ISAC Student PortalApplying for Financial Aid
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
The FAFSA is the first step in the financial aid process. It is used to apply for federal student financial aid such as grants, loans and work study. In addition, postsecondary schools use information from the FAFSA to award non-federal financial aid. The application is available free of charge.
The FAFSA and ISAC Gift Assistance Programs
For Illinois residents, the FAFSA is also the application used for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant and the Illinois Incentive for Access (IIA) Program. Students must list an Illinois postsecondary school as one of the school choices on the FAFSA to be considered for the MAP and IIA grants.
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) administers several gift assistance programs for Illinois students. Each program has its own eligibility requirements, features, benefits, application, and priority consideration date or deadline. Visit the ISAC Gift Assistance Section to learn more about each program.
