Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid

(last updated October 1, 2026)

The Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act allows certain students who are not eligible for federal student aid, including undocumented students, to apply for state financial aid. For these students, the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (“Alternative Application”) provides a way to apply for any state financial aid programs that would otherwise require completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). There is also a small subset of students who will complete or have completed the FAFSA who may also be able to complete a Supplemental Section on the Alternative Application if they are ineligible for federal financial aid and meet certain Illinois educational criteria. This information can be used in consideration for ISAC programs. See below for additional details.

Please note: The application is only the first step in the process - students must still meet all existing program eligibility criteria to receive an award

Eligibility for ISAC Programs
Eligibility and Application Process for MAP
Applying for Other ISAC Programs

Eligibility for ISAC Programs

Students who are not eligible for federal student financial aid, including undocumented students, may be eligible to use the Alternative Application, or complete a Supplemental Section of the Alternative Application, to apply for state financial aid programs if they meet all the criteria below before they will be enrolling in college.

2027-28 Applicants

Students can meet the criteria to apply for state financial aid using the Alternative Application, or the supplemental section of the Alternative Application, through either the High School Pathway or the High School and Community College Pathway:

1. High School Pathway
   
   You may be eligible to complete the application if:
   • You attended an Illinois public or private high school for at least 2 years before enrolling at an Illinois college or university; and
   • You graduated from an Illinois public or private high school or received the equivalent of an Illinois high school diploma; and
   • Only for undocumented students: You agree to file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States at the earliest opportunity if you are eligible to do so and you are not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.
2. High School and Community College Pathway
   
   You may be eligible to complete the application if:
   • You attended an Illinois public or private high school or an Illinois community college for at least 2 years and attended either or a combination of both for a cumulative total of at least 3 years; and
   • You graduated from an Illinois public or private high school or earned the equivalent of an Illinois high school diploma and earned an associate degree or completed 60 transferrable credit hours at an Illinois community college; and
   • Only for undocumented students: You agree to file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States at the earliest opportunity if you are eligible to do so and you are not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.

Eligibility and Application Process for MAP

There is no separate application for the MAP grant. MAP eligibility is determined based on financial need, using the information that students and parents provide on the FAFSA or Alternative Application. Similar to the FAFSA, the data from the Alternative Application will be used to calculate a Student Aid Index (SAI), through a formula used by the federal government to determine your financial need. While information from the Alternative Application is not sent to the federal government, the same formula is used to determine how much state financial aid a student completing the Alternative Application may be eligible to receive.

For students who complete only the Supplemental Section of the Alternative Application, this information, as well as information gathered from your FAFSA, will be used to determine eligibility for MAP.

You are encouraged to complete and submit each academic year's Alternative Application as soon as possible after it becomes available, which is typically October 1 for the following academic year. The 2027-28 Alternative Application, including the Supplemental Section, will be available October 1, 2026.

Application and Prescreening Questions

The 2027-28 Alternative Application is available as of October 1, 2026. The Prescreening Questionnaire at the beginning of the application will help students determine which application (Alternative Application vs. FAFSA) should be completed and if they are eligible to complete the Supplemental Section of the Alternative Application

If after responding to the prescreening questions, an applicant is found ineligible to complete the Alternative Application, a message will advise them to consult their high school counselor, a financial aid professional, or an ISACorps member for additional assistance.

If the prescreening questions indicate that the student is eligible to complete the Alternative Application, or the supplemental questions, the student may proceed with the application.

Applying for Other ISAC Programs

Whenever the application for ISAC financial aid programs requires the completion of the FAFSA, students who are eligible to complete the Alternative Application can use it instead.

If you complete only the Supplemental Section of the Alternative Application, this information, as well as information gathered from your FAFSA, will be used to determine eligibility for Illinois financial aid programs.