Chicago Engineers’ Foundation Incentive Award Program
For graduating seniors who live in Chicago or attend a Chicago high school and begin engineering at a four-year university in fall 2027. The published renewable award is $1,200 as a senior/freshman and $1,600 for each later college year, up to $6,000 over four years if requirements are maintained. One student at each award level may be considered for $5,000 from the Engineering Futures Fund.
About Chicago Engineers’ Foundation Incentive Award Program
Founded in 1969, Chicago Engineers’ Foundation (CEF) supports young people from Chicago who plan to study engineering through scholarships and career-development opportunities. Its Incentive Award can renew over four years if a student continues to meet annual requirements. The university may be outside Chicago; the local boundary applies to where the student lives or attends high school, not where the college is located.
For the 2027 cohort, applicants must graduate from high school, live within Chicago city limits or attend a Chicago high school, gain admission to an ABET-accredited undergraduate engineering program, and begin in fall 2027. The foundation expressly excludes students who neither live nor attend school in Chicago. The annual application portal contains additional academic criteria, so meeting the geographic rule alone is not enough.
The published structure provides $1,200 to a graduating senior entering college and $1,600 at each later student level, for a stated total of up to $6,000 over four years if renewed. In addition, the Engineering Futures Fund selects one student at each award level for a $5,000 award. That is a separate competitive opportunity, not an extra payment guaranteed to every recipient; check the application for how the awards interact.
The 2027 application opens January 1 and closes April 1. Applicants should prepare their admission letter, academic information, and application materials early; CEF plans to notify recipients in June, with the exact date still to be set. Selected students may use awards for tuition, course materials, technology, living expenses, or other college-related needs as described by the program.
The foundation lists its office at 65 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Its official website provides the application portal and a resource page for other engineering scholarships; use the current institutional contact details to resolve questions and avoid sending sensitive application documents to an unverified address.
Who it serves and what it can cover: For graduating seniors who live in Chicago or attend a Chicago high school and begin engineering at a four-year university in fall 2027. The published renewable award is $1,200 as a senior/freshman and $1,600 for each later college year, up to $6,000 over four years if requirements are maintained. One student at each award level may be considered for $5,000 from the Engineering Futures Fund.
How to apply or get help: The 2027 application opens January 1 and is due April 1, 2027. Applicants need admission to an ABET-accredited undergraduate engineering program. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.
Renewable engineering scholarships for graduating seniors who live or attend school in Chicago