budget: compare net price, other scholarships, and institutional aid before committing to enrolment.
CHA Scholarship Program — Chicago Housing Authority.
2026–27 CHA/Springboard to Success Scholarship FAQs — Chicago Housing Authority / ISTS.
CHA Scholarship Applications Open — Chicago Housing Authority.
Information verified on October 12, 2026 against official pages and documents. Applications and terms can change; check the current cycle and confirm any conflicting information directly with the provider before submitting documents or relying on an award.
CHA’s $2,000 scholarship closed on May 30, 2026. Do not submit last cycle’s file as a new application; confirm the next opening and recheck housing, lease, HUD income, and academic eligibility in updated official materials.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
CHA/Springboard to Success Scholarship Program
Chicago Housing Authority, 60 E. Van Buren Street, Chicago, IL 60605
A $2,000 award for eligible high-school seniors or undergraduates, usable for tuition, books, or supplies. Requires CHA housing and lease status, 2.0 GPA, and household income within 80% AMI for Cook County; not renewable, though recipients may reapply.
Annual Chicago Housing Authority undergraduate scholarship
Chicago Housing Authority Education — scholarships y apoyo universitario
Chicago Housing Authority, 60 E. Van Buren Street, Chicago, IL 60605
CHA connects residents to an annual undergraduate scholarship and separate resources for City Colleges of Chicago. The scholarship and PiE have different rules; the office can help identify the right route but does not replace formal eligibility verification.
Education resources and guidance for CHA residents
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Chicago Housing Authority · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Chicago Housing Authority / ISTS · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Chicago Housing Authority · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
Chicago Housing Authority · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of CHA/Springboard to Success Scholarship Program ↗
Primary source
Chicago Housing Authority / ISTS · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
Chicago Housing Authority · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Chicago Housing Authority Education — scholarships y apoyo universitario ↗
Primary source
Chicago Housing Authority · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.