Scholarships

Supporting Achievement

The Illinois CPA Society has dozens of scholarships that you may be eligible for. The CPA Endowment Fund of Illinois has raised funds from Illinois CPA Society members and their firms and organizations to support these programs because they are so dedicated to helping you – the future of the CPA profession. All of the scholarship programs support students who are studying accounting and planning to become a CPA. Candidates must demonstrate a course of study which reflects a goal to sit for the CPA exam in Illinois.

Below is a brief summary of the scholarship programs and their eligibility requirements. For more details on eligibility and application materials click on the scholarship title. Keep in mind that you may be qualified to apply for more than one scholarship, and the application processes vary, so be sure to review them closely.

Illinois CPA Society Accounting Scholarship Programs

Illinois CPA Society Accounting Scholarship Program
Multiple scholarships, up to $2,000 each.

Eligibility:

Be a US citizen, permanently residing in Illinois and enrolled in an Illinois college or university as a senior or graduate student

Have 3.0/4.0 GPA or equivalent

Plan to sit for the CPA Examination in Illinois within three years of application date, and demonstrate a course of study that reflects this goal.

Illinois CPA Society Advancing Women in Accounting Scholarship
Multiple scholarships, up to $4,000 each.

Eligibility:

Be a woman, US citizen permanently residing in Illinois and enrolled in an Illinois college or university as a senior or graduate student

Have a 3.0/4.0 GPA or equivalent

Plan to sit for the CPA Exam in Illinois within three years of application date and demonstrate a course of study that reflects this goal.

Demonstrate leadership potential

Herman J. Neal Scholarship Program
Multiple scholarships, up to $4,000 each.

Eligibility:

Be an African-American, U.S. citizen permanently residing in Illinois

Be enrolled in an Illinois college or university as a junior, senior, or graduate student

Have a 3.0/4.0 GPA or equivalent

Plan to sit for the CPA Examination in Illinois and demonstrate a course of study that reflects that goal.

CPA Exam Award Program
Awards for up to $823 each for reimbursement of NASBA fee

Eligibility:

Maintain a current or final cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0 GPA or equivalent

Not reimbursed for CPA Exam fees by employer

Be pre-approved to test by the Illinois Board of Examiners and agree to sit for at least one part within 6 months of the date on the application approval letter from the Board of Examiners

Be a US citizen and permanent Illinois Resident

Complete all four parts of the exam within18 months of being approved to sit by the Illinois Board of Examiners

Book Scholarships
Multiple scholarships, up to $500 each

Eligibility:

Be a US citizen and permanent Illinois Resident

Be an Accounting major

Have a 3.0/4.0 GPA or equivalent

University-Based Scholarship Programs

Arthur R. Wyatt Accounting Scholarship Program
One scholarship for up to $4,000

Eligibility:

Be a student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Be enrolled as a post-baccalaureate student

Demonstrate dedication to becoming a CPA and follow in Professor Wyatt's esteemed footsteps

Demonstrate some financial need

*For more information on this scholarship, visit the UIUC website or contact the Department of Accounting at 217.333.3688.

Success Through Scholarship Program
Needles/Snow/Wish Accounting Education Fund

Eligibility:

Be a student at DePaul University

Be enrolled as accounting or intended accounting major as a sophomore and entering the junior year or declared accounting major junior entering their senior year with the intention of taking the CPA exam

*For more information on this scholarship, contact Tim Lockyer at DePaul, 312.362.5379.

Kenneth J. Hull and Jacqueline M. Hull/Illinois CPA Society Accounting Scholarship Program

Eligibility:

Be a student at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Be a freshman through senior, demonstrating interest in joining the accounting profession

*For more information on this scholarship, contact the Department of Accountancy at Southern Illinois at 618.453.2289.

Other Accounting & Business Scholarships