Eligibility
You must have a master’s degree in social work and a valid Illinois clinical social work license or social work license.
Learn moreProgram Details
The School Social Work Scholarship Program was designed to encourage students to work as social workers in Illinois schools.
For Students & Parents
To be eligible, you must:
- be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen who meets the eligibility requirements to complete the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid. Any program that requires the FAFSA will also accept the Alternative Application.
- have a valid Illinois clinical social work license or social work license
- have obtained a master’s degree in social work from an approved program
- take courses to obtain an Illinois Professional Educator License with an Endorsement in School Social Work
- be enrolled or be accepted for enrollment, and remain continuously enrolled, for at least three credit hours, at an Illinois public university that offers post-master social work courses leading to an Illinois Professional Educator License with an Endorsement in School Social Work
- maintain good academic standing as required by your college
- not be in default on any student loan, nor owe a refund on any state or federal grant (if you are in default, you may reestablish your eligibility)
If you receive this scholarship, you must work as a social worker at an Illinois school within a year of graduating. This can be a nonprofit public, private or parochial preschool, elementary or secondary school. You’re required to work as a social worker for two years for every year or partial year you received the scholarship, and you must complete this work within five years after graduating. If you do not fulfill this commitment, the amount of funds received will turn into a loan, and you must repay the entire amount plus interest.
- Create a profile in the ISAC Application Portal.
- Complete and submit the Social Work Scholarship application in the portal before October 31, 2025 for priority consideration.
- Your application is not complete until ISAC has received your WORK AGREEMENT/PROMISSORY NOTE. By signing this document, you promise to fulfill the work requirement if you accept the scholarship. You can sign the document online in your application. You can also print and send the signed document to ISAC through the mail.
- You will get a confirmation email when ISAC receives your application. Applications may take up to 12 weeks to process.
- If your application is incomplete, ISAC will contact you to provide any missing information.
For the 2025-26 academic year, priority consideration will be given to applicants who apply by October 31, 2025.
ISAC awards up to 250 scholarships each year depending on the funds available.
Applicant FAQs
Common questions are addressed in the Applicant FAQs. If you have other questions, contact an ISAC Student Engagement Representative by calling 800.899.ISAC (4722) or send an email to [email protected].
For Partners & Professionals
The 2027 fiscal year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027) lump-sum appropriation for the Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License Scholarship and School and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment programs is $2,000,000.
Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License Scholarship Program: Part 2747 - Administrative Rules
Please review the eligibility, work commitment, how to apply, dates and timelines, award amounts, and definitions sections for additional program information.
2025-26
Awarding for the 2025-26 Social Work Program began in mid-October 2025 for applicants who were certified as eligible.
The priority deadline for summer term is July 1, 2026.
After ISAC determines that applicants meet the criteria to receive the Social Work Scholarship, institutions must certify their eligibility through the Gap access portal. Learn more about the certification process in the USER GUIDE.
ISAC awards up to 250 Social Work Scholarships each year depending on the funds available.
- ISAC begins the awarding process after colleges certify that applicants are eligible to receive funds.
- Once applicants are awarded funds, institutions will request payment of the scholarship each term. Colleges may submit claims beginning 10 days before the start of the term for which the payment is being requested. For 2025-26 Social Work Scholarships, priority payment request deadline dates are the following:
- Fall semester/quarter: December 31, 2025
- Spring semester/quarter: March 30, 2026
- Summer term/quarter: July 1, 2026
Claims submitted after a term’s priority claim deadline date will be paid only if funds remain after all timely claims have been paid.
- ISAC then authorizes a voucher in the amount of the payment invoice and submits it to the State Comptroller's Office, which issues a payment to the institution.
- Funds are disbursed in multiple installments to the college on behalf of the student. For full-year awards, including the summer term, semester schools receive three disbursements. Multiple disbursements are not required when the recipient’s eligibility is not determined until the final term of the award year in which the scholarship is being awarded.
Depending on the college's financial aid system, students may be responsible for making payments until their college receives the program funds.
- School Social Work User Guide
- Administrative Rules
- GAP Access Processes
- Assigning an Administrator in GAP Access
- Studentaid.gov page defining eligible noncitizen
- ISAC Rise Act
- Payment Offset and Reconciliation
- Refunds and Unpaid Claims