- Application fee: All programs require an application fee, which will be discounted from your final payment.
- Final Payment: This payment is needed to officially register for a program. If we do not receive your final payment by the deadline, your registration will be canceled and the application fee will be forfeited.
Cancelation Policy
Elevate College Prep reserves the right to cancel programs when necessary, including for programs where enrollment numbers are not sufficient or for programs for which a highly qualified instructor is unavailable. In the case of program cancellations, we will be happy to help you choose an alternative course. If no acceptable alternative is available, we will refund any tuition paid.
Refund Policy/Schedule
- Application Fee
- If you apply for a selective program and are not admitted, your application fee will be refunded.
- All application fees are fully refundable until May 15, 2025. After this date, if deposits are not received, the application fee will be forfeited.
- Deposit:
| Period of Withdrawal | Percent of Refund |
| Withdraw during the period of registration up to one month prior to the first day of the program | 100 percent A full refund will also be issued in the following cases, regardless of date: -Your course of choice is canceled |
| Withdraw during the period of one month period to the first day of the program to two weeks before the first day of the program | 90 percent The nonrefundable 10 percent is used to cover program supplies, books, transportation, and instructor salary costs incurred during this period of program planning |
| Withdraw during the period of two weeks before the first day of the program to the first day of the program | 50 percent The nonrefundable 50 percent is used to cover risk management fees, program supplies, books, transportation, and instructor salary costs incurred during this period of program planning |
| Other | No refund is provided on or after the start of a program -Students dismissed for disciplinary reasons are not eligible for any refund. |
Our need-based scholarships are designed to support talented students who may not otherwise have the financial means to participate in Elevate College Prep summer programs. Eligibility is based on demonstrated financial need and the student’s commitment to academic excellence.
Key Points to Consider
- Need-based scholarships are applicable only to the final payment
- Students must still submit the program application fee
- Scholarships range from 10 percent to 100 percent of the final payment
- The number of scholarships available is limited
- Applicants must provide documentation of financial need
- Applying doesn’t guarantee a scholarship, but we carefully consider every application
Important Dates
- Scholarship Priority Deadline: March 15, 2025
- Scholarship Decision Release: April 1, 2025
How to Apply
- You will need to submit your program application first to be eligible for review
- After submitting your program application, please fill out the Elevate College Prep Scholarship form
Required Documentation
To be considered for a need-based scholarship, you must submit proof of financial hardship. Examples can include, but are not limited to:
- Parent/guardian income documentation
- Recent pay stubs from parents or guardians to provide a snapshot of their current income
- A letter from employers confirming their employment status and income
- The most up-to-date W-2 or tax information
- Free/reduced lunch program participation
- Documentation of the student’s participation in the free or reduced-price lunch program at school
- Public assistance programs
- Documentation of your family’s participation in public assistance programs, such as SNAP (food stamps) or Medicaid
Financial Aid Policies
Applications will be reviewed by the Elevate College Prep Scholarship Committee. All requests will be considered and maintained in confidentiality.
As part of the application process, please remember:
- Chicago Public School students are given preference for scholarship aid, but it is available to everyone
- Applicants should first check with school officials to see if local monies are available for program costs
- Applicants should inquire about local financial support through businesses, service organizations, etc.
- Aid is determined by analyzing family income and extenuating economic circumstances
- Available funds for financial aid vary from year to year and past aid awards may not be an indication of current available support
- Additional information may be requested from students and/or families prior to notification of aid
Notification of Decision
All applicants will be notified of the scholarship decision via email starting on April 1, 2025. Elevate College Prep is committed to making an allocation of financial aid funds to allow the largest possible number of students to attend our programs. Families will be required to submit their intent to accept financial aid. Failure to do so by the deadline in your award letter may result in a loss of partial or full aid award. Please ensure that the email address provided in your application is accurate and checked regularly.
FAQ—Scholarships
If I receive a partial scholarship, when is the remaining balance due?
The remaining balance is due on May 15, 2025.
Can I apply for other forms of financial aid in addition to this scholarship?
Yes, we encourage students to seek additional funding sources. Receiving other aid does not disqualify you from this scholarship.
If I don't receive a scholarship, can I appeal the decision?
While we do not have a formal appeals process, you may contact us if there have been significant changes to your financial situation since applying.
If I don’t receive a scholarship and cannot afford the remaining balance, what happens to my application fee?
If you are unable to pay your remaining balance, then you will need to notify us that you would like to formally withdraw from the program. Application fees are fully refundable until May 15, 2025.
Is the scholarship transferable to another student or program?
No, scholarships are non-transferable and can only be used for the specific program and term for which they are awarded.
- Students participating in residential summer programs must be 15 to 17 years of age at the start of a program.
- Students participating in high school commuter or online summer programs must be 14 years of age at the start of a program.
- Students participating in middle school summer programs must be 11 to 13 years of age at the start of a program.
- All students participating in in-person programs are highly recommended to be fully vaccinated and to have received a booster shot two weeks prior to the start of a program.
The health and safety of the Illinois Tech community, including Elevate College Prep participants, is of the utmost importance. Elevate College Prep students are chaperoned at a 10:1 ratio for all-day and residential summer programs. All online program classroom spaces are monitored by a member of the Elevate College Prep team.
In the case of medical emergencies, Elevate College Prep students will be transported to Mercy Hospital and Medical Center, located at 2525 Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616.
Online Security
Illinois Tech takes the security of online summer program participants very seriously. Online summer programs use a variety of online platforms—online classroom spaces have a unique classroom link and are password-protected, and they are continually monitored by instructors and the Elevate College Prep team.
Public Safety
Please refer to our public safety website for additional information regarding campus safety policies and procedures. We encourage all summer program attendees to store Illinois Tech Public Safety’s emergency number on their personal phones.
Mies Campus: 312.808.6363
Rice Campus: 630.682.6054
Summer program participants will be supervised by trained Illinois Tech professional staff, faculty, or Elevate College Prep interns at all times during the course of their programs.
Activities Involving Minors
Pre-employment background checks, including criminal history, are a condition of employment for all newly hired or rehired professional staff and faculty members at Illinois Tech. Pre-employment background checks are also a requirement of Elevate College Prep interns. Please reference Illinois Tech’s policies on Pre-Employment Background Checks and Activities Involving Minors.
Title IX and Reporting Structures
All faculty and staff that interact with minors during summer programs are required to complete the Title IX and Working with Minors training. This will be emailed to all faculty and staff involved in summer programs in the spring semester before programs begin.
Please reference Title IX at Illinois Tech for more information and reporting procedures.