Grants lower tuition costs with no repayment necessary

The following grants are awarded by the federal and state governments based on the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) derived from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Grants are need-based awards in that higher grant awards go to students with lower EFC's.  Grants do not need to be repaid.

Beginning with the 2024-2025 FAFSA, the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will change to the Student Aid Index (SAI). Visit 2024-2025 FAFSA Changes for more details.

Award Year

The award year for financial aid includes three sessions: Fall, Spring, and Summer. Students will need to renew their FAFSA submissions annually.

2023 - 2024 Grants

Federal Grants

  • Pell Grant — Pell Grants are for students who have not earned a bachelor's degree and are based on financial need. The maximum grant requires a zero Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and enrollment of at least 12 credit hours. Grants are reduced for higher EFCs and part-time attendance. Two-semester grants for full-time attendance for 2023-2024 range from $7,395 to $767. 
    • Summer Eligibility  The Pell Grant for summer is available for students who attend part-time during the fall and/or spring semester or who attend full-time both fall and spring semester and at least half-time (6 credits) for the summer.
  • Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG) — Students must be Pell Grant eligible and have zero Expected Family Contributions. Grants are $600 for students taking 12 credit hours. Grants are pro-rated for less than 12 credits and students must be enrolled for a minimum of 6 credit hours. SEOG is awarded by term in FAFSA application date received order until the funds are exhausted.
    • Summer Eligibility If funds are remaining from fall/spring, the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant for summer is usually awarded to students who did not receive it for fall and spring.

State of Illinois Grants

  • Monetary Award Program (MAP) — The MAP program requires Illinois residency and is based on financial need. The maximum grants vary year to year and are based on 15 credit hours of attendance. Grants are reduced for less than 15 credit hours down to the minimum enrollment of three credit hours. Students are awarded the grant based on application filing date of the FAFSA.  An application suspense date is established each year by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission based on application volume compared to available funds.

2024 - 2025 Pell Grant Changes

FAFSA data will be used to determine a Scheduled Pell Grant (the maximum eligibility for a full-time student, based on full year enrollment) in one of three ways:

  1. Maximum Pell Grant (separate formulas based on dependency status)
  2. Calculated Scheduled Pell
  3. Minimum Pell Grant (separate formulas based on dependency status)

More details about each calculation

Each calculation is prescribed by the FAFSA Simplification Act (Act) was enacted into law as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, and amended by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022. The Act further amends the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), and impacts the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Maximum Pell Grant Criteria for Dependent Students

  • Parent not required to file federal income tax return, or
  • Single parent and has adjusted gross income (AGI) greater than 0 and less than or equal to 225% of poverty guideline for family size and state of residence, or
  • Parent NOT single parent and has adjusted gross income (AGI) greater than 0 and less than or equal to 175% of poverty guideline for family size and state of residence

Maximum Pell Grant Criteria for Independent Students

  • Student (and spouse) not required to file federal income tax return, or
  • Student is single parent and has adjusted gross income (AGI) greater than 0 and less than or equal to 225% of poverty guideline for family size and state of residence, or
  • Student NOT single parent and has adjusted gross income (AGI) greater than 0 and less than or equal to 175% of poverty guideline for family size and state of residence

Calculated Scheduled Pell Criteria

  • Students who are not eligible for an automatic Maximum Pell Grant may be eligible for a Calculated Scheduled Pell Grant
  • Published Maximum Pell Grant minus Student Aid Index (SAI) = Calculated Scheduled Pell Grant (rounded to the nearest $5)

Minimum Pell Grant Criteria for Dependent Students

  • Student's parent is a single parent and has adjusted gross income (AGI) less than or equal to 325% of the poverty guideline for family size and state of residence, or
  • Student's parent is NOT a single parent and has an adjusted gross income (AGI) less than or equal to 275% of the poverty guideline for family size and state of residence

Minimum Pell Grant Criteria for Independent Students

  • Student is a single parent, and the adjusted gross income (AGI) is less than or equal to 400% of the poverty guideline for family size and state of residence, or
  • Student is a parent and is NOT a single parent, and has an adjusted gross income (AGI) less than or equal to 350% of the poverty guideline for family size and state of residence, or
  • Student is not a parent, and the student's (and spouse's if applicable) adjusted gross income is less than or equal to 275% of the poverty guideline for family size and state of residence.

Other Important Pell Grant Changes

  • Pell Grant Annual Awards and disbursement amounts will now be calculated using “Enrollment Intensity” (a percentage value) rather than enrollment status (e.g., half-time or full-time).
  • Effective Summer 2025, the former requirement of part-time enrollment (six-credit hours) for Summer Pell is eliminated.

Students will need to complete and submit a 2024-2025 FAFSA to determine Pell Grant eligibilty and award amounts.

 

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