State Scholar Program

Program News

(Last updated July 2, 2026)

GAP Access Two-Factor Authentication
2027-28 High School Data Collection for SSP and OCCA
College Entrance Exams for 2027-28 State Scholars

GAP Access Two-Factor Authentication

A two-factor authentication process was implemented to improve security for accessing the Gift Assistance Programs on the GAP Access portal. The process requires the use of a one-time verification code, obtained through an application, in conjunction with a user ID and password, when logging in to the portal.

Two-factor authentication is required for both School User and Administrator accounts every time a user logs in. If the setup process has not yet been completed by the high school, refer to the GAP Access Two-Factor Authentication User Guide for instructions.

2027-28 State Scholars

High School Data Collection for SSP and OCCA

While the previously announced deadline to submit SSP and One Click College Admit (OCCA) data for Illinois students who will be college freshmen during the 2027-28 academic year was July 1, 2026, schools that have not yet done so may still submit data during the grace period (which ends on Wednesday, July 15, 2026).

As a reminder, the collection of sixth semester data is now done in one Batch Upload and supports both the SSP and OCCA programs. For this reason, ISAC is referring to this process as "High School Data Collection".

Refer to the following for further details:

• Required Sixth Semester Data (includes access to user guide and other resources)
• High School Data Collection Guidance for SSP and OCCA
• May 18, 2026 "High School Data Collection and Processing Has Begun" e-Message

College Entrance Exams

Eligibility for the State Scholar Program is based, in part, on a student's highest qualifying ACT or SAT score. High school juniors who are potential candidates must take one of the accepted exams during the specified timeframe to be considered for State Scholar designation, even though Illinois' public institutions are now prohibited from requiring the submission of student test scores as part of the admissions process.

For the high school graduating class of 2027, only exams taken between August 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026 qualified for consideration in the State Scholar announcements that will be made during their senior year (i.e., students who will be college freshmen during the 2027-28 academic year will be named Scholars during the fall of 2026).