ISAC Student PortaliGROW Tech Scholarship Program Overview
NOTICE: 2026-27 Alternative Application
On July 24, 2026, a federal district court ruled that undocumented students are no longer eligible to receive state financial assistance from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) for the 2026-27 school year. This means that students who submitted the 2026-27 Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid, including Illinois undocumented students, cannot be considered for any ISAC financial aid program for the 2026-27 school year. The 2026-27 Alternative Application is no longer available.
The eligibility criteria for the 2027-28 Alternative Application have changed from prior years.
For students who have questions specific to the 2026-27 Alternative Application and academic year, please see Student and Family FAQs: 2026-27 Alternative Application.
The Illinois Graduate and Retain our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship Program was established to recruit and retain individuals to work in technology jobs that have a high demand for new employees by providing scholarship assistance to Illinois students pursuing those careers. For the 2024-25 academic year, scholarships paid up to $7,500 in tuition & fees and room & board (two semesters or three quarters) for recipients meeting eligibility requirements at an ISAC-approved institution of higher learning.
As part of the application process, students agreed to the terms and conditions outlined in the Application/Promissory Note. By accepting this scholarship, recipients agreed to work with an employer in Illinois that is directly related to the field of study that qualified the candidate for assistance under this program. If this commitment is not fulfilled, the scholarship converts to a loan, and the entire amount, plus interest, must be repaid. Further details are provided for recipients on the Program Service Requirements page.
Because the 2027 fiscal year (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027) budget for the State of Illinois does not include an appropriation for the iGROW Tech Scholarship Program, no applications will be accepted and no awards will be made during the 2026-27 academic year.
This page will be updated if funds for the program are appropriated in a future fiscal year.
