Grants

Grants are gift assistance which means they do not have to be repaid. You will automatically be considered for need-based federal, state, and University grants when you submit your FAFSA.

The results of your FAFSA determines if you’re eligible for most grants, but others are available for students who have served in the military or are serving in the Illinois National Guard or those who plan to enter a high-demand teaching field.

File your FAFSA

ISU's preferred filing deadline is November 15th

Financial Need

Your financial need is determined by the results of your FAFSA. For best consideration for need-based grants, file your FAFSA and complete all required steps before our March 1 preferential filing date.

Pell Grant

A federal grant for students with significant financial need

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Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG)

A federal grant to increase aid for very high need students

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Monetary Award Program (MAP)

A State of Illinois grant for Illinois residents with demonstrated financial need

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Illinois State University Access Grant

An institutional grant to increase aid for the highest need students. Access Grants will only be awarded if a students is enrolled full-time and is applied to tuition and fees only. An Access Grant combined with another tuition and fees specific award cannot exceed the amount of tuition and fees a student is charged. 

A portion of the Access Grant may be funded by the AIM High Grant Program. While students with SAT scores of 1100 or better may receive some AIM High funding, priority for these funds will be given to students with SAT scores of 1160 to 1250 and grade point averages of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Career Link

A State of Illinois program that assists low-income individuals and dislocated workers. Eligible students must have at least junior standing and be enrolled in certain career-oriented programs such as business, construction management, health information management, and several others. You are not automatically considered for Career Link when you file your FAFSA.

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Military Service

Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant

For active members of the Illinois National Guard (Army or Air) to cover tuition and some fees

Apply online

Illinois Veterans Grant (IVG)

For honorably discharged veterans who meet certain service requirements and lived in Illinois for at least six months before entering the service and returned to Illinois within six months of military discharge

Apply Online

For Dependents

MIA/POW Scholarship

For the dependents of veterans who are either Missing In Action, a Prisoner of War, died while on active duty, 100% disabled due to service connected disabilities, or died as a result of a service connected disabilities

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Grant Program for Dependents of Police or Fire Officers

For the spouse or child of an Illinois police or fire officer who was killed or became at least 90 percent disabled in the line of duty

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Grant Program for Dependents of Correctional Officers

For the spouse or child of an Illinois correctional officer who was killed or became at least 90 percent disabled in the line of duty

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Teacher Education Programs

These programs are gift aid that do not require the recipient to have financial need; however, repayment is required if the recipient does not complete the required teaching obligation.

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant

A federal program for highly qualified teachers who plan to teach in a high-need field in a low-income area

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In order to receive the TEACH Grant, you must complete both your FAFSA and Illinois State University's TEACH Grant application.

2018-2019 Application

2019-2020 Application (available March 1, 2019)

Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW)

A state program for students who plan to teach special education in Illinois

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Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program

A state program for underrepresented students who plan to teach in an Illinois school with at least 30% minority enrollment

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Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois

A partnership between the Golden Apple foundation and the state of Illinois which provides awards for students with the promise and drive to be excellent teachers in high-need schools

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