MAP grants, which do not need to be repaid, are available to eligible Illinois residents who attend approved Illinois colleges and demonstrate financial need, based on the information provided on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). You are not required to submit high school grades or test scores when applying for a MAP grant.
Scholarship Details
- Provides need-based grants funded by the State of Illinois
- Available to Illinois residents attending approved Illinois colleges
- Award amounts vary each year based on funding and student financial need
- MAP funds may only be used for tuition and mandatory fees
- Grants are limited to fall and spring terms with no summer awards
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a U.S. citizen, eligible noncitizen, or meet RISE Act criteria
- Must be an Illinois resident
- Must demonstrate financial need based on FAFSA information
- Must be enrolled at least 3 credit hours per term in an approved Illinois college program
- Must maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by the college
- Must not be in default on student loans or owe a refund on state or federal grants
- Must not have received a bachelor’s degree
- Must have remaining eligibility under the MAP Paid Credit Hours limit
Application Process
- Apply for admission to an approved Illinois college or university
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid as early as possible
- List the Illinois institution you plan to attend on your FAFSA
- If you are not eligible for federal aid, complete the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid instead
- Submit all required financial aid materials by your school’s deadlines
- Review your financial aid award notification to see if an estimated MAP grant is included
Because MAP funding is historically insufficient to meet the demand, several allocation measures have been put into place to provide for as many awards as possible. One of those is limiting MAP awards to fall and spring terms only; there are no summer term MAP awards. Additionally, a suspension date is typically implemented early in the spring term each year, after which time no further awards are announced.
