Illinois State University's Map Grant Recipient Students

Illinois State University is a public institution that was founded in 1857 and has a total undergraduate enrollment of 18,450 students as of Fall 2023. The university offers its students access to financial aid through the Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP). The MAP is a state-funded, need-based grant awarded to Illinois residents enrolled in an undergraduate program. The grant is funded by the State of Illinois and administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). While the exact number of Illinois State University students receiving MAP grants is not publicly available, the university's large undergraduate population and the availability of financial aid suggest that a significant number of students may benefit from this program.

Who is eligible for the MAP grant?

The Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) is a state-funded, need-based grant awarded by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. To be eligible for the grant, students must meet the following criteria:

• Be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, or meet the "undocumented student" criteria of the RISE Act.
• Be a resident of Illinois. If the applicant is a dependent, the parent whose information is used on the FAFSA must be an Illinois resident.
• Demonstrate financial need.
• Be enrolled for a minimum of three credit hours per term in a degree or certificate program at an approved Illinois college.
• Be an undergraduate student who has not received a bachelor's or professional degree.
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by the college.
• Not be in default on any student loan, nor owe a refund or repayment on any state or federal grant or scholarship. Students in default may re-establish MAP eligibility by repaying the debt in full, making satisfactory payment arrangements, rehabilitating the defaulted loan(s), or making payments on the defaulted loan(s) to consolidate the loan(s).
• Not be incarcerated.
• Not have exceeded the equivalent of 135 semester credit hours of MAP benefits paid. Eligibility may be extended for one additional term if the recipient has accumulated fewer than 135 MAP Paid Credit Hours but does not have enough credit hours of payment remaining for the number of hours for which they are enrolled for the term.

The MAP grant is available to both traditional and non-traditional students and is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. It is important to note that MAP grants are limited to fall and spring terms only, and there are no summer term MAP awards.

How much money is awarded through the MAP grant?

The Monetary Award Program (MAP) is a state-funded, need-based grant awarded by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). The amount of money awarded through the MAP grant depends on the student's financial circumstances, the maximum amount allowed for tuition and fees at the college, and the annual maximum set by the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor.

For the 2023-24 and subsequent academic years, the maximum annual award amount is $8,400. The award amount for students enrolled in fewer than 15 credit hours per semester will be prorated. For every credit hour under 15, the State of Illinois will deduct $280 from the student's award. The MAP grant can only be applied toward tuition and mandatory fees.

The MAP grant is available to both full- and part-time students and is open to returning adult and traditional undergraduate students. To be eligible for the grant, students must be Illinois residents, demonstrate financial need, be enrolled in at least 3 credit hours per term, and meet other criteria as outlined by the ISAC.

How do students apply for the MAP grant?

The Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) is a state-funded, need-based grant awarded by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. The MAP Grant provides assistance to eligible students demonstrating financial need. To apply for the MAP grant, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and agree to share that information with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). Students are encouraged to complete the FAFSA as close to October 1 of each year as possible, as awards may be limited based on the FAFSA application date. There is no separate application for MAP; your FAFSA application automatically serves as an application for MAP consideration.

Undocumented students who meet Illinois residency criteria are also encouraged to apply for the MAP Grant by completing the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid. This application can also be completed by transgender students who have been denied federal financial aid. The Alternative Application is patterned after the FAFSA and serves as the MAP Grant application for undocumented and transgender students who have been denied federal financial aid.

To be eligible for the MAP grant, students must meet the following criteria:

• Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible noncitizen or meet the “undocumented student” criteria of the RISE Act
• Be an Illinois resident (if dependent, the parent whose information is used on the FAFSA must be an Illinois resident)
• Demonstrate financial need
• Be enrolled for a minimum of 3 hours per term at an approved Illinois college, in a degree or certificate program
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by the college
• Not be in default on any student loans or owe a refund on any state or federal grants
• Not have received a bachelor's degree
• Not have used the equivalent of 135 MAP Paid Credit Hours

The amount of the MAP grant award is determined by ISAC based on the student's Illinois residency, financial need, and enrollment status. The maximum award amount for the 2023-24 academic year is $8,400 for the fall and spring semesters. Awards for students with less than 15 credit hours per semester will be prorated.

When should students apply for the MAP grant?

The Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) is a state-funded, need-based grant awarded by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. The grant is available to eligible Illinois residents who attend approved Illinois colleges and can demonstrate financial need.

MAP grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, and it is recommended that students file the aid application early each year to ensure eligibility. The application for the MAP grant is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is typically available from October 1st. Due to the implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act, the 2024-25 FAFSA became available in December 2023. Students who are not eligible to file the FAFSA should complete the Alternative Application on the ISAC website.

Students who received MAP funds during the prior academic year and continue to meet all eligibility requirements will receive priority access to appropriated MAP funds if they submit their applications by the academic year's priority deadline date. The priority date for returning MAP recipients was April 1, 2024.

It is to your advantage to apply as early as possible, as funding is limited and must be disbursed before a semester cut-off date.

What is the MAP grant used for?

The Monetary Award Program (MAP) is a state-funded, need-based grant awarded by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. The program provides grant assistance to eligible students demonstrating financial need. MAP grants are applied toward tuition and mandatory fees for undergraduate students pursuing their first baccalaureate degree. MAP grants may be used toward tuition and mandatory fees only.

To determine financial need, an applicant completes and submits the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) as soon as possible after it becomes available for the academic year for which they are applying. Undocumented Illinois students who are not eligible for federal financial aid and do not file the FAFSA may apply for MAP using the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application). Funding for the MAP grant is limited; to ensure full-year consideration for an award, an applicant must apply early.

To be eligible for a MAP grant, you must be a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizen, or meet the “undocumented student” criteria of the RISE Act. You must also be a resident of Illinois. Dependent students must have parents who are Illinois residents. Students must also demonstrate financial need, be enrolled for a minimum number of credit hours, and maintain satisfactory academic progress.

The maximum amount of the grant program for 2023-24 is $8,400 for the fall/spring semesters. There is no MAP grant available for the summer term. Students enrolled in less than 15 credits per term will receive a prorated MAP grant. The total maximum number of lifetime credit hours is 135 credit hours.

Frequently asked questions