Top 20% Scholarship - Southwestern Illinois College

Top 20% Scholarship

To be eligible for the Top 20% Tuition Scholarship Program, students must:

  1. Be a resident of Community College District 522 at the time of high school completion AND during attendance at SWIC.
  1. Be eligible to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Illinois Alternative Application for Student Aid.
  2. Achieve Top 20% of one of the following categories:

Class Rank

High school graduate ranked in the top 20% of the graduating high school class of any District 522 high school on the final high school transcript.

Test Scores

High school or homeschool graduate placed into the 80th or higher percentile on the ACT or SAT examination.

  • Required SAT score for 2024-2025 applicants: 1190 or higher
  • Required SAT score for 2025-2026 applicants: 1230 or higher
  • Required ACT score: 25 or higher

SWIC GPA

High school or homeschool graduate earning a 3.5 or higher SWIC GPA for 8 or more hours of college level dual credit or dual enrollment coursework completed prior to high school graduation.

High School Equivalency

High school equivalency earners who score in the top 20% of their equivalency group on GED or other high school equivalency test.

Download the 2024-25 Application
Download the 2025-26 Application

PLEASE NOTE: High school completion refers to high school graduates, high school equivalency earners, and homeschool graduates. Homeschool graduates must be 16 years of age or older.

Terms & Conditions

All applicants must meet all of the following non-negotiable conditions. Failure to do so will result in loss of the scholarship for which there is no appeal process to regain.

  1. Residency Requirement: Must live in Community College District 522 when finishing high school and while attending SWIC.
  2. FAFSA Renewal: Renew FAFSA every year before fall term starts. Complete all financial aid paperwork by the second week of the first semester.
  3. Application Deadline: Submit the Top 20% Application by the second week of the first semester of attendance at SWIC after high school.
  4. Enrollment Timing: Use the scholarship within the academic year after high school: Fall, Spring, or Summer. Summer use requires continuous enrollment in the following fall semester. Summer awards are subject to removal if not enrolled in subsequent fall.
  5. Verification: Provide all required documentation to verify eligibility by the assigned deadline.
  6. No Prior College: Cannot attend another college, university, or trade school before SWIC.
  7. Continuous Enrollment: Scholarship lasts up to six semesters of continuous enrollment. Enrollment must be in consecutive fall and spring semesters. A gap between fall and spring terms results in loss of scholarship. Summer attendance is not required, but the scholarship will be awarded unless otherwise requested in writing.
  8. Academic Performance: Maintain a 3.0 GPA and a 67% completion rate each semester.
  9. Tuition Coverage: Scholarship covers tuition for classes on the academic transcript. Does not cover fees, books, or dropped classes.
  10. Degree/Certificate Seeking: Must be pursuing a degree or certificate at SWIC.