The City Colleges of Chicago Foundation administers donor-created funds for students attending the city’s seven community colleges. Its portal gathers many awards through one general application: the system uses a student’s information to identify opportunities based on college, program, financial need, and each fund’s other criteria. There is no single award amount, and applicants are not all competing for the same scholarships; individual listings may add their own rules.
For the 2026–27 academic year, the general application has two deadlines: the fall deadline closed on September 28, 2026, and the spring deadline is March 14, 2027. Spring is the next useful window for students who missed the first cutoff. Applicants sign in with City Colleges credentials, answer general questions, and write a short essay. Completing the form makes students eligible for matching to multiple awards, but it does not guarantee a scholarship.
The portal states that undocumented students may also apply. That does not mean every individual fund has identical terms: review each listing for any additional residency, program, GPA, financial-need, or campus conditions. For students who cannot complete the FAFSA, City Colleges also provides information about Illinois’s alternative application under the RISE Act; a campus financial-aid office can help determine which form applies.
Before submitting, gather your student login, academic history, and program details, and draft the essay with specific examples of your goals and circumstances. Keep the submission confirmation and return to the portal to check status or supplemental questions. Your campus financial-aid office and scholarship team can clarify internal dates, the requirements of a matched award, and how it may interact with other aid.
This is a practical route for people already studying—or planning to study—at a City Colleges of Chicago college who want one application to connect them with awards from different donors. Start early: identify compatible opportunities, confirm whether they require FAFSA or the RISE application, and ask the college how a scholarship would be applied to your cost of attendance.
Read the program profile and the FAFSA guide; confirm individual award requirements with your college before submitting.
City Colleges of Chicago Foundation scholarship portal — City Colleges of Chicago Foundation.
Paying for College: Foundation scholarships and other funding — City Colleges of Chicago.
Financial Aid at City Colleges of Chicago — City Colleges of Chicago.
FAFSA application — Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education.
Information checked against official sources on October 13, 2026. Deadlines, funding, and eligibility can change by cycle; review the official page before submitting documents and ask your school how other aid affects the award.
The 2026–27 spring application closes March 14, 2027; review each fund and prepare your essay and documents early.
Options to compare
These options relate to the question. Read each profile and check current details before deciding.
City Colleges of Chicago Foundation Scholarship Program
General application for donor-funded awards across the seven City Colleges of Chicago colleges; eligibility and amounts vary by fund.
General application for donor-funded awards across the seven City Colleges of Chicago colleges; eligibility and amounts vary by fund.
Federal Student Aid — U.S. Department of Education
The agency sets rates, eligibility, and caps; the college certifies need, cost, and the individual amount within those limits.
Public student-aid administering office
Sources & references
Sources for the information and reporting discussed in this guide.
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Official website of Federal Student Aid — U.S. Department of Education ↗
Primary source
Federal Student Aid · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of Federal Student Aid — U.S. Department of Education ↗
Primary source
Federal Student Aid · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
City Colleges of Chicago Foundation · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
City Colleges of Chicago · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
City Colleges of Chicago · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website ↗
Primary source
Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education · Accessed October 13, 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 Foundation · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of City Colleges of Chicago Foundation Scholarship Program ↗
Primary source
City Colleges of Chicago · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of City Colleges of Chicago Foundation Scholarship Program ↗
Primary source
City Colleges of Chicago · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.
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Official website of City Colleges of Chicago Foundation Scholarship Program ↗
Primary source
Federal Student Aid, U.S. Department of Education · Accessed October 13, 2026
Primary source for identity, concept, menu, and contact details.