Carl Sandburg College
Galesburg, IL · Midwest · Varsity since 2019
Talent scholarships awarded to esports players; amounts not published.
FortniteRainbow Six
- net price
- $3.7K
- acceptance
- Open
- grad rate
- 50%
Verified
Esports colleges in Illinois
20 colleges in Illinois have esports teams, and 5 offer esports scholarships.
Colleges in Illinois with esports teams: Carl Sandburg College, College of DuPage, College of Lake County, Danville Area Community College, DePaul University, Governors State University, Heartland Community College, Highland Community College, Illinois College, Illinois Wesleyan University, Kishwaukee College, McKendree University, Northern Illinois University, Northwestern University, Roosevelt University, Saint Xavier University, Southeastern Illinois College, Spoon River College, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Waubonsee Community College. None publish a fixed scholarship amount, though several offer awards. The most common titles are VALORANT, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Overwatch 2. The median average net price across these schools is $11,728 per year (College Scorecard).
- Programs
- 20
- Publish aid amounts
- 0
- Median net price
- $11,728
- Median grad rate
- 49%
Kishwaukee College
Malta, IL · Midwest · Varsity since 2020
Kish says 'Athletic scholarships are available to students who participate on a current Kish athletic team' (esports is a Kish Kougars team) and that awards help cover tuition; amounts not published.
FortniteMarvel RivalsOverwatchRainbow Six
- net price
- $4.6K
- acceptance
- Open
- grad rate
- 45%
Verified
McKendree University
Lebanon, IL · Midwest · Varsity since 2026
Scholarship opportunities for new students; varsity players receive coaching, scholarships, and a dedicated space and computer on campus. No amount published.
OverwatchMarvel Rivals
- net price
- $25K
- acceptance
- 72%
- grad rate
- 53%
Verified
Southeastern Illinois College
Harrisburg, IL · Midwest · Varsity since 2021
Partial tuition scholarships are available to qualifying team members (no amounts published).
Call of DutyFortniteVALORANT
- net price
- $11K
- acceptance
- Open
- grad rate
- 55%
Verified
Spoon River College
Canton, IL · Midwest · Varsity since 2023
Esports page lists Academic, Athletic and Foundation scholarships under Financial Aid; no amounts published
FortniteSmashStreet Fighter 6
- net price
- $3.4K
- acceptance
- Open
- grad rate
- 42%
Verified
College of DuPage
Glen Ellyn, IL · Midwest · Varsity since 2023
No esports scholarships published
LoLVALORANT
- net price
- $7.4K
- acceptance
- Open
- grad rate
- 25%
Verified
College of Lake County
Grayslake, IL · Midwest · Varsity since 2024
No esports scholarships published
FortniteRocket League
- net price
- $7.6K
- acceptance
- Open
- grad rate
- 37%
Verified
Danville Area Community College
Danville, IL · Midwest · Varsity since 2019
No esports scholarship terms published; local TV (WCIA, undated) quotes head coach Guido Esteves saying team members receive scholarships
Rocket LeagueSmash
- net price
- $4.8K
- acceptance
- Open
- grad rate
- 45%
Verified
DePaul University
Chicago, IL · Midwest · Varsity since 2018
No esports scholarships published
Rocket LeagueLoLOverwatchSmash+2
- net price
- $31K
- acceptance
- 76%
- grad rate
- 68%
Verified
Governors State University
University Park, IL · Midwest · Varsity since 2025
No esports scholarships published
VALORANTSmashMarvel Rivals
- net price
- $12K
- acceptance
- 48%
- grad rate
- 22%
Verified
Heartland Community College
Normal, IL · Midwest · Varsity since 2020
No esports scholarships published
FortniteRocket LeagueSmashOverwatch+3
- net price
- $12K
- acceptance
- Open
- grad rate
- 54%
Verified
Highland Community College
Freeport, IL · Midwest · Varsity
No esports scholarships published
- net price
- $5.7K
- acceptance
- Open
- grad rate
- 45%
Verified
Illinois College
Jacksonville, IL · Midwest · Varsity since 2017
No esports scholarships published
VALORANTRocket LeagueOverwatchMarvel Rivals
- net price
- $18K
- acceptance
- 78%
- grad rate
- 64%
Verified
Illinois Wesleyan University
Bloomington, IL · Midwest · Varsity since 2018
No current esports scholarship amount is published. Earlier figure: $25,000 scholarships available, per program director (2023, press).
LoLVALORANTRocket LeagueOverwatch+1
- net price
- $28K
- acceptance
- 39%
- grad rate
- 75%
Verified
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL · Midwest · Varsity
No current esports scholarship terms published. NIU says all varsity players got a $500 donor-funded scholarship in 2023-24.
VALORANTRocket LeagueLoLOverwatch+1
- net price
- $13K
- acceptance
- 70%
- grad rate
- 49%
Verified
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL · Midwest · Club
No esports scholarships published
LoLOverwatchCS2VALORANT+2
- net price
- $29K
- acceptance
- 8%
- grad rate
- 95%
Verified
Roosevelt University
Chicago, IL · Midwest · Varsity since 2020
Scholarship terms not published
- net price
- $20K
- acceptance
- 97%
- grad rate
- 35%
Verified
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, IL · Midwest · Varsity since 2022
No esports scholarships published
VALORANTOverwatchSmash
- net price
- $11K
- acceptance
- 84%
- grad rate
- 57%
Verified
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL · Midwest · Club since 2015
No current esports scholarships published. A March 2022 post announced sponsored 50 and 00 awards; they are not confirmed for later years.
LoLVALORANTRocket LeagueOverwatch+6
- net price
- $14K
- acceptance
- 42%
- grad rate
- 85%
Verified
Waubonsee Community College
Sugar Grove, IL · Midwest · Varsity since 2020
No esports-specific scholarships published; general $1,000 Waubonsee Foundation Student Athlete Scholarship exists (esports eligibility not stated)
FortniteMarvel RivalsSmashRocket League
- net price
- $11K
- acceptance
- Open
- grad rate
- 39%
Verified
Questions & answers
Which colleges in Illinois offer esports scholarships?
Carl Sandburg College: aid offered · amount varies (2024-25); College of DuPage: aid terms not published (2025-26); College of Lake County: aid terms not published (2025-26); Danville Area Community College: aid terms not published (current page); DePaul University: aid terms not published (2024); Governors State University: aid terms not published (2025-26); Heartland Community College: aid terms not published (2026-27); Highland Community College: aid terms not published (2026-27); Illinois College: aid terms not published (2026-27); Illinois Wesleyan University: aid terms not published (2023 · press); Kishwaukee College: aid offered · amount varies (current page); McKendree University: aid offered · amount varies (2026-27); Northern Illinois University: aid terms not published (2023-24); Northwestern University: aid terms not published (2025-26); Roosevelt University: aid terms not published (2026); Saint Xavier University: aid terms not published (2026-27); Southeastern Illinois College: aid offered · amount varies (current page); Spoon River College: aid offered · amount varies (2023-24); University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: aid terms not published (2022); Waubonsee Community College: aid terms not published (2025-26).
What esports games do Illinois colleges compete in?
VALORANT (10 schools), Rocket League (10 schools), Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (10 schools), Overwatch 2 (10 schools), Fortnite (8 schools), League of Legends (6 schools), Marvel Rivals (6 schools), Rainbow Six Siege (3 schools), Call of Duty (3 schools), Street Fighter 6 (2 schools), Hearthstone (2 schools), Counter-Strike 2 (2 schools), Apex Legends (1 school).
What is the cheapest esports college in Illinois?
By average annual net price, Spoon River College is the lowest of the programs we track in Illinois at $3,415 per year.