Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act and Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid

(last updated August 5, 2026)

The Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act allows certain students who are not eligible for federal student aid to apply for state financial aid. For these students, the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (or Alternative Application) provides a way to apply for state financial aid programs that would otherwise require completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). However, students must still meet existing program eligibility criteria.

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 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 through either the High School Pathway or the High School and Community College Pathway:

1. High School Pathway
   
   The student:
   • attended an Illinois public or private high school for at least 2 years before enrolling at an Illinois college or university; and
   • graduated from an Illinois public or private high school or received the equivalent of an Illinois high school diploma; and
   • (for undocumented students) agrees to file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States at the earliest opportunity if the individual is eligible to do so and is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.
2. High School and Community College Pathway
   
   The student:
   • 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
   • 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
   • (for undocumented students) agrees to file an application to become a permanent resident of the United States at the earliest opportunity if the individual is eligible to do so and is 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. 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. For example, the 2027-28 Alternative Application will be available October 1, 2026.

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.