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Types of Financial Aid

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Federal Grants

 

Federal Pell Grant

The Federal Pell Grant is a federally funded grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Education.

  • Need-based
  • 2011-2012 Awarded to students with an EFC less than 5,274
  • 2011-2012 Awards vary from $555 to $5,550
  • Awards are offered based on full-time enrollment (12 or more credit hours) and will be reduced for three-quarter-time, half-time, or less than half-time enrollment.
  • Available to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's degree or professional degree.
  • Students who do not receive their full Federal Pell Grant award during the fall and spring terms may be eligible for the remaining amount if they attend classes during the summer. Students who have not used their full eligibility during the fall and spring terms may be eligible for Pell during the summer.

Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

The FSEOG is a federally funded grant awarded by the Student Financial Aid Office.

  • Need-based
  • Awarded only to Pell Grant eligible students
  • Award amounts vary
  • Must be enrolled full-time
  • Available to eligible undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor's degree or professional degree

Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant

The TEACH Grant Program provides up to $4,000 a year in grant assistance to undergraduate and graduate students who agree to serve for at least four years as full-time “highly qualified” teachers in high-need fields in public or private elementary or secondary schools that serve students from low-income families.  Student-at-Large and Post-Baccalaureate students are not eligible for this grant.

The Student Financial Aid Office recommends that only students who are committed to teaching a high-need subject in a designated low-income school upon graduation consider this possible source of funds. This teaching obligation must be completed in a public or nonprofit elementary or secondary school that is eligible for Title I assistance. If the four-year teaching obligation is not met within eight years of graduation, the grant will convert to an unsubsidized loan, which will have to be repaid with interest calculated back to the date the funds were disbursed.

  • Non-need-based, but must file a FAFSA
  • U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen
  • Undergraduate and graduate students - Student-at-Large and Post-Baccalaureate students are not eligible.
  • $4,000 each year, prorated for students enrolled less than full-time
  • Score above the 75th percentile on a national standardized college admissions test or have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 as a high school graduate and maintain that GPA throughout the academic program
  • Complete TEACH Grant counseling and sign a TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve and Promise to Pay. Grant recipients agree to teach for at least four years within eight years of finishing their teacher preparation program and to teach high-need subjects in designated schools that serve low-income students.
  • Enroll in a teacher education certificate program in one of the following areas:
    • Bilingual Education and English Language Acquisition
    • Foreign Language
    • Mathematics
    • Reading Specialist
    • Science
    • Special Education
Complete TEACH Grant Initial Counseling and TEACH Grant Agreement to Serve

Eligible students will be notified. Click here for more information regarding eligibility.

State Grants

The Illinois Student Admissions Commission administers several grants. Please visit www.collegezone.com to find information regarding these programs.

Illinois State Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant

The MAP Grant is a state-funded grant awarded by the Illinois Student Aid Commission.

  • Need-based
  • Students and parents must be Illinois residents
  • Available to undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s degree or professional degree 
  • Awards vary from $300 to $4,968
  • Awards for students with less than 15 credit hours per semester will be pro-rated
  • Grants may be limited based on FAFSA application date, number of applicants, and funding levels appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly
  • Eligible students with sophomore standing who have accumulated 75 MAP Eligibility Units become ineligible but may regain eligibility once they attain junior standing and students who have accumulated 135 MAP Eligibility Units are not eligible. For more information click here