EIU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships

2024-25 MAP Suspension Date: Aug. 21, 2024

ISAC is suspending the announcement of 2024-25 Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants for applicants whose initial 2024-25 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is received by the FAFSA Processing System (FPS), or whose initial Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) is received by ISAC, on or after Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024.

2025-2026 EIU Financial Aid Estimate

Waiting for your financial aid award letter? We can help! Use the tools and contact information available here to get a better idea of what it will really cost to attend EIU.

2025-2026 Financial Aid and Scholarships - Apply Now!

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships encourages all students to apply early for financial aid and scholarships. To ensure full consideration for aid, submit your FAFSA as soon as possible and search for scholarships using our scholarship search engine. We recommend filing by March 15 in order to meet possible state deadlines. If you need more information on how to apply, please visit the links below:

• How to fill out the FAFSA
• After the FAFSA: What Happens Next
• View the FSA ID video tutorial
• Federal Student Aid Virtual Assistant – AIDEN
• Scholarship Site

Our federal school code is 001674.

NEW Federal Student Aid Estimator

The Federal Student Aid Estimator is a free tool that helps students quickly calculate the amount of financial aid they may be eligible to receive.

Anyone can use the Federal Student Aid Estimator, which is available in English and Spanish. Users don’t have to be logged in to receive an estimate of their aid eligibility.

The Federal Student Aid Estimator also provides students with information about the Student Aid Index (SAI) and its role in determining their federal student aid, and a link to the College Scorecard to help them find the college or career school that’s the best fit for them.

In the Federal Student Aid Estimator, users enter information in three short sections—student, household, and financial—and the tool instantly displays estimated results.

Students will receive a nonbinding estimate of their SAI, along with estimated eligibility for Federal Pell Grants, work-study funds, and federal student loans.

Helpful Videos from Federal Student Aid

To find out how to complete various processes for financial aid, watch a YouTube video here.

• Completing the FAFSA Via Mobile App — A How-To Guide

Don’t Be Fooled By SCAMS

Protect your PRIVATE INFORMATION and reduce your risk of IDENTITY THEFT.

With the new simplified FAFSA, we are noticing an increase in ads for maximizing financial aid and/or assistance with student loan forgiveness.

You never have to pay for help with federal student aid, whether it is completing the FAFSA or inquiring about eligibility or applying for a student loan forgiveness program.

• https://studentaid.gov/resources/scams

At Eastern Illinois University, we understand how COVID-19 has impacted wages, savings, financial security, and the ability to pay for life’s extras. Because of this, the two-year-old financial information you provided on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid, may not accurately reflect yours or your parent’s financial situation this current year.

WE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP WITH A PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT.

If you are:

• A dependent student and your parent(s) received Unemployment Benefits in the past year, or experienced a reduction/loss in income
• An independent student and you received Unemployment Benefits in the past year, or experienced a reduction/loss in income

We may be able to REDUCE your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which could INCREASE YOUR ELIGIBILITY for MORE GIFT AID. (That is FREE MONEY!)

Please note: If your FAFSA information has already resulted in a ZERO EFC, a Professional Judgment cannot be processed. You may find your EFC on your Student Aid Report, on your award letter, or by contacting our office.

FOR PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT POLICIES/TO DOWNLOAD A PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT FORM: https://www.eiu.edu/finaid/Professional_Judgement_Forms.php

Our staff is happy to help if you have any questions. Call 217-581-6405 or email finaid@eiu.edu.