| think you may be eligible for any of the scholarships listed below. In addition, Shimer awards need-based institutional support to students who do not receive any of these scholarships specifically.
Shimer also encourages students to apply for outside scholarships, which can be found, free, through various online resources like FastWeb, as well as through local organizations near you.
Through Shimer Matching Grants the college will match all qualifying outside scholarships up to $2000. (Please see our Scholarship Matching Policy below.) The only circumstances under which we would adjust your package is if your aid exceeds your total cost of attendance.
Shimer Scholarship Matching Policy Shimer College will match up to $2,000 in external scholarships for students who use their awards toward Shimer tuition.External scholarships may be from organizations, foundations, or charities that offer merit, need-based, or culturally based awards. Groups include:
- Non-profit organizations and Charitable trusts
- Community Foundations
- Labor unions
- Houses of worship
- Chambers of commerce
- Other volunteer organizations
- The uniformed services of the United States
Please check with the Office of Financial aid if you have any questions about this policy. Homeschoolers and Nontraditional Schooling Scholarship This scholarship, for up to $6000, recognizes the special contribution that students coming from homeschooling and other non-traditional schooling have to offer the Shimer community. Robert Maynard Hutchins Scholarship This scholarship is offered to Early Entrants-students who have not yet completed high school. The scholarship awards up to $1,400 per year. The amount is prorated for students enrolled less than full time. Students who receive a Hutchins scholarship must maintain a 3.0 grade point average or higher at Shimer in order to retain it. Alumni Legacy Scholarship This scholarship recognizes the special relationship the College desires to maintain with children and grandchildren of Shimer alumni who choose to carry on the tradition of classical liberal arts. This scholarship may be awarded for up to $1,000 per year for full-time students. Michel de Montaigne Scholarship This scholarship is awarded to new Shimer weekday students on the basis of a competition hosted on campus at the college. Full and partial scholarships are offered through this competition. Students will be given an original text to read prior to the competition and then be judged on the basis of their writing on and discussion of that text at the competition itself. Frances Wood Shimer Scholarship This is a merit-based scholarship ranging from $1,500 to $3,000 per year. The College recognizes the previous accomplishments and promise of its students with Shimer Scholarships. Although need is considered in making the awards, the primary consideration is the student’s previous record, both academic and non-academic. Students who are interested in applying for such scholarships should have demonstrated potential for success. Shimer Scholarships have been awarded in recognition of talent in the fine arts, creative writing, drama, and community service. Shimer Scholarships have also been awarded because of the special needs of out-of-state students. The Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
Scholarships of up to $6,000 per year are awarded to transfer students who are members of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. Verification of Phi Theta Kappa membership is required. Yellow Ribbon Program
 The "Yellow Ribbon" program is designed to improve financial aid for veterans participating in the Post-9/11 GI Bill. To be eligible for the maximum benefit rate under the Yellow Ribbon Program, students must have served an aggregate 36 months of active duty after September 11, 2001, or been honorably discharged from active duty for a service connected disability and served 30 continuous days after September 11, 2001, or be a dependent eligible for Transfer of Entitlement under the Post 9/11 GI Bill. | 
