College Student/Young Adult Scholarship Program

The Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation's Chicago Community Israel Program (CCIP) and Joseph A. Hochberg Scholarship Fund provide need-based scholarships for college students and young adults (up to 28 years old) who participate in an approved Israel Experience program. The purpose of these scholarships is to encourage the development of Jewish identity and to nourish greater commitment to Israel and the Chicago Jewish community.

Eligibility requirements

• Applicant must demonstrate financial need
• Applicant must reside or attend school in metropolitan Chicago
• Applicant must have already graduated from high school at the time of application
• Applicant must be between the ages of 17 and 28
• Applicant must have applied or be in the process of applying to an approved Israel Experience program
• Applicant must be committed to participating in communal Jewish activities after returning from Israel

Application and selection information

• Applicant must participate in a personal interview.  Please note that in-person interviews cannot take place until a completed application has been received. 
• Applicants age 18 and under whose parents are Chicagoland residents must bring at least one parent to the personal interview
• All applicants age 26 and under must submit their parents' most recent Federal income tax returns as well as their own
• Applicants who reside outside Chicago but attend school in the Chicago area must apply for financial aid through their local Federation
• Parents are urged to contribute according to their financial ability even if applicant is legally independent, and applicants are expected to make an appropriate and meaningful contribution toward the cost of the program
• Scholarship priority is given to applicants who have never been to Israel, although those who have previously traveled to Israel may still apply
• Prior involvement in Jewish communal activities is not a requirement for receiving a financial need-based scholarship
• No full scholarships are awarded

Application deadlines

Scholarship applications for winter and spring programs are due November 1 and applicants are notified by the end of December, immediately following the meeting of the Academic Scholarship Committee. Please note that applications are not considered on a rolling basis, so early submission of a scholarship application will not change the notification date. However, early submission may allow the required in-person interview to take place prior to November.

Scholarship applications for summer and fall programs are available mid-January and due March 1. Please refer back to this page to download the appropriate application during the posted months.

More information

For more information, see the Scholarship Application FAQ.