Across Illinois, community colleges are strengthening their commitment to student success by offering new scholarships and supports for high school graduates who complete a College and Career Pathway Endorsement (CCPE). This year, EdSystems facilitated a community of practice, bringing together Illinois community colleges and their high school partners to create meaningful currency for students who earn endorsements.
As part of this collaborative process, community colleges gathered direct feedback from students to understand what types of incentives and assistance would be most valuable and to ensure offerings address real barriers to enrollment and persistence. The currency opportunities, ranging from scholarships to priority registration to specialized employment, are designed to recognize the value of endorsement completion, reduce financial barriers, and create stronger connections between secondary and postsecondary education. Critically, each participating collaboration is committed to using data to identify equity gaps, ensuring that all students, especially those from underrepresented populations, have access to pathway opportunities and the support needed to earn endorsements and benefit from the currency they unlock.
What Colleges Are Offering
College of Lake County has created a comprehensive support model for CCPE graduates. Students who complete the Lancer Success Onboarding program are eligible for a one-time, $500 scholarship. By participating in advising, convocation, and the College Success Seminar, students can access this award that covers tuition, fees, and digital access within two years of their high school graduation. This approach not only provides financial support but also helps students connect with critical campus resources from day one.
Illinois Central College is exploring a flexible model to provide endorsement earners with funds to use for approved educational expenses such as books, gas, and supplies. While details are still being finalized, this approach reflects the college’s recognition that barriers to persistence often extend beyond tuition. Transportation costs, textbooks, and basic supplies can derail even the most motivated students, and this holistic support model addresses those real-world challenges.
Prairie State College is developing a “Pioneer Points” system to offer tuition discounts and additional funding for new students who have completed an endorsement. A full rollout is forthcoming and will provide incoming students with greater financial flexibility as they navigate their first year of college.
John A. Logan College has designed targeted supports for students pursuing nursing pathways. CCPE completers benefit from direct assistance, including payment for two TEAS exams and funding for viewpoint screening software used in clinical work after graduation. High school administrators are also helping to promote these opportunities to future nursing candidates, creating a clear pipeline from secondary career exploration to postsecondary credential attainment. This field-specific approach recognizes that different pathways may require different types of support.
McHenry County College is providing $1,000 scholarships for students who completed endorsements in manufacturing, education, and healthcare pathways—an investment that connects students to high-demand fields and supports regional workforce needs. By aligning currency with labor market priorities, the college is helping students access careers that offer family-sustaining wages and opportunities for advancement.
Rock Valley College is offering a scholarship through its Early College Office to graduates who earn a CCPE, covering tuition and fees for one 3-credit course. This initiative underscores the value of completing a career pathway endorsement and provides a clear next step into higher education. For students who may be uncertain about committing to full-time enrollment, this “test drive” opportunity can build confidence and momentum.
South Suburban College has introduced a $1,000 Dual Credit Career Pathway Scholarship for students completing dual credit coursework as part of a CCPE in business/finance, information technology, or manufacturing, engineering, technology, and trades. The award can be applied toward tuition, fees, and book costs. This dual recognition of both dual credit participation and pathway completion reinforces the value of integrated career preparation.
Why Currency Matters
The College and Career Pathway Endorsement represents a significant achievement for high school students. To earn a CCPE, students must complete a focused sequence of career-related courses, participate in work-based learning experiences, and often earn industry credentials or dual credit, all while meeting their regular graduation requirements. Despite this considerable investment of time and effort, many students and families have questioned whether the endorsement translates into tangible benefits beyond the diploma.
Currency offerings, informed by student input, provide a clear answer. By attaching real value to endorsement completion, community colleges are sending a powerful message: your preparation matters, and we want to help you continue your journey. These incentives also help address a critical access gap in college affordability, particularly for students who may have completed rigorous pathway programming but still face significant barriers to enrollment and persistence.
Past Cohorts
EdSystems has worked with community colleges since 2022 to scale currency offerings to endorsement earners. Learn more about the currency developed by previous cohorts:
Building Momentum Statewide
These offerings represent more than isolated institutional initiatives; rather, they signal a growing statewide movement to honor the work students put into earning an endorsement and to ensure they are rewarded with tangible benefits as they transition into postsecondary education. The diversity of approaches also reflects an important insight: there is no single way to structure currency. Some colleges emphasize direct scholarships, others focus on wraparound supports, and still others target specific high-need fields. What matters is that each institution is thinking intentionally about how to reduce barriers and create momentum for CCPE graduates.
In Partnership With
This work has been made possible through the support of the Joyce Foundation, which invests in innovative strategies that expand equitable access to higher education and career opportunities.
