The Waubonsee Excellence Scholarship agreement between NIU and Waubonsee Community College (WCC) provides additional scholarships, resources and University Honors opportunities to eligible students who graduate from WCC with a 3.0 GPA and enroll at NIU the fall or spring semester immediately following their graduation. Eligible Gustafson Scholars will receive a Waubonsee Excellence Scholarship from NIU in the amount of $2,000 per year for a maximum of two consecutive years, in addition to other earned scholarships from NIU. They also will be invited to apply for the University Honors Program. Those accepted will be eligible to receive one Honors Engaged credit towards NIU’s Honors requirements.
Waubonsee Excellence Scholarship
$2,000 Per Year for Two Years
If you are an eligible* Waubonsee Community College student and a Gustafson Scholar, we have a scholarship to turn your associate degree into a bachelor's at NIU! We offer an affordable path to degree completion, a wide choice of academic programs and we aren't too far from your hometown.
But that's not all...
NIU will consider you for a variety of scholarships - including a merit scholarship - and you may be eligible for additional state and federal financial aid programs. Be sure to submit your FAFSA or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid as early as possible to be considered for the maximum amount of financial assistance.
NIU helps more than 90 percent of our undergraduate Huskies with financial assistance and we can help you too.
Other Opportunities
| Amount | Award |
|---|---|
| $1,000 - $2,000 per year for two years |
Merit Scholarships |
| $2,000 one-time scholarship |
NIU Transfer Achievement Award |
| $1,000 one-time scholarship |
Huskie Legacy Scholarship |
*To qualify, you must be a Gustafson Scholar and have completed an Associate in Arts or Science degree at Waubonsee Community College with a 3.0 GPA or higher, and be admitted to NIU for the spring or fall semester immediately following your graduation from Waubonsee.
Attend Waubonsee Community College but not a Gustafson Scholar?
NIU and WCC have a guaranteed admission program. Your transition to NIU can be smooth as you transfer into one of our undergraduate degree programs.
Request More Information about NIUFrequently Asked Questions
The scholarships will be available for cohorts of participating students transferring from WCC to NIU beginning in spring 2025.
Yes. Gustafson Scholars must earn an approved associate degree prior to transferring to NIU.
If you are a Gustafson Scholar interested in transferring to NIU, please notify the scholarship coordinator at WCC. They will provide you with additional information.
Recipients of the Waubonsee Excellence Scholarship must maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA at NIU and be enrolled full-time (minimum 12 credit hours) at NIU each fall and spring semester. The scholarship will automatically be applied to your pending financial aid as $1,000 maximum per semester. The scholarship is not available during the summer semester. The scholarship is only applicable to undergraduate charges. If you earn your bachelor’s degree in less than 4 semesters, you may not utilize the scholarship for post-graduate or graduate school charges, and any remaining funding will not be available to you.
Yes. The Waubonsee Excellence Scholarship will be in addition to any other scholarships or aid that you qualify for and receive up to the cost of attendance.
Recipients will be invited to apply for the University Honors Program. Those accepted will be eligible to receive one Honors Engaged credit towards NIU’s Honors requirements. They also will receive invites to special Honors events and co-curricular opportunities. University Honors also will work with Gustafson Scholars to start having NIU enrichment experiences prior to transferring.
The Waubonsee Excellence Scholarship will be funded by NIU in the amount of $2,000 per year for a maximum of two consecutive years. In the event the Waubonsee Excellence Scholar receives an award but does not complete any semester within the two years of bachelor’s degree at NIU covered by the award, the award may be revoked, adjusted or otherwise modified for the current and future semesters. If a scholar does not graduate within two years, the award will no longer be available to that student.
Contact Us
Financial Aid and Scholarship OfficeSwen Parson Hall 245
815-753-1395
finaid@niu.edu
For scholarship-specific questions
scholarships@niu.edu