Mayor Rahm Emanuel, University of Illinois at Chicago Chancellor Michael Amiridis and City Colleges Chancellor Cheryl Hyman on Tuesday announced a new tuition award that will enable Chicago Public Schools (CPS) graduates to pursue further education at significantly lower costs through eligibility for the new UIC Star Scholar Award, a UIC-funded education award, for two years. This new program will allow hard-working students $2,500 per year in additional tuition per year for two years support to access a bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago following graduation from City Colleges.

In its inaugural year, the Chicago Star Scholarship has enabled more than 800 Chicago Public School (CPS) graduates to pursue their Associate’s Degree and other credentials from City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) free-of-charge. Building on City efforts to remove financial obstacles to earning a college degree, students will now be eligible for the new UIC Star Scholar Award, a UIC-funded $2,500 per year education award, for two years. UIC and CCC will also work to identify the best pathways to two- and ultimately four-year degree completion.