Applying for State Aid
By listing a college or university in the State of Illinois, any resident of Illinois will have state aid eligibility computed, and the information from the processed FAFSA will be electronically transmitted to the school listed (Eastern Illinois University).
More information on State Aid programs is available through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship Program
If you work or have worked in early childhood education and you're seeking additional credentials and/or a degree in early childhood education, you may be eligible for the Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program. The program was created to address the shortage of qualified early childhood educators by encouraging the pursuit of credentials and advancement of already-held degrees in early childhood education, with an aim toward building a strong, well-prepared workforce. Recipients of the scholarship are expected to continue or return to teaching or direct services in the early childhood care and education field in Illinois after they complete their program of study.
Awards are available for undergraduate study at public and non-profit private 2- and 4-year Gateways-entitled and Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity member institutions. For students attending community colleges and public universities, the scholarship will cover the applicant's total cost of attendance for an academic year (including summer) after other financial aid received.
Full details and application instructions are located here: https://www.isac.org/students/during-college/types-of-financial-aid/scholarships/ecace.html.
Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act
On June 21, 2019, the Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act was signed into law, with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2020.
As a result, the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid will be available to students on ISAC’s website each year after Oct. 1. This application will provide a pathway to apply for Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grants for qualifying undocumented students and for transgender students who are not eligible for federal financial aid because they did not register for selective service beginning with the 2020-2021 academic year. Most Illinois students will still file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) to simultaneously apply for federal, state and institutional aid, including MAP grants. In order to receive a MAP grant, all students, whether completing the FAFSA or the Alternative Application, must still meet the eligibility criteria of the MAP program itself.
More information about the RISE Act and the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid is available on the ISAC website.
If you are unsure if you qualify, please visit the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid FAQs: https://www.isac.org/students/before-college/financial-aid-planning/retention-of-illinois-rise-act/FAQs-alternative-application.html
