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Financial Assistance

International students are not eligible for federal aid and not always eligible for the same kinds of financial aid as domestic students. However, there are still several funding opportunities available for international students at Illinois State.

On-Campus Employment Opportunities

F-1 and J-1 international students can earn extra income by working on campus. For complete details, including work hour limits, please visit the On-Campus Employment section of our website.

You can view all current postings for student employment on the Human Resources website. You can also inquire in-person about employment opportunities. Some of the top locations on campus that hire student workers include the following:

Graduate Student Funding

Graduate students may be able to benefit from several funding options offered through the Graduate School, including Graduate Assistantships and tuition waivers.

Off-Campus Employment Opportunities

International students are permitted to work off-campus if the work is related to their program of study and they have prior authorization from ISSS. F-1 students who have completed one full academic year may be eligible for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and J-1 students may be eligible for Academic Training (AT). You must first obtain a job offer before requesting CPT or AT authorization from ISSS.

Cultural and legal standards for resumes and interviews can vary by country. The Career Services at Illinois State offers a variety of services for students to help build your resume, prepare for your interview, and explore your career options. They also host a variety of events throughout the year, including an internship fair, and offer an online career tool kit specifically for international students called GoinGlobal, which includes an H-1B search tool.

Severe Economic Hardship

In order to obtain a student visa, international students are required to show proof that they can fund their educational program and personal living expenses for the duration of their studies. However, if you have experienced unforeseen circumstances beyond your control that have caused severe economic hardship, then you may be eligible for additional employment authorization. 

To qualify for Severe Economic Hardship employment authorization, you must have already completed one full academic year (Fall and Spring semester) and have documented evidence of the unforeseen circumstances beyond your control, as well as evidence of your attempt to secure on-campus employment. Severe Economic Hardship is recommended by ISSS (through the creation of a new I-20 document) and authorized by USCIS. The application process can take approximately 3-5 months and requires a $410 application fee.

To apply for Severe Economic Hardship you must first meet with your ISSS Advisor. 

Emergency Funding

International students experiencing an emergency funding situation can contact various units on campus to inquire about available assistance.

Scholarships & Waivers

International students can utilize the university's ScholarshipFinder or visit the Financial Aid website to find out more about available scholarship opportunities. Several academic departments offer their own departmental scholarships or tuition waivers, and there are also a variety of off-campus scholarships available. For further guidance and details, please contact your Financial Aid counselor.

In addition, the Office of International Engagement offers a partial tuition waiver and several scholarship opportunities listed below that are available specifically for international students. Please contact Matt Schwab at mlschwa@ilstu.edu with any questions regarding these OIE funding opportunities.

  • Partial Tuition Waivers
  • I-House Merit Award
  • Lucy Jen Huang Hickrod Award
  • Betty Plummer International Studies Outstanding Senior Scholarships
  • Marilyn M. Boyd Memorial Scholarship
  • International Student Emergency Fund
  • Other Opportunities

The Office of International Engagement (OIE) at Illinois State University offers a merit-based partial tuition waiver to continuing degree-seeking undergraduate and graduate international students. The Waiver is awarded at a rate not to exceed $5,000 USD per semester to be applied to tuition only. Smaller amounts may be given based on availability of funds.

Applications for the International Student Partial Tuition Waiver are due by March 15th, 2023.

Read the full award description (including qualifications, eligibility requirements, and the application process).

This award, made available by funding from the Provost’s Office, is presented each semester to an undergraduate international student who has contributed towards the internationalization of the campus and community through involvement in International House programs.  This award is made at a rate not to exceed $1,600 USD per semester.

Applications for the International House Merit Award are due by March 15th, 2023.

Qualified applicants must:

  1. Be a full-time undergraduate international student at Illinois State University
  2. Be in good academic and disciplinary standing with the University
  3. Have contributed to the internationalization of the campus and community through active involvement in International House programs.
  4. Preference made to current residents of the International House TLLCs

Application Requirements:

  1. Complete application form.
  2. Provide a written description of contributions to international programs, the University, and the community.
  3. Students may nominate themselves or nominate others for this award.

To apply for this scholarship, please click here.

The Lucy Jen Huang Hickrod Award was established in 1987 by G. Alan Hickrod in memory of his wife Lucy Jen Huang Hickrod. The purpose is to support promising Chinese graduate students who have a record of academic excellence, outstanding career goals and financial need. Preference is for students from the People’s Republic of China. Other students of Chinese heritage may also be considered.

Applications for the Lucy Jen Huang Hickrod Award are due by March 15th, 2023.

Qualifications:
  1. Be a full-time graduate Chinese student at Illinois State University
  2. Be in good academic standing at the University

Application Requirements:

  1. Complete application form
  2. Description of the following:
    1. Areas of academic excellence
    2. Career goals
    3. Financial need
  3. Two faculty/staff recommendations

To apply for this scholarship, please click here.

Betty and Mark Plummer established The Betty Plummer Outstanding Senior Scholarship in 1998 to honor international students at Illinois State University who show an outstanding commitment to international programs while enrolled as ISU students and demonstrate promise in their post-graduation plans. The Plummers intend that the money received from this annual scholarship assist graduating undergraduate international students in successfully adjusting to the next phase of their lives. Betty Plummer received a Master’s degree in English from Illinois State in 1969, then taught freshman English for two years. Betty also spent some time overseas in Germany and Taiwan. In 1978 Betty was in charge of Foreign Admissions at Illinois State and three years later was made Coordinator of Foreign Student and Scholar Services. She was in this position for 13 years until her retirement in 1994. Betty felt that everything really came together for her with time spent overseas and in her positions at the University. She enjoyed her work with international students and especially with the establishment of the first exchange program of any American university with China – a program with the Foreign Languages Publishing and Distribution Administration. Betty received the Distinguished Administrative-Professional Award from the University in 1994 for her work with international students and with people inside and outside the university. Betty currently lives in Bloomington, Illinois with her husband, Mark.

Applications for the Betty Plummer Outstanding Senior Scholarship are currently closed.

Qualifications:
  1. Student must have Senior standing at Illinois State University
  2. Student must be graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree during the current academic year
  3. Student has proven contribution to international programs and compelling post-graduation plans (graduate school, service to home country, etc.)

Application Requirements:

  1. Complete application form
  2. Description of the following:
    1. Areas of academic excellence
    2. Participation in the international life of the campus and community
    3. Post-graduation school or service/career goals
  3. Two faculty/staff recommendations

To apply for this scholarship, please click here.

The Marilyn M. Boyd Memorial Scholarship was established to continue Marilyn Boyd’s (Coordinator of the International House Program from 1982 to 2006) legacy of international education and to support students who participate in the International House Program. This annual scholarship is given to an outstanding undergraduate international student who might not otherwise be able to attend Illinois State.  

Applications for the Marilyn M. Boyd Memorial Scholarship are currently closed.

Preference will be given to students students residing in the I-House TLLCS floors and from developing countries worldwide or emerging nations of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Qualifications:
  1. Student must be enrolled as an undergraduate international student.
  2. Student must be in good academic and disciplinary standing.
  3. Student must have a minimum 3.0 GPA at time of award.
  4. Student must be able to clearly demonstrate financial need.

Application Requirements:

  1. Complete application form
  2. Description of the following:
    1. Areas of academic excellence
    2. Participation in international programs and organizations at Illinois State University.
    3. Financial need
  3. A 1000 word essay on the topic of Peace Education.

To apply for this scholarship, please click here.

The Graduate School and the Office of International Engagement offer emergency grant funds (subject to availability and application approval) in the form of a partial tuition waiver of up to $3,000 for international students who are unable to make full payment of their tuition due to the following three reasons:

  1. War, violence, or political unrest that destabilize the business and economy of your home country;
  2. Recorded natural disaster that significantly damaged the business and economy of the area of your origin;
  3. The death and/or severe illness of the financial provider as shown on the financial documents submitted as supporting material for the I-20/DS-2019 process.

Emergency fund applications for the Fall 2022 Semester are currently closed.

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