The 2024-2025 FAFSA is now open!
To receive a diploma from an Illinois public high school, every student must submit a
OR Alternate Application for Illinois Financial Aid, if applicable*
OR The FAFSA Non-Participation Form must be submitted online through ISAC's Student Portal.
Here are the Step-by-Step Instructions: How to submit the Financial Aid Nonparticipation Form
NEED FINANCIAL AID HELP?
FAFSA & Financial Aid Thursdays!
10AM-2:30PM
College & Career Center
(room 2010)
Our ISACorps rep is available by phone or email anytime:
Estelle Orleans
Estelle.orleans@illinois.gov
847-421-1487
FAFSA Graduation Requirement
Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) -OR-
Submit the Alternate Application for Illinois Financial Aid, if applicable *
*for qualifying undocumented students and some transgender students who are not eligible for federal financial aid, to apply for state financial aid.
FINANCIAL AID RESOURCES
Financial Aid Resources
Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
State-wide initiative to help Illinois students financially prepare for college planning.Financial Aid Calculators
Helpful cost/payment information to families, including the MAP Estimator, FAFSA4Caster, Monthly Payment Estimators, and Loan Repayment Calculators.
Alternate Application for Illinois Financial Aid (RISE Act)
The Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid allows qualifying undocumented students and transgender students who are not otherwise eligible for federal financial aid to apply for Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants to attend eligible Illinois colleges, universities, and career education programs.
Scholarship Resources
Non-profit website for financial aid information, resources, and helpful "scholarship scam" section.
The Internet's largest and oldest free scholarship search.
Free scholarship search and financial aid information resource
College Board's Scholarship Search
Scholarship search service provided by the College Board.
Find scholarships in the Chicago area.
Resource Guide for Low-Income Students
This guide includes resources to cover costs associated with going to school, including tuition, housing, meals, textbooks, medical care and more.
Financial Aid for Minority Students
Lists many scholarship opportunities for minority students; clearly explains eligibility, award specifics, and how to apply.
College Resources and Financial Aid for Hispanic Students
Scholarship and Resources for Latinx Students
Our online guide showcases 20 scholarship opportunities (including many in the healthcare field) that can make all the difference in affording college. We've also provided a list of valuable academic and career resources that Hispanic and Latinx students can use to maximize their success during and after college.
Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
A list of scholarships and grants awarded to students with disabilities based on various criteria aligned with the values and vision of the donor of the award. Every one of these scholarships will have its own eligibility requirements
Financial Aid Resources
Smart Student Guide to Financial Aid
Common App
www.commonapp.org/plan/paying-for-college
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
Net Price Calculators
netpricecalculator.collegeboard.org
collegecost.ed.gov/net-price – Search for individual college’s calculator.
FAFSA Application
studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa
College Board’s Profile (application used by some colleges)
Scholarship search
niche.com/colleges/scholarships
Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online.
Finding financial aid can seem overwhelming when you're trying to get ready for college or career school. This site will walk you through how financial aid works, resources to pay for college, and loan repayment options.
ISAC (Illinois College Assistance Commission)
Sponsored by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), a comprehensive college planning and financing website for students, parents, schools, and lenders. Includes information and applications for all of ISAC's grants, scholarships, and loan programs.
Find handy tools to help with the college process.
PAYING FOR COLLEGE (Consumer Financial Protections Bureau)
Explains the ins and outs of student financial aid and repaying loans to help you make smarter decisions about how to pay for school.
The most comprehensive resource for student financial aid from the U.S. Department of Education.
SCHOLARSHIP RESOURCES
Non-profit website for financial aid information, resources, and helpful "scholarship scam" section.
The Internet's largest and oldest free scholarship search.
Free scholarship search and financial aid information resource helping students make the decisions that shape their lives.
College Board's Scholarship Search
Scholarship search service provided by the College Board.
Find scholarships available in the Chicago area.
Resource Guide for Low-Income Students
This guide includes resources to cover costs associated with going to school, including tuition, housing, meals, textbooks, medical care and more.
Financial Aid for Minority Students
Lists many scholarship opportunities for minority students; clearly explains eligibility, award specifics, and how to apply.
College Resources and Financial Aid for Hispanic Students
Scholarship and Resources for Latinx Students
Our online guide showcases 20 scholarship opportunities (including many in the healthcare field) that can make all the difference in affording college. We've also provided a list of valuable academic and career resources that Hispanic and Latinx students can use to maximize their success during and after college.
Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
A list of scholarships and grants awarded to students with disabilities based on various criteria aligned with the values and vision of the donor of the award. Every one of these scholarships will have its own eligibility requirements
Illinois Public Four-Year Institutions AIM HIGH Grant Program
AIM HIGH Grant
Program Description
If you are attending one of Illinois’ 12 public four-year institutions and meet the program eligibility requirements, you may be eligible to receive an award through the Aspirational Institutional Match Helping Illinois Grow Higher Education (AIM HIGH) Grant Program.
This grant provides assistance toward a full-time undergraduate student’s cost of attendance at the university. The AIM HIGH grant is renewable and if you receive it once and continue to meet the eligibility requirements, you will be eligible to receive a renewal grant in subsequent years. The renewal award will be an amount no less than the award in your first year of attendance, unless your cost of attendance is reduced (if, for instance, you reduce your number of credit hours, or switch to a major with a lower tuition rate).
Additionally, all AIM HIGH-participating universities will provide matching funding for institutional awards for students who meet eligibility requirements established by the university. This funding may or may not be available to the same students who receive the AIM HIGH grant, depending on how the matching program is designed by the university.
Each university’s AIM HIGH grant program is described in detail on the university’s website. For complete program information, click on the name of the university you are planning to attend in the list of participating universities at the bottom of this page.
Eligibility
To be eligible, you must:
have attended an Illinois high school*
be engaged in a program of study that will be completed by the end of the school year*
apply to be enrolled for the first time at the public university campus where the award will be used*
be a resident of Illinois
be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen or meet the “undocumented student” criteria of the RISE Act
file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) and demonstrate financial need, with a household income no greater than 6 times the poverty guideline established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
meet the minimum cumulative grade point average or ACT or SAT college admissions test score, as determined by the university
be enrolled in a participating public university as an undergraduate student on a full-time basis
have not yet received a bachelor’s degree (the equivalent of 135 semester credit hours)
not be incarcerated
not be in default on any student loan, nor owe a refund on any state or federal grant
meet any other criteria established by the university
*Students applying only for a university’s matching funding may not need to meet these eligibility requirements; refer to the program information for your university.
How to Apply
Students applying for the AIM HIGH Grant Pilot Program and/or for the matching funding must file the FAFSA®. You may refer to the program information for each university below, or contact the financial aid office of the university you plan to attend to learn if there are additional application procedures/documents which must be completed.
How Funds Are Disbursed
ISAC determines the amount of AIM HIGH grant funding that will be made available to each public university each academic year. Funding is allocated to the university and will be disbursed to students according to the university’s procedures.
Participating Public Four-year Illinois Institutions
Details regarding each university’s AIM HIGH grant program are available by clicking on the university’s name below.
Eastern Illinois University
Freshman and Transfer Merit Scholarship Bonus
Northeastern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University- Carbondale
Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville
University of Illinois – Chicago
University of Illinois – Springfield
University of Illinois – Urbana/Champaign