We are dedicated to making college as affordable as possible. You can acquire financial aid in a variety of ways: 

• University of Illinois: To learn more about financial aid for attending the University of Illinois, please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid.
• College of ACES Scholarships: The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) also awards nearly $3.5 million in scholarships to ACES students, including scholarships for both incoming and continuing students. For incoming students, your admission application doubles as your ACES scholarship application; no additional scholarship application is needed. 
  • There are also scholarships available to support study abroad experiences.
• Departmental Scholarships: The Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences (NRES) Department offers $44,000 in scholarships each year to incoming and continuing students. Funds are awarded based on merit, leadership, and demonstrated interest in the environment.
  • For incoming students, your admission application doubles as your NRES scholarship application; no additional scholarship application is needed. 
  • NRES donor-designated scholarship funds include: the Karen D. Fisher Avian Ecology and Habitat Preservation Scholarship, the Howard W. & L. Christine Knoebel Scholarship, the Illinois Corn Scholarship for Conserving Illinois' Agricultural Resources (soil and water health), Ivan John Jansen Memorial Scholarship, Ralph W. Lorenz Memorial Scholarship, McNaughton-Kade Scholarship, and the NRES Sustainability Scholarship.
• National & International Scholarships Program (NISP) at U of I
  This program lists multiple scholarships current students can apply for; a few of interest to NRES students include:  
  • Udall Scholarships: This scholarship awards $7,000 to current college sophomores or juniors committed to a career related to the environment or to Native American sophomores or juniors interested in Tribal policy or health care. 
  • Boren Scholarships (study abroad): The program awards up to $12,500 for a semester or $25,000 for a year to freshmen through seniors for study in a non-Western country. Summer awards of up to $8,000 are also available to STEM majors. 
  • Goldwater Scholarships: Provides one- or two-year awards of $7,500 for undergraduate educational expenses. Sophomores and juniors majoring in environmental science, applied science, biology, zoology, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, etc. are eligible to apply. 
  • Also check out the other scholarship search resources recommended by NISP. 
• External Scholarships: See below for a few suggestions of scholarships offered by a variety of organizations.

Scholarships for continuing NRES undergraduate students

Current NRES students who are eligible to apply receive application instructions via e-mail in February of each year. Questions about NRES scholarships should be directed to nres-ssc@illinois.edu. Please note that scholarship awards and amounts may vary from year to year based on fluctuations in the endowments.

External Scholarships

A variety of scholarships for students with an environmental focus are offered by other organizations as well; here are a few suggestions to get you started: 

• EnvironmentalScience.org maintains a list of scholarships in environmental sciences.
• Elmhurst Garden Club College Scholarship for Illinois Residents.
• The Fence Authority Scholarship for students pursuing a Bachelor's degree in a variety of areas, including environmental sciences.
• Friends of Volo Bog Scholarships for residents of the following Illinois counties: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will County.
• The Garden Club of America offers numerous scholarships.
• IL Association of Environmental Professionals typically posts their scholarships and research grants in the summer with an early Aug deadline (more info: 2024 Annual Scholarship Award Winners)
• Illinois Conservation Foundation Youth Achievement Scholarships for Illinois residents
• Illinois Lake Management Association offers the Undergraduate/Graduate Scholarship and the Robert Esser Student Achievement Scholarship.
• IMTT/Glenwood Lodge Scholarship is offered by the Illinois Muskie Tournament Trail to students majoring in a fisheries related field.
• Illinois Water Environment Association Scholarship for Illinois residents or students attending an accredited Illinois college or university.
• Izaak Walton League of America Conservation Scholarship supports rising junior and senior college undergraduates from recognized conservation or environment-related degree programs.
• Society of Lake Management Professionals annual student scholarship award for full-time undergraduate or graduate students. Focus is on water quality, retention ponds innovations, equipment innovation, limnology, aquatic plant management, aquaculture, fisheries management, or aquatic ecology of private waters and more. Also Student Project Grants and Student Research funds.
• Soil & Water Stewardship Scholarship Program offered by the Soil & Water Conservation Districts of Northeastern Illinois for residents of the following Illinois counties: Boone, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Will, or Winnebago County.
• The Solid Waste Association of North America offers scholarships for students studying fields related to solid waste management.
• Tribal Agriculture Fellowship is an opportunity for Indigenous students to participate in a fellowship devoted to sharing the Indigenous perspective and making a difference in Tribal agriculture.