Financial Aid and Scholarships

It is the mission of the Great Books Summer Program to create a lively, warm, and welcoming community of learners who come together to develop their critical thinking skills through free inquiry and civil discourse. Our unique combination of academic rigor within a supportive community gives students the tools and the confidence to develop their own best thinking practices in preparation for college and beyond. It is our goal to extend this opportunity to any student who wishes to learn by asking big questions of literature.

The majority of our financial support is offered in the form of Sponsorships, which are agreements made in cooperation with a host of sponsoring organizations. We welcome and encourage students to secure support through sponsors or scholarship sources outside the GBSP network.

Please contact emileec@greatbookssummer.com for support and guidance identifying local and national resources.

Great Books Summer Program works in cooperation with the following sponsors and mission partners Amherst College, Achievement First, Camp Out For Kids, KIPP Charter Schools, Noble Network: Summer of a Lifetime, Open Books Foundation, Reach Prep, Schuler Scholar Program, Success Academy, Scholastic, Galapagos Charter Schools, Beacon Academy, Red Cloud, and Chicago Youth Programs.  Learn more about our scholarship opportunities and their requirements below.

Financial Aid for Summer 2026:

The 2026 Financial Aid application cycle opens December 1, 2025 and closes April 2, 2026.

A limited amount of Financial Aid is available to applicants whose families demonstrate significant financial need. Scholarships are awarded to applicants who complete the Financial Aid application and submit additional Scholarship materials.

All Financial Aid and Scholarship awards support students to attend one-week of GBSP’s domestic on-campus program or domestic day program during summer 2026. The recipient of an award may elect to attend a Great Books Online or Writer’s Workshop Online program instead of an on-campus program.

International students are not eligible for Financial Aid & Scholarship awards.

All application materials are due by 11:59PM, Eastern on April 2, 2026. Applicants will be notified about Financial Aid & Scholarship award decisions by May 1, 2026.

Scholarships Available for Summer 2026:

The Joseph W. Korner Memorial Scholarship: This scholarship fully supports a Chicago public high school student to attend a one-week, on-campus session of the Great Books or Writer’s Workshop program. Click here to learn about the scholarship requirements.

The Lewis-Sebring Scholarship: This scholarship fully supports a student from a community of color or a low-income background to attend a one-week, on-campus session of the Great Books or Writer’s Workshop program. Click here to learn about the scholarship requirements.

The Joseph J. Ellis Scholarship for American History: This scholarship fully supports a student to attend a one-week session of the Great Books or Writer’s Workshop program. Click here to learn about the scholarship requirements.

William Ward Miller Memorial Scholarship: Coming soon.

For questions about financial aid or scholarships, please contact our Admissions Office 203-307-2217 or via email: emileec@greatbookssummer.com.