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2024-2025 AIM HIGH Scholarship

The AIM HIGH Scholarship is funded by the State of Illinois Aspirational Institutional Match Helping Illinois Grow Higher Education (AIM HIGH) Grant Pilot Program. This program is designed to encourage Illinois students to attend an in-state university, improve college affordability, and reduce student loan debt. Illinois State University will provide up to $2,000 per year to first time in college students meeting academic and financial criteria, contingent on the availability of appropriated funds.

Fall 2024 Academic and Financial Criteria

  • Is a resident of the state of Illinois and attended an Illinois high school
  • Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen or meet the “undocumented student” criteria of the RISE Act
  • Is enrolled for the first time at Illinois State University
  • Is a full-time undergraduate student enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program
  • 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
  • Priority is given to students with a grade point average of 4.0 or higher
  • Has filed a 2024-25 FAFSA or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (preference will be given to those who file the FAFSA or RISE Act/Alternative Application by April 15, 2024) and demonstrated need with household income no greater than six times the poverty guidelines as outlined in the chart below. 2022 income is used to determine 2024-2025 eligibility 

Income Poverty Guidelines

Persons in Family/Household: 1

Maximum Income: $108,720

Persons in Family/Household: 2

Maximum Income: $146,480

Persons in Family/Household: 3

Maximum Income: $184,240

Persons in Family/Household: 4

Maximum Income: $222,000

Persons in Family/Household: 5

Maximum Income: $259,760

Persons in Family/Household: 6

Maximum Income: $297,520

Persons in Family/Household: 7

Maximum Income: $335,280

Persons in Family/Household: 8

Maximum Income: $373,040

Persons in Family/Household: Every additional

Maximum Income: $37,760

These awards are renewable and available for up to four years (eight consecutive fall and spring semesters) of full-time enrollment provided the student maintains a cumulative 2.75 grade point average (GPA) and meets Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements.

Funds are limited and subject to continued state allocations. Each school must provide new financial aid funding to match the a portion of the AIM HIGH funding provided by the State of Illinois. Illinois State University will match the state funding with the Redbird Scholarship, University Scholarship, and Presidential Scholarship Programs. This match is not done on an individual student level so not every AIM HIGH Grant recipient will receive matching institutional funds.