STATE OF ILLINOIS FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS

For more detailed information on state financial aid programs contact:

Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)
1755 Lake Cook Road
Deerfield, IL 60015-5209
1-800-899-ISAC
https://www.collegezone.com/

The following are financial aid programs available to students who are residents of the state of Illinois.

Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program

The number of scholarships made through this program, as well as the individual dollar amount awarded, are subject to sufficient annual appropriations by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor.

If you plan to become a preschool, elementary or secondary school teacher and are of African American/Black, Hispanic American, Asian American or Native American origin, you may qualify for up to $5,000 per year as part of the Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program to pay for tuition, fees and room and board, or commuter allowances, if applicable. This scholarship may be received for a maximum of eight semesters or twelve quarters.

As part of the application process, you must agree to the terms and conditions that are outlined in the application's Teaching Agreement/Promissory Note. By receiving this scholarship, you must teach in Illinois. If this teaching commitment is not fulfilled, the scholarship converts to a loan, and you must repay the entire amount plus interest.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
Be a resident of Illinois
Be a minority student of either African American/Black, Hispanic American, Asian American or Native American origin
Be a high school graduate, or hold a General Educational Development (GED) certificate
Be enrolled on at least a half-time basis as an undergraduate or graduate student
Be enrolled or accepted for enrollment at a qualified Illinois institution of higher education in a course of study which, upon completion, qualifies you to be certified as a preschool, elementary or secondary school teacher by the Illinois State Board of Education, including alternative teacher certification
Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
Maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by your college
Comply with federal Selective Service registration requirements
Complete the application process by:

submitting a fully-completed application for the Teacher Education Scholarship Programs (which includes the Teaching Agreement/Promissory Note),
being certified as meeting eligibility requirements by the college at which you will use the scholarship, and
accepting the scholarship (if one is offered)

Sign the application's Teaching Agreement/Promissory Note promising to fulfill the teaching commitment or repay funds received plus interest
Not be in default on any student loan, nor owe a refund on any state or federal grant
Not have previously received funds from the MTI Scholarship Program for the equivalent of four academic years, which is the program maximum
Not receive funds from the Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) or Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) programs during the same term(s) for which you receive funds from the MTI Scholarship Program

How to Apply

The Teacher Education Scholarship Programs application (which must be submitted each academic year in order to apply for the Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) and/or Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship programs), along with the corresponding Teaching Agreement/Promissory Note for each program, is available online as an interactive application. The online application has many benefits including program information which is available at your fingertips, online edits which prevent errors, elimination of mailing time, and immediate confirmation that your application has been received at ISAC.
As part of the interactive application, a digital ID allows you to provide your legally binding digital signature. Obtaining a digital ID is the first part of the application process and you must have a valid Illinois Drivers License or State ID to do so. If you are interested in submitting a Teacher Education Scholarship Programs application, but are unable to obtain a digital ID from the State of Illinois, contact a College Zone Counselor.

The online, interactive application collects all the information needed to determine eligibility (including your agreement to the program terms and conditions, as outlined in the application's Teaching Agreement/Promissory Note).

For priority consideration, ISAC must receive your complete application on or before March 1 preceding the academic year for which you are applying. You must submit a new application each year you wish to be considered for a scholarship. Because the number of scholarships awarded each year is based on limited funding, it is possible that not all applicants who meet the March 1 priority consideration deadline will receive a scholarship. You are encouraged to submit your application as far in advance of March 1 as possible. Applications received after that date will be given consideration for the scholarship only if funding remains available after all timely, qualified applicants have been awarded.

Please note: once an electronic application has been successfully submitted, a confirmation page will display to verify the exact date and time it was received by ISAC. For individuals who are unable to apply electronically and receive ISAC approval for an alternate means of applying, the application received date will be based upon the U.S. Postal Service postmark date.

Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) Program

If you plan to be a preschool, elementary or secondary school teacher who wants to teach in Illinois you may be eligible for the Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) Program. This program is generally for academically talented and financially needy students who are enrolled as juniors or above, with a priority given to individuals pursuing a teacher shortage discipline and/or making a commitment to teach at a hard-to-staff school, and minority students. This award is designated for tuition, fees and room and board charges, or commuter allowance, if applicable. The annual scholarship awarded to a qualified applicant may be $5,000 or $10,000 (and in some cases, may be increased an additional $5,000) depending on the teaching commitment made. This scholarship may be received for a maximum of four semesters or six quarters.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
Be a resident of Illinois
Be a high school graduate or person who has received a General Educational Development (GED) certificate
Be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment as a junior or above, on at least a half-time basis in a Teacher Education Program at an eligible Illinois public or private college, seeking initial teacher certification; or be pursuing additional coursework needed to gain Illinois State Board of Education approval to teach, including alternative teacher certification
Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
Maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by your college
Comply with federal Selective Service registration requirements
Complete the application process by:

submitting a fully-completed application for the Teacher Education Scholarship Programs (which includes the Teaching Agreement/Promissory Note),
being certified as meeting eligibility requirements by the college at which you will use the scholarship, and
accepting the scholarship (if one is offered)

Apply for federal student financial aid to determine your expected family contribution (ISAC recommends that you complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid prior to the time your college certifies your eligibility. Typically, ISAC makes Initial Certification Documents available to colleges beginning in the month of May that precedes the academic year for which you are requesting funds.)
Sign the application's Teaching Agreement/Promissory Note promising to fulfill the teaching commitment or repay funds received, plus interest
Not be in default on any student loan, nor owe a refund on any state or federal grant
Not have previously received funds from the IFTC Program for the equivalent of two academic years, which is the program maximum
Not receive funds from the Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship or Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) programs during the same term(s) for which you receive funds from the IFTC Program

How to Apply

Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program

The number of scholarships made through this program, as well as the individual dollar amount awarded, are subject to sufficient annual appropriations by the federal government, the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor.

If you earn exceptional grades in high school and show promise of continuing academic excellence, you may be eligible for the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program. The award is up to $1,500 per year, for a maximum of four years.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
Be an Illinois resident
Become an Illinois high school graduate the same academic year in which eligibility is determined, and demonstrate outstanding academic achievement as measured by test scores and high school records; or receive a General Educational Development (GED) test score recognized by the General Educational Development Testing Service as the equivalent to performing in the top five percent of high school graduates in the United States
Be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment on a full-time basis, as an undergraduate student at a U.S. Department of Education-approved college in the United States (this program may not be used for attendance at Military Service Academies)

In addition to eligibility requirements, applicants should also be aware of the rights and responsibilities for program recipients.

Selection and Notification Process

There is no student application to complete for the Byrd Honors Scholarship Program - you're automatically considered for this scholarship if you meet the eligibility requirements mentioned above. Your high school counselor submits information to ISAC for the selection process.

ISAC selects awardees within each Illinois geographic district from among the highest-scoring, qualified applicants on the basis of:

performance-based academic data reported by the high school at the end of the third semester prior to graduation*; and
ACT, SAT, or Prairie State Achievement Exam scores reported by the end of the third semester before high school graduation.*

If eligible, you will receive an award letter and an Eligibility Certification form by May 1st preceding each academic year that you are deemed a qualified applicant based on program requirements. The Eligibility Certification form must be completed and returned to ISAC no later than July 15th prior to the beginning of the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded.

If named a Byrd Honors Scholar, you are entitled to receive the scholarship for four years if you continue to fulfill the eligibility criteria of the program. In order to remain eligible to receive this scholarship renewal scholars must also complete and return the Eligibility Certification form, which they receive from ISAC, no later than July 15th prior to the beginning of each academic year.

The scholarship will be paid on your behalf directly to your U.S. Department of Education-approved college in the United States (this program may not be used for attendance at Military Service Academies). The financial aid office may choose to receive payment in either one or two installments for all recipients at the school.

Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program

If you are a teacher or an academically talented student pursuing a career in special education as a public, private or parochial preschool, elementary or secondary school teacher in Illinois, you may be eligible for the Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver Program. This program will exempt you from paying tuition and mandatory fees at an eligible institution, for up to four calendar years.

By receiving the tuition waiver, you must teach in Illinois in the field of special education. If this teaching commitment is not fulfilled, the amount of benefits received converts to a loan, and you must repay the entire amount plus interest.

Eligibility

To be eligible, you must:

Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen
Be an Illinois resident
Meet one of the following conditions: you graduated (or are scheduled to graduate) from an approved high school in the academic year in which the award is made and you performed in the upper half of your graduating class according to performance-based academic data provided by the high school; or you graduated from an approved high school prior to the academic year in which the award is made and you do not hold a valid teaching certificate; or you hold a valid teaching certificate that is not in the discipline of special education
Be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, at one of the eligible public four-year colleges in Illinois (providing the institution offers a concentration in Special Education) as an undergraduate or graduate student seeking initial certification in any area of special education
Be enrolled in a program of special education within 10 days after the beginning of the term for which the waiver was initially awarded
Not at any time have received cumulative Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver benefits that equal or exceed the program maximum of four academic years
Maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by your college
Remain in attendance at the college on a continuous basis for up to four years (unless granted an approved leave of absence)
Not be in default on any student loan, nor owe a refund on any state or federal grant
Comply with federal Selective Service registration requirements
Not receive funds from the Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) or Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship programs during the same term(s) for which you receive funds from the Illinois SETTW Program.

In addition to eligibility requirements, applicants should also be aware of the rights and responsibilities for program recipients.

How to Apply

To apply, you must obtain an Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver Application by clicking here, or by requesting it from ISAC, eligible institutions or offices of Regional Superintendents of Education in Illinois, or state legislative and federal congressional offices. Submit your complete application to ISAC's Deerfield office postmarked on or before March 1 immediately preceding the initial academic year for which you are requesting the tuition waiver, in order to receive priority consideration. Applications postmarked after that date will be given consideration for the award if, after the initial round of awarding, funding all 250 available tuition waivers have not been awarded. Once you're eligible for the program, you do not need to reapply for consideration for additional years. If you are eligible for the Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver, you will receive a notice of eligibility by July 1.

When a new Illinois SETTW recipient is named, the college must provide ISAC with verification of the student's enrollment and program eligibility. The college is also asked to verify the recipient's enrollment and continued eligibility status for each academic year that the tuition waiver is renewed.

Details

ISAC annually awards 250 tuition waivers.

A maximum of 40 tuition waivers is awarded to qualified applicants who hold valid teaching certificates that are not in the discipline of special education. If more than 40 applicants qualify under these provisions, a lottery is used to select 40 recipients.
A maximum of 105 tuition waivers is awarded to qualified applicants who have graduated from an approved high school prior to the academic year in which the award is made. If more than 105 applicants qualify under these provisions, a lottery is used to select 105 recipients.
A minimum of 105 tuition waivers is awarded to qualified applicants scheduled to graduate from an approved high school in the academic year in which the award is made and who perform in the upper half of their class according to performance-based academic data provided by the high school at the end of the sixth semester. Recipients for this group are selected from among qualified applicants based on the highest ACT or SAT test scores from the appropriate time period. Any of the 145 tuition waivers not awarded under the provisions outlined in the two preceding bullets are awarded to this group. If the number of applicants who qualify under these provisions is greater than the available number of tuition waivers to be awarded, a lottery is used to select the appropriate number of recipients.

Nurse Educator Scholarship Program (NESP)

The number of awards made through this program, as well as the individual dollar amount awarded, are subject to sufficient annual appropriations by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor.

Nurses and academically talented students pursuing a career in professional or practical nursing education in Illinois may be eligible for the Nurse Educator Scholarship Program.

This program pays tuition and fees for approved graduate-level programs at eligible Illinois colleges for up to four calendar years (the equivalent of 8 semesters or 16 quarters of full-time enrollment). In addition, qualified applicants receive a stipend of up to $10,000 to cover the cost of attendance, including living expenses.

As part of the application process, applicants must agree to the terms and conditions that are outlined in the application's Teaching Agreement/Promissory Note. Recipients must teach in Illinois in the field of nursing education. If this teaching commitment is not fulfilled, the amount of proceeds received (including scholarship and stipend dollars) converts to a loan, and the entire amount plus interest and reasonable collection costs must be repaid.

Specific details, including eligibility requirements and application procedures, are provided at the Nurse Educator Scholarship Program page within the Student Zone's Advanced Degree area.

Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois (Illinois Scholars Program)

Created in 1988 by the award-winning teachers of the Golden Apple Foundation, the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois program recruits and prepares bright and talented high school graduates who represent a rich ethnic diversity for successful teaching careers in high need schools throughout Illinois and provides scholarships to students pursuing teaching degrees.

The Golden Apple Foundation is a not-for-profit organization based in Chicago. The foundation promotes excellence in Pre-K through 12 education through the work of excellent teachers. Golden Apple Scholars receive mentoring support from outstanding, award-winning teachers who are part of the Golden Apple network.

Eligibility

Any Illinois high school student is eligible for consideration for the Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois program. The Golden Apple Foundation makes and announces Golden Apple Scholar awards during the spring of each year.

A limited number of positions in the program are also open to college sophomores in attendance at one of the 53 Illinois colleges and universities that partner in the program. Candidates who are college sophomores must be nominated by the liaison of a participating university.

In exchange for successful completion of undergraduate college and a commitment to teach for five years in an Illinois school of need, Scholars receive financial assistance for four years to attend one of the 53 public and private universities across the state and take part in the summer programs that include teaching internships and enhanced teacher preparation.

How to Apply

To apply, students must be nominated to be a Golden Apple Scholar of Illinois by a teacher, counselor, principal, or other non-family adult. Students may also nominate themselves. Nominations for the Class of 2008 open on March 30, 2007 and close November 30, 2007.

For Golden Apple Scholar of Illinois applications, contact Golden Apple Foundation staff member Patricia Kilduff, Director of Recruitment and Placement, at 312.407.0433, extension 105.

General Assembly Scholarship

You might be able to pay for tuition with the General Assembly Scholarship if you are enrolled at an Illinois four-year, state-supported college and meet the eligibility criteria set by your legislative member.

Contact the General Assembly member from your district for more information. Applications are available from your state representative or the senator in your district. Contact the county election board if you are unsure of your district’s state representative or senator.

MIA/POW Scholarship

If you are the dependent of a person who was an Illinois resident at the time he/she entered active duty and has been declared to be a prisoner of war, missing in action, dead as a result of a service-connected disability, or disabled with a 100 percent disability as the result of a service-connected cause as recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the U.S. Department of Defense, you may be eligible to receive the MIA/POW Scholarship. This scholarship may be used at public colleges in Illinois, and is administered by the Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Department of Rehabilitation Services Education Benefits

If you have a physical or mental disability, and have been approved for vocational training by the Department of Human Services/Division of Rehabilitation, you may be eligible to receive financial assistance through the Department of Rehabilitation Services. You must demonstrate financial need, and assistance can be used at any accredited Illinois college or technical school.

Medical Student Scholarship Program

You may be eligible to receive paid tuition, paid mandatory fees and a monthly stipend of $950 through the Medical Student Scholarship Program. In order to be considered, you must be enrolled at an approved allopathic or osteopathic medical school in Illinois, and agree to work in an identified physician-shortage area in Illinois for one year for each year of assistance received through this program. You must also be an Illinois resident, demonstrate financial need, and be committed to primary care. The application deadline is May 15 for each upcoming academic year. This program is administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Allied Health Care Professional Scholarship Program

If you are a student studying to be a nurse practitioner, physician assistant or certified nurse midwife, you may be eligible to receive $7,500 for up to two years. To qualify, you must fulfill an obligation to practice full time in a designated shortage area as an allied health-care professional in Illinois for one year for each year you receive scholarship funding. If you fail to fulfill the obligation requirements, you must repay the state three times the amount of the scholarship received for each unfulfilled year of obligation, plus seven-percent interest per year. This program is administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Nursing Education Scholarship Program

If you are pursuing a certificate in practical nursing, an associates degree in nursing, a hospital-based diploma in nursing or a bachelor’s degree in nursing and demonstrate the greatest financial need among qualified students, you may be qualified to win the Nursing Education Scholarship. This scholarship provides financial aid anywhere from one to four years. If awarded, you must begin full- or part-time employment as a licensed practical or registered nurse in Illinois within six months of graduating, and remain employed for a period equivalent to the educational time supported by the scholarship. If you terminate studies, or fail to become employed, you will be required to repay the full scholarship amount, plus seven-percent interest per year.

The application cycle for this scholarship is from April 1 through May 31, prior to the beginning of the academic year for which you are requesting the scholarship.

Illinois Dollars for Scholars®

Dollars for Scholars is a national network of community-based scholarship foundations. A program of Scholarship America, the national program provides more than 45 years of experience and resources to the Illinois Dollars for Scholars region and its local chapter affiliates.

Every Illinois Dollars for Scholars chapter offers financial support to students from one or more schools within its area. Individuals interested in applying for a scholarship should contact their local chapter's officials, who will provide specific details regarding application requirements. A listing of chapters is provided at the Illinois Dollars for Scholars.

State Financial Aid Information

Find state financial aid information for the specific state that you live in. Find contact information for your local federal aid office, and get details about specific federal aid programs in your area.

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STATE OF ILLINOIS FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS

Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program

Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) Program

Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship Program

Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program

Nurse Educator Scholarship Program (NESP)

Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois (Illinois Scholars Program)

General Assembly Scholarship

MIA/POW Scholarship

Department of Rehabilitation Services Education Benefits

Medical Student Scholarship Program

Allied Health Care Professional Scholarship Program

Nursing Education Scholarship Program

Illinois Dollars for Scholars®

State Financial Aid Information

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