Illinois Student Assistance Commission — Monetary Award Program (MAP)

The Monetary Award Program (MAP) is Illinois’s principal state grant based on financial need. It is administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), which calculates eligibility and sends award information to participating colleges. This is not a general-purpose check: the school applies the grant to tuition and mandatory fees, while any remaining balance depends on the student’s bill and other aid. For 2027–28, the start-up formula approved in September 2026 keeps an effective maximum of $8,064, though ISAC may revise it after the state budget is finalized.

For 2026–27, ISAC publishes a maximum award of $8,064. That is not an automatic or uniform payment. The formula considers financial need and tuition and mandatory fee costs at the school; an individual award may be lower. Check the official list of MAP-approved institutions and add the Illinois college where you plan to use the grant to your FAFSA so ISAC can calculate eligibility for that school.

The FAFSA is the application; priority depends on when it is received and on available funding. ISAC announced that initial 2026–27 applications received after April 23, 2026, would be placed in suspense while the agency waited to see whether additional funding became available. Returning MAP recipients had a March 1, 2026 priority date. Those dates have passed. Students seeking 2027–28 aid should submit the new FAFSA early and check the current cycle rather than treating a priority date as a guaranteed award.

Undocumented students need a separate, carefully dated warning. ISAC reported that a federal court decision on July 24, 2026, barred state-aid payments under the former alternative application for 2026–27, and that the 2026–27 Alternative Application was closed. Illinois announced revised criteria for the 2027–28 application, which became available October 1, 2026. Rules have changed; read ISAC’s current version and ask the college before assuming eligibility. This guide is not legal advice.

AIM HIGH is another state program, but it is not the same as MAP. It serves full-time students entering for the first time at one of 12 participating public four-year universities. Its requirements include Illinois residency, attendance at an Illinois high school, financial need, a FAFSA, campus academic criteria, and other conditions. Each university sets its process and individual award, subject to annual appropriations; support is not identical across the twelve campuses.

To start, file the FAFSA for the correct year, list your Illinois institution, and apply for admission. Then check the campus financial-aid portal and ask whether it requires an additional AIM HIGH form; procedures vary by university. For MAP, verify that the school is approved and review the cycle’s suspense status. ISAC offers Spanish-speaking assistance. Awards follow state rules and do not replace college scholarships.

Who it serves and what it can cover: For 2026–27, MAP published an effective maximum of $8,064; the 2027–28 start-up formula keeps that maximum, subject to budget review. It applies only to tuition and mandatory fees at an approved Illinois institution. The FAFSA serves as the application; at least one eligible school must be listed. Eligibility also depends on financial need, state residency, enrollment, and other criteria. ISAC placed initial applications received after April 23, 2026, in suspense for 2026–27; later FAFSAs do not guarantee a MAP award for that cycle.

How to apply or get help: ISAC lists this Springfield office as open Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Central Time; the general MAP line is 800-899-4722. For case-specific questions, contact the program or financial-aid office named on its official page.

Official application and program information