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One Free Place Per County — the U of I Children of Veterans Scholarship

Undergraduate study at the University of Illinois without tuition charge, for at least four consecutive years, for the child of a veteran of the First or Second World War, Korea, Vietnam, or service on or after 2 August 1990. It is allocated by county, so the field you are competing in is your county rather than the state. Preference goes to children of deceased and disabled veterans.

Verified August 27, 2026

What this benefit is

Undergraduate study at the University of Illinois without tuition charge, for at least four consecutive years, for the child of a veteran of the First or Second World War, Korea, Vietnam, or service on or after 2 August 1990. It is allocated by county, so the field you are competing in is your county rather than the state. Preference goes to children of deceased and disabled veterans.

What it's worth: Undergraduate tuition at the University of Illinois, for at least four consecutive years

  • It is undergraduate study at the University of Illinois WITHOUT TUITION CHARGE, for a term of at least four consecutive years.
  • Qualifying parental service is the First or Second World War, Korea, the Vietnam Conflict, or service on or after 2 August 1990 — the Southwest Asia Service Medal era.
  • It is allocated BY COUNTY. You are competing within your county rather than statewide, which changes the odds enormously depending on where you live.
  • Preference goes to children of DECEASED and DISABLED veterans, but a disability is not required to apply.
  • It is administered by the University of Illinois financial aid office, not by the veterans department.

Who is entitled to it

  • You are the veteran's child.
  • The parent served during a qualifying period.
  • You are in Illinois.

Not sure whether that describes you?

Answer a few questions about this benefit specifically — we only ask what this one actually depends on, and we stop as soon as we know.

How to claim it

Deadline: Set by the University of Illinois
  1. 1Apply to the University of Illinois Financial Aid Office directly. This one is the university's, not the veterans department's.
  2. 2Find out how many places your county has and how many people apply. The allocation is by county and that is the whole competitive picture.
  3. 3Apply even if your parent has no disability. Preference goes to children of deceased and disabled veterans, but it is a preference, not a gate.
  4. 4Check your parent's service dates against the qualifying conflicts — including service on or after 2 August 1990.
Form
Application to the University of Illinois Financial Aid Office
File with
University of Illinois Financial Aid Office
Documents you will need
dd214
Annual
Claimed once a year.

Sources

This finder provides an informational match, not a government eligibility determination. The responsible agency decides your application.