2010-2011 New Undergraduate Estimated Expenses

** The miscellaneous category represents the average amount students spend during an academic year on incidentals such as transportation, clothing, personal items, and recreation. It is included only to remind students to budget for those items, and is not an expense payable to Illinois State.

All expenses are estimates, based on a courseload of 30 hours. Actual tuition and fees may vary.

Understanding Your Award Notice

After you submit your application for financial aid (FAFSA), you will receive a Financial Aid Award Notice from the Financial Aid Office, typically in early to mid-April. As a continuing student, you will receive an e-mail directing you to iCampus to view your Award Notice; incoming freshmen are sent a paper award notice.

The Award Notice spells out the details of your financial aid package. A financial aid package is a collection of different types of financial aid from multiple sources. It is intended to help you fill the gap between college costs and your ability to pay (your Expected Family Contribution or EFC).

The Award Notice will list the expected awards you may receive by semester. Remember, you are billed for your University charges by semester, and your aid will be credited or disbursed each semester.

After you receive the award notice, you may use it to reduce or decline your Perkins and Direct Loans. Please pay attention to the information on your Award Notice; you may be required to complete Entrance Loan Counseling, a Master Promissory Note (MPN), or a Perkins Personal Data Sheet.

If you receive any outside scholarships, you must tell the University about them. Unfortunately, federal regulations may require the University to reduce your need-based aid package when you win an outside scholarship or other resource. If any adjustments are made to your aid package, you will receive a Revised Award Notice that alerts you of the change.

If you have a question about your Award Notice, please contact us.