Application Procedures for MAP

{ISAC Rules, Section 2735.30}

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®)
Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid
Students Correcting Alternative Applications
Dependency Status Overrides
Financial Aid Administrators Correcting Alternative Applications

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®)

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA^®) serves as the application for the MAP grant. Each student who reports Illinois as their state of legal residence automatically applies for MAP when completing the FAFSA annually. The FAFSA should be completed as soon as possible after it becomes available* for the academic year for which assistance is being requested. Returning MAP recipients (i.e., students who received MAP funds during the prior academic year and continue to meet all eligibility requirements) who submit their FAFSAs by that academic year’s priority deadline date (set by ISAC annually) will receive priority access to appropriated MAP funds.

The FAFSA Processing System (FPS), on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education (ED), uses the FAFSA data to determine the student's Student Aid Index (SAI), which is then used to measure the student's (and, if applicable, the family's) ability to pay for college. The student's family financial information (the FAFSA data) is made available to ISAC to calculate MAP eligibility. MAP award calculations will be done only for those Illinois students who list a MAP eligible school as one of their school choices* on the FAFSA.

After completing a FAFSA (electronic or paper), students will receive an official output document called a FAFSA Submission Summary. Details regarding this output document are provided on the FAFSA Submission Summary page, located within the e-Library. The schools that are listed by the student on the FAFSA receive the same data electronically via an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR). Corrections to data must be made by the school via the FAFSA Partner Portal, or by the student via either the online FAFSA or the paper FAFSA Submission Summary document (specific details are provided on the How To Correct or Update Your FAFSA Form page at the StudentAid.gov website). Corrected applicant information is forwarded from the FPS to ISAC. ISAC maintains the student's most recent data in its system.

Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid

Illinois provides an Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid for students to apply for state financial aid programs if they meet certain criteria. More information is available at the Illinois Alternative Application page.

Details on processing Alternative Applications will be updated for the 2027-28 academic year.

Students Correcting Alternative Applications

As of July 24, 2026, a federal district court ruled that undocumented students are no longer eligible to receive financial assistance for the 2026-2027 school year. For this reason, the 2026–27 Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid is no longer available for new submissions or corrections.

Details on correcting Alternative Applications will be updated for the 2027-28 academic year.

Dependency Status Overrides

Students who are unable to provide parental information on their Alternative Applications can indicate this while they are completing the online application

ISAC cannot accept any corrections on the 2026-27 Alternative Application at this time. Details on adjustments and overrides on submitted Alternative Applications will be updated for the 2027-28 academic year.

Financial Aid Administrators Correcting Alternative Applications

Within the MAP system of the GAP Access portal, colleges have the ability to make corrections and submit professional judgment adjustments for students who have submitted an Alternative Application.

ISAC cannot accept adjustments on the 2026-27 Alternative Application at this time. Details on adjustments and overrides on submitted Alternative Applications will be updated for the 2027-28 academic year.