Illinois AIM HIGH Grant Program
AIM HIGH is offered at 12 public four-year universities. State criteria include Illinois residency, attendance at an Illinois high school, U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status, financial need and FAFSA, full-time university enrollment, and campus-specific academic requirements. Award amounts and procedures vary by institution and appropriations; renewable support should not be assumed until awarded.
About Illinois AIM HIGH Grant Program
AIM HIGH is a grant distributed by ISAC to participating public four-year universities to help cover full-time undergraduate students’ cost of attendance. The program combines state funding with matching contributions designed by each campus. As a result, students with similar financial circumstances may face different academic criteria, application steps, and award amounts at different universities.
The participating list includes twelve campuses, among them the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, UIC, Illinois State, Northern Illinois, Eastern Illinois, Southern Illinois, and other public universities. ISAC links to each institution’s rules; simply living in Illinois or filing a FAFSA is not enough. In general, applicants must have attended an Illinois high school, be Illinois residents, seek first-time enrollment at the campus, attend full time, demonstrate need with household income no higher than eight times the federal poverty guideline, and meet academic standards set by the university.
ISAC also states a citizenship criterion for the AIM HIGH grant: U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status for federal aid. The program is connected to a July 2026 court decision about state aid for undocumented students under the 2026–27 alternative application. Because this area is sensitive and changing, consult ISAC’s latest update and the campus financial-aid office for the year that applies to you.
There is no universal amount that can be promised to every student. The number of grants and their dollar amounts depend on state appropriations and may differ by institution. ISAC describes renewals for students who continue to meet the requirements, but also says an award may change if the cost of attendance falls, such as after taking fewer credits or moving to a lower-tuition major.
Start by applying to a participating university, filing the FAFSA with that school, and checking its financial-aid portal. Ask the campus office about extra forms, GPA or test requirements, and local dates. Universities administer matching funds separately; ask whether those require another application and how the school coordinates them with MAP, Pell, and private scholarships.
Who it serves and what it can cover: AIM HIGH is offered at 12 public four-year universities. State criteria include Illinois residency, attendance at an Illinois high school, U.S. citizenship or eligible noncitizen status, financial need and FAFSA, full-time university enrollment, and campus-specific academic requirements. Award amounts and procedures vary by institution and appropriations; renewable support should not be assumed until awarded.
How to apply or get help: Check the participating university for its specific requirements and dates; ISAC answers general questions at 800-899-4722. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.
State institutional grant for full-time students at Illinois public four-year universities