Rush University is committed to helping you get the aid you need. Rush has a wide range of grants and scholarships to help support your education. Whether need-based, merit-based or based on other specific criteria, there may be an aid package available for you.
How do I apply?
Most of the funds that are available do not require a specific application for you to be considered. The following is what you need to do to be considered for a grant or scholarship:
- Need-based: funds are limited and awards are available on a first-come first serve basis. Students are encouraged to submit their application materials early each year. Documents required to review eligibility for need based aid include the submission of the FAFSA application for all students and the Projected Enrollment Form for programs billed by the hour. Additional information may be needed on a case-by-case basis and students will be notified of that information by the Financial Aid Office. Student eligibility for need-based aid will be determined based on the Student Aid Index (SAI) from the FAFSA. Students will be notified on their annual financial aid package if they qualify for need-based aid.
- Merit-based: You automatically are considered either through the admissions process or after grades are in.
- Other criteria: The Office of Student Financial Aid will communicate with you for grants and scholarships that require a separate application or that require you to self-identify for consideration.
If you receive some philanthropic funds, you may be asked to write a letter of thanks for the funds you receive. Additionally, some donors may wish to meet recipients of funds created in their name. Detailed instructions will follow from Rush University Medical Center's Office of Philanthropy, as necessary.
Government grants, scholarships and traineeships
- Federal Pell Grants are available to undergraduate students working toward their first bachelor's degree. Students must apply for federal student aid to be considered. Students who qualify for these grants will be given a specific amount based upon the Student Aid Index (SAI) from their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Amounts will be prorated for less than full-time enrollment. Eligible students may receive the Federal Pell Grant in an amount up to $7,395 for the 2024-2025 academic year.
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants are available to undergraduate students working toward their first bachelor's degree. Students must apply for federal student aid to be considered. Preference is given to Pell Grant-eligible students, and amounts may be prorated for less than full-time enrollment. Funding for this program is limited, so not all Pell Grant-eligible students may receive this grant. Grant amounts range from $0 to $4,000 for the 2024-2025 academic year.
- Illinois Monetary Award Programs Grants are available to Illinois residents who are undergraduate students working toward their first bachelor's degree. Students must apply for federal student aid to be considered. Students who qualify for these grants will be given a specific amount based upon the Student Aid Index (SAI) from their FAFSA. Amounts will be prorated for enrollment of less than 15 credit hours per quarter. MAP Grant funding is not available for the summer term. MAP Grant funding is limited and the State of Illinois may cut off funding for FAFSAs received after a certain date. Grants can be awarded up to $8,400 for the academic year for eligible students. There is an aggregate cap on the amount of grant assistance a student can receive for all combined undergraduate study.
- The National Health Service Corps Scholarship Program is a federal program through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Participants must be U.S. citizens or nationals attending medical, physician assistant or nurse practitioner school full-time. The program covers full tuition and fees, and provides an allowance directly to students for books, supplies and living expenses. Participants agree to provide service post-graduation based on the number of years of support they receive. Complete details are available on the program's website.
- The Nursing Education Scholarship Program from the Illinois Department of Public Health is available to current and accepted nursing students who are Illinois residents. Students must apply for federal student aid to be considered. Complete eligibility and application guidance is available on the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) site.
Outside scholarships
Each year, thousands of grant and scholarship dollars sponsored by private organizations go unclaimed nationally. The Office of Student Financial Aid encourages you to apply for any opportunities for which you may be eligible from these outside entities. For your convenience, please view a listing of potential scholarships that you may apply for here. Our office cannot confirm the accuracy of the links since the original publication date or the continued availability of the scholarship as these scholarships are managed by outside entities. As you complete applications for outside scholarships, students should never pay money to apply for a scholarship. Grants/scholarships should be free applications and we encourage students to not apply for scholarships that require payment to complete the application.
Students can also use various scholarship search engines such as FastWeb, a free scholarship search engine that will send you tailored announcements about opportunities for which you may qualify.