JB Pritzker, Governor, State of Illinois

2025-26 MAP Start-up Formula Approved

09/23/2024

The following highlights some of the agenda items included at the September 19, 2024 meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, and any action taken. A listing of the agenda items is provided in the September 19 Agenda Book, which can be accessed from the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission section of the About ISAC area of ISAC's website.

FY26 (2025-26 Academic Year) MAP Start-up Formula Approved – Agenda Item 5

Because the fiscal year 2026 (FY26) state budget process has not yet begun, when developing the proposed start-up formula, staff assumed that the Monetary Award Program (MAP) will receive $711.6 million, which is level with the FY25 appropriation. Following the FY25 recompute formula, staff recommended and the Commission approved using the following in the start-up formula for 2025-26 MAP grants:

  • 2021-22 reported tuition and fees;
  • the 2021-22 Pell Grant Payment Schedule;
  • a $5,200 living allowance; and,
  • an $8,400 maximum award.

In addition, as necessitated by FAFSA Simplification, the 2025-26 MAP start-up formula continues to mirror the federal methodology that allows students with a negative or zero Student Aid Index (SAI) to receive the same maximum Pell amount.

The approved start-up formula is outlined in the MAP section within the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs area of the website.

Operational details regarding implementation of the FY26 MAP start-up formula will be communicated in a future e-Message.

Encourage Students to Submit 2025-26 FAFSA® or Alternative Application, Once Available

Colleges should encourage students to submit the 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) as soon as possible after the applications become available. For the 2025-26 FAFSA cycle, Federal Student Aid has announced plans for a "limited soft launch" on October 1, 2024, with the intention of discovering and fixing issues through November and providing full FAFSA form access to all students by December 1, 2024. ISAC plans to release the 2025-26 Alternative Application to coincide with the date that the FAFSA is fully made available to all students in December. ISAC staff monitors application volume throughout the year to ensure that MAP awarding is in line with the available funding.

Continue to watch our established methods of communication, including the MAP Program News area and the FAA Message Board, for future operational updates.

Additional Items

The following additional items were presented to and approved by the Commission:

  • 2025 Meeting Dates – Agenda Item 1
  • College Illinois!® Prepaid Tuition Program Updates – Agenda Item 7

Next Meeting

The next Commission meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, December 5, 2024.

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If you have any questions, please contact School Services by sending an e-mail to [email protected] or calling 866.247.2172