Harper College

Scholarship Information

The Harper community is dedicated to you.
Alumni, faculty, staff and community leaders and organizations have donated millions of dollars to make sure nothing holds you back from succeeding at Harper. In fact, 12,167 students were awarded $39,174,733 in scholarships, grants and tuition waivers through Harper College in 2024-2025. Scholarships are gift aid that is typically based on merit, such as, academic excellence, talent, affiliation with various groups, or career aspirations or a combination of merit and need.

IMPORTANT SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINES

  • DISTINGUISHED TRUSTEE SCHOLARSHIP APPLY NOW. Deadline is March 16, 2026
  • ACADEMIC RECOGNITION SCHOLARSHIP APPLY NOW. Deadline is April 30, 2026

Donor sponsored scholarships

Created by donors who believe in your future. By completing one General Scholarship Application, you will automatically be considered for the majority of donor-sponsored scholarships available to Harper College students.

Important Dates for Donor Sponsored Scholarships

We have a rolling scholarship application, but the preference is given to students who apply by the priority deadline.

  • Application opens: February 16, 2026.  Scholarships open Feb. 16 for Fall and/or Spring semester for the next academic year. Submit your application at our Donor Sponsored Scholarships Application
  • Priority Deadlines:
    • New Students: The priority application deadline for new students is Friday, May 1, 2026.
    • Current Students: The priority application deadline for current students is Friday, March 20, 2026.

View scholarship eligibility, frequently asked questions, and requirements at our website: Harper College Educational Foundation Donor Sponsored Scholarships

Harper College institutional scholarships

Harper is providing some of the most generous tuition relief programs in our history.

These scholarships recognize students who exhibit academic excellence, artistic talent, strong leadership skills or service to their communities. These scholarship programs may pay for part or all of your first two years of college. View deadlines and special application information.

Scholarships (external) offered by community organizations

Awarded to students by community organizations, workplaces, faith institutions, local businesses and others. Students must apply for these scholarships individually and they are awarded by the scholarship sponsors. These scholarships are open all year long. View the many opportunities and applicable deadlines.

Private scholarship donors

As a private scholarship donor, please complete the Private Scholarship Funder Form for the applicable academic year.

Completing this required form provides valuable information to ensure the scholarship funds are applied to the selected student's account in an accurate and timely manner. The Private Scholarship Funder Form may be downloaded by clicking the link below.

  • Fall 2025 thru Summer 2026*: For scholarships to be awarded for Fall 2025, Spring 2026 or Summer 2026, please fill out and submit the 2025-26 form.

    *Note: If any portion of the scholarship must be returned to the donor, Harper College requires an IRS W-9 Form be completed by the donor so that we may return these funds.

Please submit the private scholarship check and the Private Scholarship Funder Form to:

Harper College Business Office
Building A, Room A214
1200 West Algonquin Road
Palatine, Illinois 60067

Other resources

Unfortunately, there are some companies that offer scholarship search services without the best interests of students in mind. The Federal Trade Commission has prepared resources to protect consumers against scholarship scam services. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Federal Trade Commission
Information about scholarship scams and the six warning signs.

Guidelines on how consumers can file a scholarship scam complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.

Scholarship tips

TIP#1 Everyone should apply for scholarships! Don’t count yourself out.
TIP#2 Scholarships are awarded to people from all ages and backgrounds.
TIP#3 Deadlines vary by scholarship. Mark your calendars.
TIP#4 Scholarships can cover various costs such as tuition/fees, books, living expenses, transportation and dependent care.
TIP#5 More than 50% of Harper scholarships are awarded to those who’ve been out of the classroom for a while.

Explore Financial Aid and Scholarships

Last Updated: 1/13/26