Illinois Tech Launches Zero-Tuition Pledge for In-State Students
Illinois Tech has announced a new scholarship program that broadens the university鈥檚 commitment to providing learners with access to a world-class education: zero-tuition scholarships for high-performing Illinois students.
The Illinois Tech Purpose scholarship builds upon the university鈥檚 founding mission to prepare learners of all backgrounds for meaningful roles in a modernized workforce. The scholarship covers 100 percent of a student鈥檚 full-time tuition and mandatory fees for up to four years of undergraduate study or five years for students in the five-year undergraduate architecture program after all other federal and state grants have been accounted for.
鈥淥ur university was founded on a noble mission to provide opportunity for those may who lack financial resources but have the commitment, perseverance, and entrepreneurial spirit needed to advance technology and innovation for the common good. As a result, Illinois Tech has established itself as one of Illinois鈥 top universities in advancing economic mobility. We are proud to be a private university with a public mission and to continue that legacy with new ways to support the Illinois鈥 next generation of leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs,鈥 says Illinois Tech Vice President for Enrollment Mallik Sundharam.
To be eligible, students must be Illinois residents from families with an adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less and who have an excellent academic record. New first-year students must have at least a 3.7 grade-point average and be in the top 10 percent of their class. The scholarship is also open to undergraduate students who may wish to transfer to Illinois Tech from another four-year university or community college. New transfer students under the age of 24 must have a 3.4 GPA, have earned no more than 61 credits at a previous institution, and must be earning their bachelor鈥檚 degree for the first time.
Illinois Tech Purpose significantly reduces students鈥 financial burden, allowing them to focus more on coursework and less on paying for their education. In addition to financial support, Illinois Tech鈥檚 close-knit community and network of student services include advisers, student success coaches, peer mentors, academic tutoring, career counselors, and more.
鈥淚llinois Tech Purpose is more than just a scholarship,鈥 says Sundharam. 鈥淚t provides not only financial assistance, but also connects students to unique programs like Elevate, which offers access to twenty-first-century skills, holistic advising, and mentorship opportunities鈥攁ddressing the whole student. Throughout their time with us, students are guaranteed access to career-building experiences that prepare them with the real-world skills to thrive after graduation. The incredible success of our graduates is a testament to the transformative power of an Illinois Tech degree. The scholarship is just one piece of the larger puzzle.鈥
The United States Department of Education of holistic, wraparound services for students of lower income, noting that without such services, 52 percent did not apply for essential support services because they did not know how to do so and 80 percent reported moderate to high levels of stress.
Illinois Tech has been recognized consistently for its efforts to help lower-income students attain college degrees. In 2023 Bloomberg Philanthropies recognized Illinois Tech as an High-Flier, which is defined as a high-graduation-rate institution that is a national leader in college access and success for lower-income students. Illinois Tech was distinguished for its high share of Pell Grant recipients and innovative recruitment, enrollment, and retention practices, which create new pathways to a college degree for students from diverse backgrounds.
According to Opportunity Insights, a Harvard University-based research group focused on economic mobility, Illinois Tech was ranked first in Illinois and #32 in the nation for lifting students from families in the bottom 20 percent of income to the top 20 percent. The same group also ranked Illinois Tech third among highly selective private colleges for the 鈥渦pward mobility鈥 of its graduates, reflecting the likelihood that a student would advance two or more income quintiles after graduation.
The Illinois Tech Purpose scholarship aims to build upon the university鈥檚 reputation for creating longstanding, rewarding career opportunities for its graduates. Illinois Tech graduates enjoy some of the best career outcomes in the country. The university has been ranked by the Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2025 report as #1 in the state of Illinois for the best salaries of its graduates, as well as #1 in Illinois and #20 in the nation for high earnings and economic mobility in a college rankings tool created by the New York Times in 2023.
