CHICAGO – The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) is accepting applications for the 2026 DCFS Scholarship Program. Through the program scholarships will be awarded to current and former youth in care for the upcoming school year, with four awards reserved for the children of veterans and two awards presented to students pursuing degrees in social work in honor of Pamela Knight and Deidre Silas, two DCFS caseworkers who succumbed to injuries sustained in the line of duty.
Scholarship recipients receive up to five consecutive years of tuition and academic fee waivers if they attend a public university or community college, a monthly grant of $1,577 to offset other expenses and a medical card. In 2025, DCFS awarded scholarships to 334 college-bound youth.
“Every young person in Illinois deserves the opportunity to pursue their education and build a future filled with possibility,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The DCFS Scholarship Program opens doors to current and former youth in care by providing the financial stability and support they need to succeed beyond high school, from textbooks, tuition and health insurance. I strongly encourage all eligible students to apply and take advantage of this life-changing opportunity.”
“Our responsibility doesn’t end when a young person leaves care, it continues as they work to build their future,” said Illinois DCFS Director Heidi E. Mueller. “These scholarships provide real support during a critical transition, helping youth focus on their education while knowing they are seen, valued and supported by a community that believes in them and all they will accomplish.”
The DCFS Scholarship Program is available to youth who have an open DCFS case, whose cases were closed through adoption or guardianship or who aged out of care at 18 or older.
Scholarship recipients are selected based on their scholastic record and aptitude, community and extracurricular activities, three letters of recommendation from non-relatives and a personal essay illustrating their purpose for higher education. Scholarships are awarded to students interested in pursuing education at trade schools, community colleges or traditional colleges or universities.
Applications are available online. Students are encouraged to submit their applications in advance of the March 31 deadline.
Applicants or caregivers may call the DCFS Office of Education and Transition Services at 217-557-2689 or send an email with questions about the application process or for more information.
