President's Award Program
A Scholarship Program in Support of Illinois's Future
Description and Eligibility
The President’s Award Program (PAP) assists the University of Illinois System to enroll highly capable students who have been admitted to one of the U of I universities and are low-income, first-generation, or come from a low-sending county, with low-sending defined as counties sending an average of two or fewer students per academic year to the University of Illinois in the past five-year period. The broad goal of the program is to ensure and enrich the inclusiveness of the student body in those ways. The University of Illinois believes that a student body that includes people from all walks of life across Illinois enhances the quality of education for all students.
High-achieving newly admitted freshmen are considered for the PAP award, which is open to all freshmen without regard to any legally protected trait. To be eligible for consideration, students must be Illinois residents and have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement.
Students from any of the following groups at the University of Illinois are eligible for consideration:
- Students from low-sending Illinois counties and high schools* or
- Students for whom neither parent or guardian has earned at least a bachelor's degree; or
- Students who qualify for Pell/MAP eligibility, as verified through FAFSA or state financial aid application and financial aid application process.
*Defined by institution
PAP awards are subject to the availability of institutional funding, which is determined annually for each university. Each university is responsible for selecting recipients in accordance with established eligibility criteria.
PAP Award Decisions
The scholarship provided by the PAP is intended to support and encourage students to select the University of Illinois System for enrollment and each university of the System makes independent decisions regarding admissions and PAP awards. All applications are made through the regular admissions review process (the application for admission serves as the application for the PAP); once admitted, eligible students receive individual review for the PAP.
Financial Aid
Effective beginning with freshmen entering Fall 2012, the PAP award is $5,000 per year, available for a maximum of four years (eight semesters), subject to program and campus requirements for continued receipt of the award.
PAP Honors
As of fall 2012, a companion program, the PAP Honors Scholarship, was initiated for the highest achieving PAP-eligible students. PAP Honors awards of $10,000 for each of four years are distributed across the three campuses each year.
Information for award recipients (frequently-asked questions)
Additional Information
Please direct inquiries to the campus of your choice:
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Office of Student Financial Aid
Student Service Arcade
620 E. John Street, MC-303
Champaign, IL 61820
(217) 333-0100
finaidscholarships@illinois.edu
University of Illinois at Chicago
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Box 5220, MC-018
Chicago, Illinois 60680-5220
(312) 996-4350
Chicago President's Award Program
papscholars@uic.edu
University of Illinois Springfield
Office of Financial Assistance
One University Plaza, MS UHB 1015
Springfield, IL 62703-5407
(217) 206-6724
Springfield President's Award Program
finaid@uis.edu
For general policy questions only, please contact:
University of Illinois System
Gretchen Lohman
Senior Director, Academic Programs and Partnerships
Office of Executive Vice President/Vice President for Academic Affairs