ISAC Student PortalIllinois Graduate and Retain our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship Program
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Program Description
Eligibility
Participating Schools
How to Apply
Changes to Application Data
How Funds Are Disbursed
Processing Updates
The Illinois Graduate and Retain our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarship Program provides scholarship assistance to Illinois students pursuing IT and related careers. The program was designed to recruit and retain individuals to work in technology jobs that have a high demand for new employees. The program gives priority to renewal applicants, students who demonstrate academic excellence, students who demonstrate financial need, and minority students. Scholarships pay up to $7,500 in tuition & fees and room & board costs for each year recipients meet eligibility requirements at an ISAC-approved institution of higher learning.
As part of the application process, you must agree to the terms and conditions outlined in the Application/Work Agreement/Promissory Note. You must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application). By receiving this scholarship, you must agree to work in Illinois in a qualifying job for a period of no less than one year, or any portion of a year of scholarship assistance. You must begin employment with an employer in Illinois that is directly related to the field of study that qualified you for assistance under this program within one year following completion of the program. If this commitment is not fulfilled, the scholarship converts to a loan, and you must repay the entire amount, plus interest.
Eligibility
To be eligible, you must:
- be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen or meet the "undocumented student" criteria of the RISE Act
- be an Illinois resident
- have graduated from high school or have received a State of Illinois High School Diploma and have maintained a cumulative grade point average of no less than 2.5 on a 4.0 scale
- pursue or intend to pursue a qualifying degree;
- computer information sciences
- information technology
- information science
- computer science
- computer systems networking and telecommunications
- computer and information systems security or information assurance, including cybersecurity; or management information systems
- be enrolled at an ISAC-approved institution of higher learning, on at least a half-time basis, in a course of study necessary to secure a qualifying associate or bachelor's degree
- maintain satisfactory academic progress, as determined by your college
- complete the online application process by submitting a complete Illinois Graduate and Retain our Workforce Tech Scholarship Program application and a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) on or before by the ISAC-established date in order to receive priority access to funding.
Participating Schools
To view a listing of Illinois colleges approved to participate in this program, click on the link for the appropriate academic year.
How to Apply
The 2024-25 iGROW Scholarship Program application is currently available online via the Program Applications & Status Checks area of the ISAC Student Portal.
You are encouraged to complete and submit both the iGROW application and the FAFSA/Alternative Application on or before the date for priority access to funding. The priority access to funding date for the 2024-25 academic year was November 30, 2024. Untimely applications (i.e., those received after that date) continue to be considered only if funding remains available after all timely, qualified applicants have been awarded. A notification is sent to applicants after a final decision has been made regarding their award status.
Changes to Application Data
Only one application for this program may be submitted per academic year. Consequently, if you need to change your response(s) to any item(s) and/or update any information after the application has been submitted, you will need to provide the information to ISAC. Examples of items that may need to be updated include demographic information (i.e., name, address, telephone number, etc.), your college of record and the impacted terms (e.g., full year, or fall or spring semester). These changes can be submitted to ISAC using one of the below methods, but cannot be done over the telephone.
- via e-mail to [email protected]
- via FAX to 847.831.8549
- via letter to ISAC, Program Operations, 1755 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield, IL 60015-5209
The request must include the last four digits of your Social Security number (for identification purposes) and clearly state what change(s) need to be made. These changes will not affect the application "received date." In order to allow adequate processing time and prevent a loss of benefits, changes to your college of record should be reported prior to the beginning of the applicable term(s).
How Funds Are Disbursed
ISAC works with the college to disburse funds for this program. The college certifies student eligibility and then submits a payment request on behalf of the student. ISAC processes the payment request and submits the information to the State Comptroller's Office. Dependent on the level of State of Illinois funding at the time of the request, the amount of time it takes for funds to arrive at the college can vary anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
Depending on the college, students may be responsible for payment until program funds are received. Qualified applicants who are awaiting receipt of funds from this program should contact the Financial Aid Office or Business Office to determine the college's policy.
Processing Updates
Note that ISAC routinely updates this section as new information becomes available. Be sure to check back periodically for the current processing status.
For the 2024-25 Academic Year
(last updated December 4, 2024)
The iGROW Tech Scholarship Program application is available to complete.
The priority application consideration date for the 2024-25 academic year was November 30, 2024. Complete applications submitted after that date will be considered only if available funding remains after all timely complete applicants have been awarded.
