Chicago Star is a local scholarship administered by City Colleges of Chicago for graduates of partner high schools who pursue an associate degree or certificate in the district. It may cover eligible tuition and materials left after other aid is applied. It is a last-dollar program: federal or state aid is processed first, then Star is calculated against the remaining eligible balance.
The official page identifies graduates of Chicago Public Schools and Big Shoulders Fund partner Catholic schools as eligible groups. It also requires a cumulative high-school GPA of at least 3.0 and enrollment in a structured City Colleges program. The catalog adds FAFSA and verification as part of the aid file; students unable to file FAFSA can submit the college’s ineligibility certification. City Colleges policy also says undocumented students may apply.
The scholarship may cover authorized tuition, books, and required program materials not paid by other grants or scholarships. It does not automatically pay for housing, transit, food, or every personal charge. Students may attend part time or full time, but eligibility lasts at most three years beginning with the first fall term after graduation and ends earlier if the degree is completed. Students delaying enrollment should confirm their cohort’s start limit under current policy.
Start in the online City Colleges admission application, where applicants can indicate interest in Star. Then complete FAFSA and verification—or the alternative form when applicable—enroll in a degree or certificate program, and follow the student portal. If a school does not send a transcript automatically, as may happen at some charter or Big Shoulders schools, City Colleges may request it by email to verify the GPA.
The deadline changes each term: City Colleges sets the last registration day for the next 16-week credit term as the Star deadline. Use the current academic calendar, not a date from a prior cycle. If the application arrives after registration closes, the official FAQ says it may be processed for the next semester. Before accepting, confirm the remaining balance, registration, years of eligibility left, and whether a transfer scholarship to a four-year university would be a separate award with its own rules.
Chicago Star Scholarship: beneficios, criterios y pasos de solicitud — City Colleges of Chicago.
Academic Catalog: Chicago Star Scholarship procedures — City Colleges of Chicago.
Academic Calendar for Credit Programs — City Colleges of Chicago.
Informational guide checked against official sources on October 12, 2026. Participation, requirements, support amounts, and dates may vary by campus and term; confirm your file with the program before enrolling.
Chicago Star can reduce eligible costs at City Colleges for graduates of partner schools. Verify GPA, FAFSA file, program, and the 16-week registration cutoff before relying on the award.
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Chicago Star Scholarship — City Colleges of Chicago
A last-dollar scholarship for eligible tuition, books, and required materials remaining after grants and aid; requires graduation from a partner high school, at least a 3.0 GPA, a structured program, and a processed aid file. Undocumented students may qualify.
Local last-dollar scholarship for graduates of partner high schools in Chicago
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website ↗
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City Colleges of Chicago · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
City Colleges of Chicago · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
City Colleges of Chicago · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official application and program information ↗
Primary source
City Colleges of Chicago · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Chicago Star Scholarship — City Colleges of Chicago ↗
Primary source
City Colleges of Chicago · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Chicago Star Scholarship — City Colleges of Chicago ↗
Primary source
City Colleges of Chicago · Accessed October 12, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.