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Office of Financial Aid

What if my family's situation changes after I complete the FAFSA?

Students whose families experience a change in financial circumstances are eligible for a review of those changed circumstances. 

Special circumstances include, but are not limited to:

Loss of job or reduction in income of parent or student (or spouse, if married)

Loss or reduction of some type of untaxed income or benefit

Separation, divorce, or death of one of the student’s parents or student’s spouse

If you feel you have circumstances that will affect your eligibility to receive aid, please contact your counselor or submit a letter to our office explaining your situation.

How do I Apply for Aid?

We encourage every student to apply for financial aid. Remember, you need to apply every year; just because you did or did not receive aid one year does not mean that the same will be true next year.

The Financial Aid Office conducts a number of activities after the first of the year to assist you in completing the FAFSA. You will be notified of these activities through the Financial Aid Office newsletter and through this Web site.

Students applying for financial aid at Illinois State should do the following:

  • Apply for Undergraduate admission to Illinois State University. The priority application deadline for the fall semester is the previous November 15. To be considered for financial aid at Illinois State University you must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which can be done online through FAFSA on the Web. Completing your FAFSA electronically is the best way to apply - and it is faster!

NOTE: Paper FAFSAs will not be available at high schools or colleges for the 2008-2009 academic year.

  • You cannot complete FAFSA on the Web until January 1 each year. You can, however, now go to Federal Student Aid Pin Web site and request a U.S. Department of Education PIN. If you are a dependent student, have your parent(s) request one, too. Your PIN number(s) allow you to electronically “sign” your FAFSAs and eliminate the need for mailing a signature page.
  • Illinois State University’s preferential filing date for completing the FAFSA is March 1 each year. Complete and submit your FAFSA by that date in order to be considered for aid from all aid programs for which you may be eligible, including the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, the Student-to-Student Grant, the Perkins Loan, and Federal Work-Study.
  • You should also begin your search for private scholarships. Many free scholarship search programs can be found through our Scholarship Resource Office. You may also contact clubs, foundations, organizations, corporations, and churches from your hometown for additional information regarding possible scholarships.