Students demonstrating excellence in the arts will be selected to receive $2,000 tuition scholarship toward the completion of an associate of applied science degree at Southwestern Illinois College.

General Scholarship Requirements

1. File a 2026-2027 FAFSA or Illinois Alternative Application for Financial Aid listing Southwestern Illinois College (SWIC School Code: 001636) and complete all required checklist items.
2. Submit a scholarship application by August 1, 2026
3. Be a degree or certificate seeking student.
4. Enroll in at least 12 credit hours per term.  
5. Maintain a 67% cumulative completion rate and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher.
6. Demonstrate excellence in art, music or theatre by meeting established criteria and providing all application materials for each area.  

Scholarship Award Details

Fall 2026: $500 Spring 2027: $500
Fall 2027: $500 Spring 2028: $500

How to Apply

1. Complete the FAFSA or Illinois Alternative Application for Financial Aid and all assigned follow up items.

2. Log into your eSTORM Student Center and select the Forms and Resources tile.

3. Navigate to the SWIC Arts Scholarship Form in Financial Aid Forms to complete the application.  Instructions will be provided for submitting additional scholarship materials.

Art Applicants

• Submit a portfolio of work containing 8-10 images of the student’s art work.
• Write a 100–300 word student artist statement of interest that describe your choice of art and why you chose it and your interest in SWIC art.
• Maintain enrollment in one ART course every Fall and Spring semester (total of at least 4 courses).

Music Applicants

• Submit a short video (less than 5 minutes) of your current skills in music.
• Provide at least one letter of recommendation or a survey completed by a music teacher (i.e. high school teacher or private voice/instrument teacher).
• Maintain enrollment in one Music course every Fall and Spring semester (total of at least 4 courses).

Theatre Applicants

• Have a minimum of 2 years of experience in your high school theatre program or another theatre community (performing and/or technical – lighting, set design, running crew, stage management, etc.)
• Provide at least one letter of recommendation or a survey completed by a teacher or director demonstrating leadership, collaborative, organizational skills, and excellent work ethic.
• Actively participate in SWIC theatre productions while enrolled.
• Maintain enrollment in one Theatre (THEA) course every Fall and Spring semester (total of at least 4 courses).

Additional Information

• Only complete applications received by the August 1st deadline will be considered.
• The SWIC Scholarship Committee will determine the recipients based on the above criteria, responses on the application, and unmet financial need. After that, candidates will be notified through their SWIC student email.
• Scholarship awards are for the fall and spring semesters. Summer semester is not eligible for the Ag Committment Scholarship.
• The scholarship is for tuition only for classes appearing on students’ academic transcripts. As a result, the scholarship does NOT pay fees, books, or proficiency examination costs.
• Scholarship award funds will be applied to tuition charges after Illinois MAP grant when applicable, but before any Federal Pell Grant or Direct Subsidized or Unsubsidized loans.

Scholarship may not be combined with Top 20% Tuition Scholarship or other full tuition scholarships.  Scholarships will be awarded once the office of Financial Aid, Veteran Services & Student Employment has received a scholarship application and a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the relevant academic year with all other required documentation.

Summary

In conclusion, it’s simple to apply for the SWIC Arts Scholarship. Firstly, file your FAFSA or the Illinois Alternative Application (and all requirements from the Financial Aid Office). Secondly, submit all college transcripts for evaluation. Finally, click the button for the application. After that, the committee will review your application and notify you of your status.