ISAC Student PortalUpcoming Important Dates from ISAC
05/14/2025
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) would like to make you aware of the following information, which may be of interest to students and their families.
Unless otherwise noted, links in this message are to corresponding pages at ISAC's website (isac.org).
You may either scroll through the remainder of this message, or click on the appropriate link(s) to go directly to a specific section:
2026-27 (July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027)
2025-26 (July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026)
General Information (Not Specific to One Academic Year)
By June 30, 2025: High School Juniors Take College Assessment Exams for 2026-27 State Scholar Consideration
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 will need to 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 students who are currently high school juniors, only exams taken between August 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025 qualify for consideration in the State Scholar announcements that will be made during their senior year (i.e., high school juniors, who will be college freshmen during the 2026-27 academic year, will be named Scholars during the fall of 2025). Further details are provided at the State Scholar Program page of our website.
FAFSA and Alternative Application Remain Available
The 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) remains available online, and – if not already done – should be completed as soon as possible by students who will be attending college between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026. Specific details, including links to several online resources, may be accessed via the Financial Aid Planning section (which is located within the Students & Parents – Before College area). FAFSA results are used to determine eligibility for the Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant, as well as several other forms of federal, state and institutional financial assistance.
In addition, the 2025-26 Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) is also available (in English and Spanish). Qualifying students may file the Alternative Application – which is patterned after the FAFSA – to apply for the MAP grant. Further details are provided at ISAC's Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act page.
First Generation Scholars Network
If your child is the first in your family to earn a college degree, encourage them to join the First Generation Scholars Network to get support and resources from ISAC, their peers, and colleges across the state. They'll find events and programs that provide tools, resources, mentoring, and connections that can help make the transition to college life easier.
Online Resource Helps Students Find Leads for Summer Employment/Internships
Students seeking summer jobs or internships should be encouraged to follow the "Internship and Summer Jobs" link from the Toolbox area of the ISAC Student Portal.
Holiday Schedules
ISAC staff will be unavailable for these holidays:
- Monday, May 26 – Memorial Day
- Thursday, June 19 – Juneteenth
- Friday, July 4 – Independence Day
Staff will again be available the first business day immediately following each holiday.
For Assistance
Access the Students & Parents area or the ISAC Student Portal anytime, or send us an e-mail at [email protected]. With the exception of days when ISAC staff members are unavailable, we will review and respond to messages during regular business hours of Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (CT).
You are receiving this message because you registered for ISAC's e-Messaging service through the Parents subscription group.
If you have any questions regarding this e-Message, please contact an ISAC Student Engagement Representative by calling toll-free at 800.899.ISAC (4722). You may also reach out to ISAC Student Services by e-mail at [email protected]. We are happy to assist you.
