Discover Illinois Colleges with No Application Fee

Applying to college can be an exciting yet daunting process, especially when considering the costs involved. Fortunately, many colleges in Illinois are making it easier for prospective students by waiving application fees. Here is a current list of Illinois colleges that do not charge an application fee, helping you save money while exploring your educational options.

Augustana College
Aurora University
Bradley University
Eastern Illinois University
Elmhurst College
Eureka College
Greenville College
Illinois College
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Wesleyan University
Knox College

Loyola University Chicago
McKendree University
Millikin University
Monmouth College

North Central College
Northern Illinois University

Quincy University
Rockford University
University of IL - Springfield

Wheaton College

This is not an exhaustive list. For more colleges including ones outside of Illinois, visit Common App's explore tool.

College Board's BigFuture College Search

Struggling to find a college that is right for you?

College Board's College Search can help! On here, you can narrow down choices based on size of school, location, majors offered, 2 year or 4 year, campus life, and much more! This is a great starting spot for any student who is at a loss for where to begin. Click below to start searching!

College Board College Search

Linking Common App to Naviance

If you are a senior using the Common App, you will need to link your account to Naviance for us to send all Counselor Documents as well as Teacher Recommendations. Below are the steps to link the two:

1. Log onto your Naviance account.
    *If you do not know the password, you can log in using Clever.*
2. Click on COLLEGES --> COLLEGES I'M APPLYING TO.
3. Click on MATCH ACCOUNTS.
4. Enter your Common App Email address and click on MATCH ACCOUNTS.
5. You are done :)

Stop by the Student Services office with any questions.

SENIORS: What is Parchment?

Parchment is the electronic transcript site that makes sending transcripts simple. It is completely free for all students currently in high school. The best part...it takes about 2 minutes to go on the site and request a transcript. The counselors then click an approve button and the colleges have the transcript. It is the only way that transcripts will be sent to colleges, universities, NCAA, etc.

Reminder to seniors: You must register using the email that was sent to your school email from Parchment. Registration takes about 5-10 minutes but will only need to be done once. After you are registered, ordering transcripts couldn't be simpler.

Note to Parents: The student must sign up for Parchment using the link to his/her school email address. Any accounts using other email addresses will not work because the account will not be properly linked to our school. Please encourage the students to set up the account as soon as possible. It is the only way transcripts will be sent.

Get Involved!! What does IVC have to offer?

🎉Want to actually enjoy high school? Get involved. Seriously. Science says it works. Whether
you're into touchdowns, trombones, theater, or tech, there's something here with your name on it.

This guide gives you the inside scoop on most of the sports, clubs, and activities our school offers—aka your gateway to fun, friends, and finding your thing.

❓ Got questions? Wondering if there's a club for underwater basket weaving or competitive kazoo? Hit up your counselor. They're basically your personal GPS for extracurricular awesomeness.

👉 Click here to explore Sports, Clubs, and Activities – Your future favorite thing might be one click away.

WE ARE BACK!!

Life gets busy - we get it! After a hiatus in the spring, we are relaunching our blog to keep you informed of all of the happenings in the IVC Guidance office. Check back here regularly for information on colleges, careers, scholarships, and so much more. We are excited for an awesome 2026-27!

Local Scholarships Announced

The counselors met with the senior class this morning to present all of the local scholarships available to the students for the 2025-26 school year. All scholarship applications will be due on April 7th. No late applications will be accepted.

Any student who was not in attendance is encouraged to take a look at the presentation by clicking here and stopping by the counseling office to pick up the scholarship list.

All scholarships must be accessed through Naviance. Students can log in to Naviance using Clever.  The list of scholarships can be found by clicking here or the link in the Scholarships Section to the right. All scholarships must be filled out by the students using their email accounts.

A How-to-Guide to Freshman Registration

Planning a schedule for freshman year can be quite an intimidating process. Hopefully this blog post will help students and parents through the process. Registration sheets are due by Tuesday, February 19th to the student's grade school main office. Class selection should also be inputted into TeacherEase before Monday (for those students with access to TeacherEase.)

The front side of the registration sheet is the demographic portion. It is important that it be filled out completely since the information will be entered into the computer system.

Please click below for further instructions...

Ready to Work Expo

 

Ready to Work Expo

February 20 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

The Ready to Work Expo is an open-house-style event designed for prospective students who want to explore hands-on career pathways at ICC. Attendees can experience equipment demonstrations, tour high-tech labs and classrooms, connect with faculty, and speak with industry professionals.

This event highlights a wide range of programs focused on preparing students for high-demand, higher-wage careers while providing clear next steps toward enrollment.

Details

Date: February 20

Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Venue:

East Peoria Campus, Agriculture & Industrial Technology Building

1 College Drive

East Peoria, IL 

MTI Scholarship Information

If you are a senior planning on attending MTI in the fall, you do not want to miss this opportunity! Check out the flyer here for more information on MTI scholarships for Fall 2026. There is no GPA qualification - all students attending this fall are eligible. The biggest criteria is your passion for higher education and learning. Please contact Megan Krowlek at mkrowlek@midwesttech.edu with any questions. Deadline to apply is March 20th.

Scheduling 101

 The Scheduling 101 presentation at IVC High School provided parents with an overview of the scheduling process. Key points included:

• Sequencing of Classes: Core subjects like English, Math, Science, and Social Studies were discussed, along with academic pathways and prerequisites for advanced courses.
• Graduation Requirements:  Detailed information on credit requirements, mandatory courses, and standardized tests needed for graduation was provided.
• Electives Offered: A wide variety of electives, special programs like AP courses and Dual Enrollment, and extracurricular opportunities were highlighted.

Parents were encouraged to engage with their children’s academic planning and use school resources to ensure a successful high school experience.

Click Here For Presentation

🎉 Shape Your Future Week Success! 🎉

Shape Your Future Week was an absolute hit! We had a fantastic turnout with 23 colleges and schools visiting IVC, and our juniors and seniors took full advantage of the opportunity. A whopping 88 students attended at least one college visit, totaling an impressive 233 students at the presentations. On average, each college session had 10 eager minds ready to learn about their future possibilities. 

The top crowd-pullers?

ICC
Illinois State
U of I - Urbana/Champaign

Iowa
Bradley

SIU-C
Iowa State
St. Ambrose 

Mizzou

Thanks to everyone who made this week such a success!

How to Earn College Credit Now

 Last night the Counseling Department met with interested students and parents about how to earn college credit as a high school student. If you would like to check out the presentation, CLICK HERE.

If you have any questions, please contact any of the counselors.

IVC Financial Aid Night Recap

Did you miss ISAC representative Jordyn Hanson discuss all things financial aid? Were you able to attend but still have more questions? We've got you covered! You are encouraged to email your counselor or Jordyn at Jordyn.Hanson@illinois.gov with any questions you have. You can also click this link to access a PDF of her presentation. 

Becoming a Teacher? Check This Out!

The Golden Apple Scholars teacher preparation and tuition assistance program is now accepting applications for the Class of 2026!

Golden Apple Scholars Receive:

• Up to $23,000 in total financial assistance for college
• Extensive classroom teaching experience
• Instruction from award-winning educators and expert partners
• Academic and social-emotional support
• Job placement assistance
• Mentoring in first year of teaching

Click Here for Golden Apple Application and Info

NCAA Eligibility Center Information

Interested in playing collegiate athletics? Make sure you know what steps to take to qualify! Click below to access the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete for 2024-25.

This document is full of timelines, resources, differences between the different divisions, course requirements, and so much more. If you are interested in playing DI, DII, or DIII athletics, this is DEFINITELY worth a read.

NCAA Eligibility Center Guide

How to Manage the Stress of College Admission

Good video for parents of seniors to watch. College acceptance or rejection time can be a period of high stress for families so author Jennifer Wallace joins TODAY to share how families can navigate the extreme pressure high schoolers feel today.

ISAC Guide to Programs (FREE MONEY!)

This handy guide explains many of the available programs and grants available through ISAC (IL Student Assistance Commission). Explanation of the following programs includes:

• MAP Grant
• IL Veteran Grant
• IL National Guard Grant
• Minority Teacher Scholarship
• Special Ed. Tuition Waiver
• IL Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program
• Nurse Educator Loan Forgiveness Program
• …and more.

Click here for details

🎓 Shape Your Future Week Is Coming—Are You Ready?

It’s that time of year again—Shape Your Future Week is landing at our high school, and it’s bringing a college caravan with it!

From October 6th to 17th, over 20 schools will be visiting our campus, ready to meet with students, answer questions, and share what makes their programs stand out. And guess what? It’s not just four-year universities! You’ll also have the chance to connect with:

• Illinois Central College (ICC)

• Midwest Technical Institute (MTI)

• Tricoci University of Beauty Culture

• OSF College of Nursing

• Methodist College of Nursing

Whether you're dreaming of a traditional university experience or exploring career-focused programs in

Senior Retreat #39 is coming up. Registration sheets available.

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming Senior Retreat from November 5-8 at Stronghold Center in Oregon, IL.

Here’s what you need to know:

Introspective Experience: This four-day retreat is nearly 100% led by a group of six seniors, offering a unique and reflective experience.
Rich History: This marks the 39th retreat, with over 1,100 IVC students participating over the past twenty years.
Limited Space: Due to the new retreat center, we can only accommodate 15 guys and 15 girls.
Cost: The retreat costs $100. This covers our lodging and meals at the retreat center. If the $100 fee is a concern, partial and full scholarships are available. Please see Mr. Kosinski for more information about a scholarship.
Action Required: Registration sheets are available from the counselors and are due as soon as possible. Space is limited, so act fast! The retreat will fill up within a week. 

For any questions, please ask Mr. Kosinski.

Seniors - One Click College Admit

The easy, stress-free way to be admitted to Illinois public universities. No fees and no essays!  There are eight Universities participating this year with more to be added next year.

Check out OneClickAdmit.org for more information.

AIM HIGH - Making College Possible for More Families

CLICK HERE for information about individual school's program.

The AIM HIGH Grant helps Illinois students cover the cost of attending one of the state’s 12 public four-year universities. It’s a renewable, merit- and need-based award designed to keep talented students in-state and reduce student debt.

💰 What It Covers

Transcripts? I'm so confused

Having transcripts sent to colleges is actually pretty easy once you know the system. IVC can release transcripts two different ways.

Common App Colleges - Transcripts are automatically sent by Naviance once you link your Common App to Naviance. See post below for info on how to link accounts.

ALL Other Colleges - Transcripts must be ordered through Parchment.  All students were emailed an invite from Parchment to register.

Recap of the Senior Meeting

Congratulations seniors. We're thrilled to announce the release of our brand-new Off to College Guide!

Whether you're a student gearing up for your first semester next fall or a parent preparing to support your college-bound child, this guide is packed with essential tips, resources, and a sprinkle of inspiration to make the search smooth and successful. Get ready to embark on this exciting journey with confidence and ease.

Let's make this college search experience unforgettable! Your future starts now!

Missed the presentation? No worries! Our presentation is available for your viewing pleasure!

Building your Future in the Trades

During today’s senior meeting, we explored an exciting post-graduation pathway: the building trades. From carpentry to electrical work, these careers offer hands-on opportunities, solid wages, and long-term growth — no college degree required.

To help students dive deeper, we shared a comprehensive packet that breaks it all down:

• 🔧 Descriptions of each trade

• 📊 Industry stats and earning potential

• 💵 Starting wages

• 📇 Key contacts

• 📅 Apprenticeship dates and how often they open

Whether you're curious, committed, or just exploring options, this packet is a great place to start. Swing by Student Services to grab your copy and start building your future — literally.

Bradley University - College Kickoff Event

Bradley is hosting a College Kickoff event at 3pm on Sunday, September 14th. At this event, you will:

• Attend an essay writing seminar with our Bradley English Faculty to truly give you a leg up when it comes to writing your college essays
• Learn about the financial aid process, transferring AP/IB/Dual Credits, and other details in your college searches
• Set up your Common App account
• Ask questions about the college experience to current Bradley students

Click here to register for this informative event.

Ronald W Reagan Leadership Program at EC

If you are interested in Eureka College for the 2026-27 school year, check out the Ronald W Reagan Leadership Program! This program provides a full ride plus study abroad opportunities! It is open to students with at least a 3.30 GPA who have demonstrated leadership in a variety of areas. More information can be found here.

Linking Common App to Naviance

If you are a senior using the Common App, you will need to link your account to Naviance for us to send all Counselor Documents as well as Teacher Recommendations. Below are the steps to link the two:

1. Log onto your Naviance account.
*If you do not know the password, you can log in using Clever.*
2. Click on COLLEGES --> COLLEGES I'M APPLYING TO.
3. Click on MATCH ACCOUNTS.
4. Enter your Common App Email address and click on MATCH ACCOUNTS.
5. You are done :)

Stop by the Student Services office with any questions.

Discover Illinois Colleges with No Application Fee

Applying to college can be an exciting yet daunting process, especially when considering the costs involved. Fortunately, many colleges in Illinois are making it easier for prospective students by waiving application fees. Here is a current list of Illinois colleges that do not charge an application fee, helping you save money while exploring your educational options.

Augustana College
Aurora University
Bradley University
Eastern Illinois University
Elmhurst College
Eureka College
Greenville College
Illinois College
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Wesleyan University
Lake Forest College
Loyola University Chicago
McKendree University
Millikin University
Monmouth College

Northern Illinois University
Rockford University
Saint Augustine College

SIU - Carbondale
University of IL - Springfield
University of St. Francis

Shape Your Future - COMING SOON!!