FY27 ISAC Program Funding: Budget Bills Approved

07/01/2026

Governor Pritzker has approved House Bill (HB) 111 (operating budget bill) and HB 2949 [budget implementation bill (BIMP)], which together provide funding and statutory authority for Illinois programs and services, including ISAC's programs, for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27). Both bills were approved by the Illinois General Assembly shortly before both chambers adjourned in the early morning hours of June 1, and they were forwarded to the governor June 10 for review and signature.

The governor, working in cooperation with lead appropriators in both chambers, did issue several line-item vetoes to correct errors and remove duplicative language from HB 111, but with those changes, the remainder of the budget for FY27 was approved and is now in effect. The bills are now considered law and are officially Public Act 104-0464 (budget) and Public Act 104-0466 (BIMP). (Before considering printing, please note the documents' length.)

Overall, the FY27 funding levels for ISAC-administered programs are very similar to the current year's budget. Most significantly, general funds for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) are held at the current level, keeping program appropriations at just under $721.6 million.

The budget includes an increase for the Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program ($10 million, up from $7.5 million in FY26). In addition, ISAC will administer a $250,000 grant for the N'DIGO Foundation, a previous ISAC grantee, "to fund internships to train students and youth in communications."

Some ISAC programs will experience decreased funding in the FY27 budget.

  • The budget reduces to $5 million (down from $6 million in FY26) funds to reimburse public universities for a portion of the tuition and fees that have been waived on behalf of eligible veterans and guard members through the Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) and Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant programs. The Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) receives funding to reimburse Illinois community colleges for the costs associated with these same programs; their appropriation is expected to cover community colleges' IVG and ING Grant costs in full.
  • While funding for the Grant Programs for Dependents of Police, Fire, or Correctional Officers is down slightly ($1.1 million, down from $1.3 million in FY26), we do not anticipate students being impacted by this reduction.
  • The Human Services Professional Loan Repayment Program is funded at only $250,000 from general funds, down from $1.25 million in general funds that the program received for FY26.

FY27 ISAC Program Appropriation Highlights

MAP – $721,566,200

Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity Scholarship – $5,000,000

Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois – $10,750,000

Golden Apple Accelerators – $5,000,000

Teachers of Illinois Scholarship – $8,000,000

Nursing Education Scholarship – $4,000,000

Grant Programs for Dependents of Police, Fire, or Correctional Officers – $1,100,000 (decrease)

Displaced Energy Worker Dependent Transition Scholarship – $1,100,000

Grant Program for Exonerees and their Dependents – $150,000

ING Grant and IVG reimbursement for public universities – $5,000,000 (decrease)

Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License Scholarship Program and School and Municipal Social Work Shortage Loan Repayment Program (combined appropriation) – $2,000,000

Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment – $10,000,000 (increase)

Human Services Professional Loan Repayment – $250,000 (decrease)

Illinois Teachers Loan Repayment – $975,000

Nurse Educator Loan Repayment – $400,000

Veterans' Home Medical Providers' Loan Repayment – $26,400

Aspirational Institutional Match Helping Illinois Grow Higher Education (AIM HIGH) Grant – $50,000,000*

* AIM HIGH funds are disbursed in lump sums by ISAC to public universities.

With the approval of the budget, program implementation and operational activities for the 2026-27 academic year will begin to move forward. As always, we will regularly provide updates and processing details regarding each of our programs as we proceed through the year.

State Legislative Update

Additional details regarding the FY27 state budget, as well as highlights of action taken by the Illinois General Assembly during its spring legislative session that may be of interest to the state's financial aid community, will be provided in an upcoming State Legislative Update.

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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