If you are thinking that education after high school won’t be possible because of costs—you might be surprised to find that it is! Whether it’s for a certificate program, or for a 2- or 4-year degree program, there is funding available for college, and you could qualify for money you don’t have to pay back, like grants and scholarships.
But one thing is for sure: you can’t get financial aid unless you apply! You don’t have to accept the funding that is offered, but as long as you apply, you will get a better idea of how much aid you can receive and how much you might have to pay out of pocket for college.
Applying for financial aid has gotten a lot easier--for most students and families, it only takes 15 to 20 minutes. If you have questions, ISAC offers free assistance to help you complete your application.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®)
The first step in the financial aid process is completing the FAFSA. The FAFSA is an application used to apply for federal student financial aid such as grants, loans, and work study. Even though it is a federal application, it is also an application for a lot of state financial aid programs, and for some financial aid provided by colleges and universities. There is no charge to complete the FAFSA. Learn more about FAFSA.
The Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application)
Some Illinois students are not eligible for federal financial aid and so cannot complete the FAFSA. If these students meet certain requirements, they may be able to apply for state financial aid through the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid. Like the FAFSA, there is no charge to complete the Alternative Application. Learn more about the Alternative Application.
The FAFSA, Alternative Application, and Illinois Financial Aid Programs
Illinois residents who want to attend school in Illinois only need to complete the FAFSA to apply for both federal student aid and the state’s need-based Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant. Students who are not eligible to complete the FAFSA may be able to use the Alternative Application to apply for MAP. To be considered for MAP, you must list an Illinois college as one of your choices on the FAFSA.
In addition to MAP, ISAC also offers other Illinois financial aid programs for Illinois students. Each program has its own eligibility requirements, benefits, application, and application deadlines. Most of these prgrams require that you have completed the FAFSA, or if eligible, the Alternative Application, in addition to the application for the specifc program. Visit the ISAC Financial Aid Programs section to learn more about each program.