Illinois Students Get $1,000 Scholarship Window

Illinois students with an Illinois connection can apply for a $1,000 Gold Star Mission award through February 1, 2027, with no military affiliation required.

Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Scholarships

Illinois Students Get $1,000 Scholarship Window

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Gold Star Mission opened its 2027 scholarship application period on November 1, 2026, offering $1,000 awards to students with an Illinois connection. Applications close February 1, 2027, and recipients will be recognized in March 2027.

Why it matters

The program gives Illinois students a direct source of funds for tuition, textbooks, fees, and other qualifying expenses, and each award honors an Illinois service member killed in the line of duty. Applicants do not need a military affiliation to qualify, which widens the pool beyond families with service ties.

Each scholarship is $1,000 and is open to students with an Illinois connection, with no military affiliation required. Applications are accepted online only and close February 1, 2027.

The players

Gold Star Mission

An Illinois-based nonprofit founded by Illinois National Guard members in 2017 that awards $1,000 scholarships to students with an Illinois connection.

The details

Once the application period opens, applicants select the "Complete Online" button to begin. Before submitting, they review the eligibility requirements at goldstarmission.org/Scholarship.php. Awarded funds may be applied to tuition, textbooks, school fees, on-campus room and board, approved educational tutoring, and other qualifying educational expenses.

2017: Gold Star Mission launched its scholarship program.
November 1, 2026: The 2027 application period opens.
February 1, 2027: The 2027 application period closes.
March 2027: Scholarship recipients will be recognized.

Education Landscape

Privately funded, need-agnostic awards like this one add a smaller source of support alongside state and federal aid. Gold Star Mission's cumulative $350,000 in awards since 2017 shows how a single nonprofit can build a steady scholarship record over time.

Illinois students planning for the 2027 school year should note the February 1, 2027 deadline and gather any documents the application requires. Students who want to know how a $1,000 award would fit with their financial aid package can ask their school's financial-aid office.

The takeaway

Illinois students with an Illinois connection can apply for a $1,000 Gold Star Mission scholarship through February 1, 2027. Applications are online only, so start early and confirm eligibility before the deadline.