May 1, 2018

Mayor Emanuel and City Colleges of Chicago Celebrate Second Graduating Class of Star Scholars

Star Scholars have earned more than $2.6 million in scholarship offers from partner institutions to transfer on to earn a four-year degree since the program launched in 2014

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Mayor Rahm Emanuel and City Colleges of Chicago Chancellor Juan Salgado today will celebrate the more than 600 students expected to graduate from City Colleges as part of the Star Scholarship program. Now in its third year, the Chicago Star Scholarship has helped more than 4,500 CPS graduates – representing more than 75 zip codes and more than 200 high schools citywide – to enroll in college at no cost.

“We created the Star Scholarship to open more doors of opportunity and help the hardworking students of Chicago access a college education no matter their financial means or background,” said Mayor Emanuel. “I am incredibly inspired by the thousands of students working to earn a college education so they can go on to achieve the successful futures they deserve.”

To date, Star Scholars have been earned more than $2.6 million in scholarship offers from the more than twenty four-year college and university transfer partners. 260 Star Scholars who graduated from the Chicago Public Schools in 2015 have already transferred to four-year colleges and universities, including: DePaul University, Dominican University, Governors State University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Loyola University, National Louis University, Northwestern University, North Park University, Roosevelt University and the University of Illinois at Chicago. View the progress report.

“The smart choice our students make in attending City Colleges before transferring on to a bachelor’s degree is typified by Star Scholars who save tens of thousands of dollars while finding their footing through our small classes, guided pathways, and robust student supports,” said Chancellor Salgado. “I want to thank our corporate and four-year college partners that have stepped up with additional resources to ensure our Stars can continue on their college journey after CCC.”

Students in the Star Scholarship program are projected to graduate at a rate double the national average for first-time, full-time students at two-year public institutions, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

To ensure more students can access a viable pathway to college regardless of financial means, Mayor Rahm Emanuel created the Star Scholarship in 2014, rewarding hard-working CPS students with an opportunity to pursue a degree or certificate at City Colleges at no cost. Now more than two-thirds of Star Scholars are Latino, and 62% are female. This program is open to undocumented students as well as to students attending CPS charter schools.

The program has expanded with the support and partnership from 21 Chicagoland colleges and universities that provide transfer scholarships for eligible Star students to continue progress toward college and career goals under the Chicago Star Partnership. Each of these partners has committed to creating an opportunity that will allow Star Scholars to continue their college education. These packages range in monetary value between $2,500 and nearly $50,000 each year and include advising and transition supports.

“For me and many other students, the Chicago Star Scholarship gave me the chance to go to college without debt and without being a financial burden to my family,” said Vicky Mejia, a Star Scholar at Wright College who will be attending Dominican University in the fall. “Not only am I heading to a four year school with no debt, I’m doing so prepared and confident.”

The Star Transfer Partners are: Columbia College, DePaul University, Dominican University, Governors State University, Illinois Institute of Technology, Illinois State University, Kendall College, Loyola University, Marquette University, National Louis University, North Park University, Northeastern Illinois University, Northwestern University, Robert Morris University, Roosevelt University, Saint Xavier University, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the newest Star partner, Elmhurst College.

The CME Group supports the Star Scholar initiative as its first corporate partner through $5,000 scholarships ($2,500 per year for two years) to 25 students annually who are continuing their studies to earn a four-year degree in math, computer science, finance or economics.

To become a Star Scholar, CPS students must meet specific criteria to be selected for the Star Scholarship at City Colleges of Chicago. These students must graduate with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, they must demonstrate that they are nearly college ready, and they must enroll in one of CCC’s structured, relevant pathways. Students meeting these criteria will be offered waivers for all tuition and books for up to three years at City Colleges of Chicago.

For more information about the Chicago Star Scholarship at City Colleges of Chicago, visit: www.ccc.edu/starscholarship.

About City Colleges of Chicago
City Colleges of Chicago prepares 80,000 students annually for further college and careers. CCC encompasses seven colleges and five satellite sites city-wide. The City Colleges of Chicago includes seven colleges: Richard J. Daley College, Kennedy-King College, Malcolm X College, Olive-Harvey College, Harry S Truman College, Wilbur Wright College and Harold Washington College. For more information about City Colleges of Chicago, or for registration information, call (773) COLLEGE or visit www.ccc.edu.