Frequently Asked Questions

Hope Chicago is a scholarship-focused economic mobility initiative providing two generations of thousands of Chicago families - students and their parents/guardians -  with the support they need to obtain credentials of value at little to no cost. Hope Chicago is differentiated by the following program offerings:

Unmatched student investment - Hope Chicago provides sizable and renewable financial scholarships to every student to cover tuition, room and board, books, fees and surcharges each academic year in the program. Hope Scholars also receive a laptop and a small annual stipend to cover any other necessities. In case of an emergency or unexpected barriers, scholars can apply for additional funds to help them stay on track.

Two-generation model - Hope provides scholarship assistance and other resources to one parent/guardian of graduating seniors at our Hope partner schools to pursue a postsecondary education pathway.

Open to all students regardless of GPA - Unlike most other scholarship programs, Hope Scholars at any high school GPA level can participate in the program.

Inclusive of more postsecondary paths- Hope Chicago broadly defines postsecondary pathways and these include 4-year colleges and universities, 2-year colleges, vocational programs, and professional certifications.

Wraparound support to get scholars to the finish line - As a part of the Hope Chicago scholarship, students will receive wraparound support, including, but not limited, to academic and financial advising, career exploration assistance, mentoring, tutoring, workshops, and a consistent number of touchpoints from designated support staff associated with the Hope Chicago program at each campus of our in-network institutions.

Research-based program model - Hope Chicago’s program design was informed by the success of many promise programs across the country and decades of research on improving college access and persistence. To date, the recorded outcomes of Hope Chicago families have demonstrated that Hope Chicago’s iterative approach moves the needle to transform postsecondary outcomes for low-income, first-generation families. 

Hope Chicago focuses our work on communities in Chicago where increased postsecondary success will have significant positive impact, and we work with high schools in those communities.

Any student who met/meets the following criteria was/is initially eligible to be a Hope Scholar:

• Class of 2022-2025 graduates who attended one of Hope Chicago’s five partner high schools (Benito Juárez Community Academy, Al Raby School for Community and Environment, Morgan Park High School, Noble Johnson College Prep, and Farragut Career Academy) for both 11th and 12th grade at the partner school.

• Currently-enrolled 12th-grade student (Class of 2026) at one of the five Hope Chicago partner high schools who has been enrolled at that partner high school before the 20th day of their junior year.

• Graduate from one of the Hope Chicago partner high schools;  

• Complete the FAFSA or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid; and 

• Enroll (and stay enrolled) in a postsecondary PATHWAY approved by Hope Chicago, which include 2-year and 4-year nonprofit colleges or universities, trade, certificate and/or apprenticeship programs. 

We absolutely want to extend this opportunity to future high school classes beyond 2026. That’s the vision of Hope Chicago. It depends on continued fundraising and the support of partners across Chicago. The encouraging results we’re already seeing are helping us build momentum, and we’re always working to bring more supporters into this mission so we can sustain and grow it.

Yes. Currently, Hope Chicago is only open to Chicago Public School students in one of our five Hope Chicago partner high schools.

Students and their families at Hope Chicago’s partner high schools can learn more by talking to their school administrator and/or counselor and by visiting www.hopechicago.org.

Hope Chicago is partnered with five South and West Side Chicago community high schools.

Those schools include:

Benito Juárez Community Academy (Pilsen)

Farragut Career Academy (Little Village)

Noble - Johnson College Prep (Englewood)

Al Raby School for Community and Environment (Garfield Park)

Morgan Park High School (Morgan Park)

For the class of 2026, Hope Chicago’s scholarship offers Hope Scholars up to $12,000 annually for the cost of attending a postsecondary program. The awards can be used to cover tuition, room and board, books, and fees, in addition to any financial aid for which the student qualifies. Hope Scholars also receive a laptop and a small annual stipend to cover any other necessities. Lastly, in case of an emergency or unexpected barriers, scholars can apply for additional funds to help them stay on track.

Students are eligible to receive their “gap-closing” award to help pay for the cost of tuition, room and board, books and fees at any of Hope Chicago’s in-network higher education options, including Illinois public 4-year colleges and the 2-year City Colleges of Chicago, some private colleges, as well as vocational/professional schools. Each partner institution will provide a designated campus support person who will share responsibility for ensuring all Hope Scholars are accessing on-campus services and making satisfactory progress towards degree completion.

Scholars must make adequate progress toward completion of their postsecondary program in order to renew their scholarship each year. Scholars meeting those standards will receive support for up to four years to obtain their desired postsecondary degree(s). Continued support for additional terms beyond 4 years is possible within the program, but it depends on factors such as credit attainment rate, program of study, and other circumstances.

You can make an online donation at hopechicago.org/donate. To make a gift of stock or an ACH or wire transfer, please email givehope@hopechicago.org

All donations are tax-deductible and will go to provide direct scholarships and wraparound support for Hope Scholars.