"Outside Scholarships" refer to awards provided by an entity outside of Lake Forest College.
These scholarships might be from a parents' employer, community organization, philanthropic group, etc. The College does not specifically endorse any of these scholarships, nor do we play any part in the requirements, selection or payment of funds listed here. While we believe that the resources below are worthwhile, we do not guarantee the authenticity of the information or websites, and do not endorse the information or services offered.
As of January 2026, 135 students had received at least one scholarship, totaling over $660,000, averaging $4925 per student. Last year, 150 students received over $800,000 ... over $5000 per person! In the 2023-24 academic year, nearly 200 students received over $1.3M in total scholarships from outside sources!
If you receive funds from a source other than the College, please notify our office. Such “outside scholarships” will normally reduce the amount your family pays or the loans you use. In some cases, it affects your loan or work-study eligibility. On rare occasions it affects a College need-based grants. General requirements are listed below; others may be found on the individual websites.
April Deadlines
Conquering Cancer $1000 April 1
Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, February 1, various awards (one appl'n > two scholarships)
Leadership Excellence Scholarship $1000 April 8
Fight Against Domestic Violence Scholarship April 6 $2000
Natural Disaster Relief Scholarship April 13, $1000 per sem
May Deadlines
Illinois Retired Teachers Assocation (three different scholarships) May 1
Hope and Opportunity Scholarship $1500 May 6
MKFM Resilient Student Scholarship $1500 May 13
Coover & Associates Parents With Passion $1000 May 4
Extra Space Storage There’s Space For Everyone $3000 May 31
Summer Deadlines
Barbieri Law Firm Barbieri Bloom $1000 June 1
CardRates, Financial Future Scholarship $1000 July 31
Fall Deadlines
2026 Injury Advocacy Scholarship $1000 September 1
DM Family Law Legacy of Education $1000 September 7
The Bettersworth Law Firm Justice for All $1000 September 16
General Websites
Consider creating a separate email address for scholarship searches, in case you get a lot of unwanted email.
- Cappex
- FastWeb - scholarship search
- Financial Aid Page - scholarship searches; see also Winning Scholarships
- Horatio Alger Association - browse scholarships by your home state
- OnlineColleges.net - not just for online programs
- Peterson’s - scholarship search
- Sallie Mae - scholarship search
- Scholarships.com - scholarship search
Special Categories / Web Sites:
Affordable Colleges Online and OnlineColleges.net are not just for online schools.
Disabilities & Medical Conditions
American Association on Health and Disability (Frederick J. Krause)
Children of Deaf Adults (CODA)
Microsoft disAbility Scholarship
SnappyWords.com - their scholarshp listing begins about halfway down the page
Military Affiliation
AffordableColleges.com (general resource, various service branches)
Air Force - General Henry H. Arnold Education Grant
American Legions (two sites)
Auxiliary Scholarship Program - child, grandchild, great-grandchild of a veteran
Legacy Scholarship Program - child of post-9/11 veteran who died on active duty, or is disabled
Department of Veteran’s Affairs - veterans/children
Iran & Afghanistan - if your parent died in service after 9/11
Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation - 25 military-related resources
Military Officers Association of America - Veterans, family members
VFW’s Sport Clips Help a Hero - separate fall/spring deadlines
VFW - Veterans of Foreign Wars
Wells Fargo: Scholarship & Emergency Grant programs
Yellow Ribbon Program - Lake Forest participates
Off-Campus Study
AIFS (American Institute For Foreign Study)
Fund for Education Abroad (FEA)
Institute of International Education - scholarships, fellowships, internships
Polish Descent
From Top Ten Online Colleges - 25 Scholarships for Polish Students
State/Location Specific
Nat’l Assoc of State Student Grant & Aid Programs
Arkansas Students - scholarship search
Hawai‘i Students - over 150 scholarships to pursue
Illinois Students - grants, loans, and scholarships for all grade levels
Illinois Students - Community Fndtn of Northern IL; Winter Cycle has 120+ scholarships; Feb 1 deadline
Illinois Students - IL Assoc'n of College Admissions Counseling; March 2 is the 2025 deadline
Illinois (Chicago Public Schools) - Wentcher Foundation; Feb 7 is the 2025 deadline
Indiana Students - grant and scholarship programs
Maine Students - and FAME
Rhode Island Student Loan Authority search
Tennessee Students - February 1 is the 2025 deadline
Washington Students - scholarship search
Transfer Students
Community College students - Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship
Oakton Community College students - Wentcher Scholarship
Phi Theta Kappa members - various awards, criteria, deadlines
Women
Center for Online Education - not limited to scholarships for online studies
Other Resources
About Scholarship Scams
With many people looking for scholarships, there is ample opportunity for people to be taken advantage of. Here are some thoughts:
- Scholarships that charge a fee are probably not valid.
- Beware of applications that collect your SSN or other sensitive information.
- Scholarships that invite you to attend a seminar may involve a “strong-armed sales pitch” for something that is not free.
- Even legitimate scholarship offers may result in you getting “slammed” with ads and unwanted emails.
Additional “Scam” Resources:
College Board
Federal Trade Commission
If you ever have a question about a scholarship offer that sounds “fishy” feel free to contact the Office of Financial Aid (finaid@lakeforest.edu, 847-735-5103).
Contact Financial Aid
Phone and Fax
847-735-5103
finaid@lakeforest.edu
Location & Hours
Patterson Lodge, 2nd Floor
Middle Campus, Map
Monday-Friday, 8:30 - 5:00
FAFSA Info
School Code: 001706
Priority Deadlines:
New students: See
“Process & Deadlines”
Returning students: May 1
FINANCIAL AID STAFF
Jerry Cebrzynski
Senior Associate Vice President for Financial Aid
847-735-5104
cebrzynski@lakeforest.edu
Mark Anderson
Associate Director
847-735-5010
anderson@lakeforest.edu
Adriana Rodriguez
Associate Director for Financial Aid Operations
VA Certifying Official
847-735-5015
rodriguez@lakeforest.edu
Si necesita hablar con alguien en español en la oficina de ayuda financiera, usted puede llamar a Adriana Rodriguez.