Illinois State MBA Scholarships & Awards

Graduate Assistantships

The Illinois State MBA Program offers a graduate assistantship (GA) to a select group of high-achieving students. Graduate assistantships are university appointments that give students an opportunity to work with faculty members and provide a method of funding graduate studies. They are an excellent opportunity for gaining experience and academic growth in the College of Business. A GA position comes with a full tuition waiver and a monthly stipend.

If you want to be considered for a graduate assistantship (GA) position you should plan to secure admission to the MBA program and complete a GA application by the following:

For fall admission: March 1
For spring admission: October 1

Review current GA postings and apply for positions.
Make sure you select:

• Type of Position- Graduate Assistant
• Department - Master of Business Administration

Other assistantships are available throughout the University in such areas as residential life, Milner Library, International Studies, Dean of Students, Registrar's office, and computer labs. You will increase your chances for selection by applying to as many positions that you qualify for.

Scholarships and Fellowships

Endowed scholarships and fellowships are awarded competitively by the Graduate School in fall and spring semesters to students meeting specific educational criteria. Learn more at: https://grad.illinoisstate.edu/funding/fellowships/

Academic Talent Tuition Waivers

Each semester a limited number of academic talent tuition waivers are awarded on a competitive basis by the MBA program to students who show promise for success and who have not received any other award funding tuition costs. These awards cover all or part of the tuition, but students are responsible for fees. Interested students should fill out a graduate tuition waiver and submit it to the MBA program prior to each term they are interested in funding. https://grad.illinoisstate.edu/downloads/tuition_wavers/graduatetuitionwaiver.pdf

Diversity Tuition Waiver

In an effort to support students from traditionally underrepresented groups, the Graduate School offers a limited number of diversity tuition waivers to U.S. citizens from traditionally underrepresented groups. Awards are based on the availability of funds, financial need, and on a holistic evaluation of how their experience and perspective as a member of an underrepresented group has resulted in and/or is expected to result in unique contributions to their respective graduate program, academic discipline, and overall campus community. These waivers may be received in addition to most other types of financial assistance.

Deadlines:

• Fall: July 1
• Spring: October 1
• Summer: March 1

International Graduate Tuition Waivers

The Office of International Studies and Programs offers partial tuition waivers to international students at Illinois State. Awards are given both to incoming students (see Global Outreach Scholarship) and continuing students (see Partial Tuition Waivers). Awards are given based on availability of funds and student merit.

Veterans

Veteran Services helps to aid the University by providing assistance to all student-veterans at Illinois State University. For more information please visit their website at: https://veterans.illinoisstate.edu/

MBA Outstanding MBA Student Awards

To qualify a student must:

• Be currently enrolled in the traditional MBA Program
• Be completing the program during the current calendar year
• Have an established cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher
• Provide a current résumé
• Provide letter(s) of support noting community/university service and special academic or professional achievements while enrolled in the Illinois State MBA
• Complete and submit the Outstanding MBA Student Award Application and supporting documents

MBA Distinguished Student Leadership Award

To qualify a student must:

• Be currently enrolled in the traditional MBA Program
• Be completing the program during the current calendar year
• Have an established cumulative GPA of 3.6 or higher
• Have demonstrated a strong leadership quality in the areas of business sustainability, environmentalism, corporate social responsibility, ethics, and/or other social impact issues through academic, professional, community, and/or university activities while enrolled in the Illinois State MBA Program
• Provide a current résumé
• Provide two letters of support, one of which must acknowledge above mentioned leadership qualities
• Complete and submit the MBA Distinguished Student Leadership Award Application and supporting documents

Award recipients and their guests will be invited to attend the MBA Recognition Program traditionally held in April each year.

Outstanding MBA Faculty Award

Each year, a graduate faculty member who has taught an MBA course over the past year is recognized with an Outstanding MBA Faculty Award. The MBA Association conducts the election, which consists of two rounds of voting currently enrolled by MBA students.

The selected Outstanding MBA Professor will be recognized at the Annual MBA Recognition Program held in April and have his/her name engraved on the perpetual wall plaque in the MBA Office. Additionally the award recipient will receive a personal plaque and a monetary award.

Recipients for the following endowed scholarships are selected each Fall term

Robert Crowell MBA Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship is provided through a generous endowment gift from 1995 MBA alum, Mr. Robert Crowell.

The selected recipient(s) of this scholarship will receive a monetary award of no less than $750 which can be used toward future tuition and fees. Each awardee will have their name engraved on a wall plaque displayed in the MBA Office. A student selected to receive this scholarship, along with other MBA award recipients, will be recognized at the Annual MBA Student Recognition Ceremony in April.

Qualified students are strongly encouraged to apply for this scholarship.

Application Deadline: November 15th

Candidate Qualifications

1. GPA of 3.5 or better. An Incoming Student should have at least a 3.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 hours of undergraduate academic coursework and a GMAT score of at least 550. A Continuing Student should have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above for all MBA coursework
2. Submit a 250-word essay describing:
   • Applicant's background
   • Career goals
   • How the scholarship will impact applicant's future and career goals
3. Provide two (2) letters of recommendation
4. Provide a current resume
5. Preference is given to students with a minimum of three years full-time post undergraduate work experience

Only students in the traditional on-campus MBA Program qualify to be considered for this scholarship. Award must be used in the current academic year, recipient may choose to have funds applied to the current Fall term or the upcoming Spring or Summer terms. Students who already have full tuition waiver privileges through a graduate assistantship or other financial assistance programs, do not qualify for this scholarship.

Catherine Chaplais MBA Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship is provided through an endowment gift from 1988 alum, Ms. Catherine Chaplais.

The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial assistance to graduate students enrolled in the Illinois State MBA program meeting the following criteria:

• Be currently enrolled in the traditional MBA Program in academic good standing expecting to complete the program in the current academic year - recipient may choose to have the funds applied to the current Fall term or the upcoming Spring or Summer terms.
• Have an established cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher
• Have demonstrated dedication and achievement in the areas of social responsibility, ethics, and/or other social impact issues through academic, professional, community and/or university activities while enrolled in the Illinois State MBA Program
• Preference is given to female students

Applicants for this award should complete the application form and provide:

1. a current resume
2. one or more letters of support highlighting his/her social responsibility achievements
3. a personal essay describing his/her act(s) of giving and the impact it had in the community

Application Deadline: November 15th

Thomas Byker MBA Endowed Scholarship

This scholarship is provided through the generous endowment gift from Thomas Byker, MBA '76.

The purpose of this scholarship is to provide financial assistance to a fulltime Traditional MBA student who meets the following criteria:

• Student must be enrolled full-time in the Traditional Master of Business Administration program.
• Student must be in good academic standing.
• Student must be a resident of Illinois, Wisconsin, Georgia, or Florida.

The scholarship will be automatically renewable for a second year provided the awardee continues to meet all criteria.

Qualified candidates will have the opportunity to apply for this scholarship in summer 2023, with an award term of fall 2023.

Tanyi Family MBA Scholarship

The purpose of the Tanyi Family MBA Scholarship is to encourage and reward international students in the MBA program.

Paul Ntaka Tanyi moved to Bloomington‐Normal from Cameroon, Africa in 2004 to begin the MBA program. Even though Mr. Tanyi did not know a single person living in the area, he chose Illinois State University because of this initial welcoming experience. Mr. Tanyi so enjoyed his years at ISU that, with encouragement from his professors, he decided to continue his education and earn his Master of Accountancy. In honor of his exceptional academic experience at ISU, he decided to create a Master of Business Administration scholarship for students who may share a similar story.

Provide financial assistance for students meeting the following criteria:

• Student must be enrolled in the MBA program
• Student must be at a grade level of: Graduate
• Scholarships will be awarded for the following term: one‐time award
• Preference to international students

Rebecca Hines Back-a-Bird Scholarship

Illinois State University provides a variety of opportunities for students to learn about community needs and reflect upon the impact of civic action. These experiences are desicommunity needs and reflect upon the impact of civic action. These experiences are designed to meet the varying needs of college students through campus speakers and partnerships with agencies, governmental bodies, and school districts. This is the purpose of the Rebecca Hines Scholarship, to encourage a student to excel academically to achieve career goals, while simultaneously understanding the importance of strengthening community through volunteering and leadership.

Students must meet the following criteria:

• Student must be enrolled in good standing in the MBA Program at Illinois State University
• Scholarships will be awarded for the following term: two-year renewable annual award
• Student must provide a personal statement of 300 words or less demonstrating civic and/or community involvement