Bardwell Scholars are seeking dedicated, goal oriented students. In addition to being hard workers, Bardwell Scholars should meet the following criterion:

- be 18 years or older
- be a high school graduate or its equivalent
- be highly motivated to succeed in the college
- be a resident of Illinois and qualify for in-district tuition at any Illinois school
- be willing to assess goals and progress in meeting goals each semester
- show need and ability to benefit from additional financial support and ongoing mentoring
- maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0
- be able to provide 2 written letters of reference