Office of Financial Aid

Grants

Grant aid is money that does not have to be repaid and is awarded based on financial need. To apply for Grant assistance you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

  • Federal Pell Grants – A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are considered a foundation of federal financial aid, to which aid from other federal and nonfederal sources might be added.
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) – All undergraduates who apply for financial aid automatically will be considered for FSEOG if they qualify on a need basis and are eligible for a Federal Pell Grant.
  • Student-to-Student Grant (STS) – STS Grants are awarded to students with high financial need according to criteria similar to those for the FSEOG. All in-state, ISAC-MAP Grant eligible applicants are automatically considered for this program.
  • Illinois Student Assistance Commission Monetary Award Program (MAP) award
  • Illinois Student Assistance Commission Illinois Incentive (IIA) Program
  • Illinois National Guard Grant – If you are an active member of the Illinois National Guard (Army or Air) you may have eligibility for this grant.
  • Illinois Veterans Grant (IVG) – If you served in the Armed Forces for at least one year and did not receive a dishonorable discharge, you may qualify for the Illinois Veteran Grant. In addition to residing in Illinois for at least six months before entering the service, you must return to Illinois within six months after your discharge.
  • The Academic Competitiveness Grant – The Academic Competitiveness Grant is available for the first time in the 2006-2007 school year for freshmen who graduated from high school after January 1, 2006, and for sophomore students who graduated from high school after January 1, 2005.
  • The National Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant (National SMART Grant) – The National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant, also known as the National SMART Grant, is available during the junior and senior years of undergraduate study.
  • The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant  – The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education, also known as the TEACH Grant, was established to benefit current and prospective teachers and is available as of the 2008-09 school year.