Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship

ECACE Overview

If you are a current or prospective Rockford University student, applications for the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program will open soon! It can cover up to the total cost of attendance after financial aid is received. Rockford University tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies are included.  

The Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship program was created to address the shortage of qualified early childhood educators by encouraging the advancement of early childhood education degrees to work toward a well-prepared workforce.    

Who’s eligible for the ECACE Scholarship at Rockford University? 

U.S. citizens (and eligible noncitizens) qualify for the ECACE scholarship if they have: 

• Work experience in Early Childhood Education or Child Care  
• Enrolled or accepted for enrollment at an ECACE member institution. Not a current Rockford University student? Apply today!  
• Enrollment in a course that leads to a Professional Education License (PEL) in Early Childhood or additional endorsements to an existing Early Childhood PEL 

Are you ready to complete your bachelor’s at Rockford University? Apply or request more information.

Can I apply for the ECACE scholarship if I already have a bachelor’s degree? 

Yes! You can apply for the ECACE scholarship at Rockford University if you already have a bachelor’s degree.  

For those who already hold a bachelor’s degree, you must have: 

• Courses to make you eligible for a lead teacher position in a licensed program 
• A Professional Educator License (PEL) with an Early Childhood Endorsement 
• Additional endorsements (Bilingual, English as a Second Language, Special Education) letters of approval or credentials 

How to apply to the ECACE Scholarship 

The ECACE Scholarship application is available on the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) Student Portal website. Once you apply, ISAC will send a confirmation email to you that your application has been received.  

To apply you must: 

• Complete the FAFSA for the academic year that you are applying for the scholarship 
• Demonstrate your work in early childhood or child care by registering with the Illinois Gateways Registry 

You can use this scholarship to attend Rockford University and complete your degree in Early Childhood Education.