ISAC Student Portal2023-24 FAFSA, Alternative Application, and Important Dates
10/03/2022
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:
2023-24 (July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024)
New FAFSA and Alternative Application Now Available
2022-23 (July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023)
General Information (Not Specific to One Academic Year)
FAFSA® and Alternative Application Now Available
The 2023-24 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is now available online, and should be completed as soon as possible by students who will be attending college between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024. 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.
When completing the FAFSA online, which is the method that provides the quickest results for the federal application, remember that you (and your parent, if you are a dependent student) must first obtain an FSA ID from the U.S. Department of Education (ED). If you obtained an FSA ID from ED to apply for financial aid in a prior academic year, that same FSA ID will be used now to complete the 2023-24 FAFSA.
In addition, the 2023-24 Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) is also available (in English and Spanish). Qualifying undocumented 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.
ISAC is dedicated to helping educate students and parents about all aspects of financial aid. We devote resources to public outreach activities to help families plan for college. Public awareness and education regarding our programs is our priority as we provide students and their families with the most current information available. For example, the ISACorps – ISAC's group of recent college graduates – are trained to serve as near peer mentors to high school students.
To find an in-person event closest to you and to view a list of virtual events, please visit the Events page at the ISAC Student Portal. In-person events will be conducted in accordance with state and local health guidelines. Advance registration may be required for online events.
English- and Spanish-Speaking Counselors Available to Assist You
If you have questions regarding the financial aid application process and ISAC's programs, you may speak with an ISAC Call Center Representative by calling 800.899.ISAC (4722). Students with general questions may also have a real-time conversation with a Call Center Representative by simply clicking on the "Live Support – Online" button, which appears in the right margin of all pages within the During College and After College sections of the Students & Parents area. English- and Spanish-speaking counselors are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (CT).
An ISACorps member in your area can also assist you with the financial aid process.
October is College Changes Everything Month 2022
During the month of October, many high schools throughout Illinois will hold college application and financial aid application completion workshops for their students. College-bound students at participating schools are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities to receive assistance. In-person events will be conducted in accordance with state and local health guidelines.
Resources Available at the ISAC Student Portal
Be sure to visit the ISAC Student Portal to access the following helpful resources.
- For information related to MAP grants:
- MAP Paid Credit Hours Display (located in the Program Applications & Status Checks area) – if you are a MAP grant recipient, use this option to track the number of MAP Paid Credit Hours you have remaining.
- For assistance beyond financial aid:
- Student Resources Beyond Financial Aid (located in the Resources area) – find resources for food, housing, medical care, child and dependent care assistance and consideration because of special circumstances (includes listings of Illinois food pantries on or near college campuses, as well as across the state).
December 1: Priority Deadline Date for Returning MAP Recipients
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 or Alternative Applications by that academic year's priority deadline date will receive priority access to appropriated MAP funds.
For the 2023-24 academic year, eligible applicants must have received MAP funds during the 2022-23 academic year and submit their 2023-24 FAFSA or Alternative Application on or before December 1, 2022 (which is the 2023-24 priority deadline date) in order to receive priority access to 2023-24 MAP funds.
By June 30: High School Juniors Take College Assessment Exams for 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 will be high school juniors in the upcoming fall, only exams taken between August 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023 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 2024-25 academic year, will be named Scholars during the fall of 2023). Further details are provided at the State Scholar Program page of our website.
FAFSA and Alternative Application Remain Available
The 2022-23 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, 2022 and June 30, 2023. 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 MAP grant, as well as several other forms of federal, state and institutional financial assistance.
In addition, the 2022-23 Alternative Application is also available (in English and Spanish). As a reminder, qualifying undocumented 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 RISE Act page.
ECACE Scholarship Applications Still Being Accepted
The application for the 2022-23 Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship Program continues to be accepted, even though the July 15, 2022 priority consideration date has passed. Complete applications – including the 2022-23 FAFSA – received after this date (i.e., untimely applications) will continue to be considered for the ECACE Scholarship Program for as long as funding remains after all timely complete applicants have been awarded.
MTI Scholarship Applications Still Being Accepted
The fiscal year 2023 (FY23) state operating budget, which was signed into law by the governor in April, includes an appropriation for the Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program that increases the maxium annual award amount to $7,500 for the 2022-23 and subsequent academic years. In addition, the FY23 MTI Scholarship Program funding level initiates – to the extent allowed by the amount of funding that remains – at least 30 percent of the appropriated funds being reserved for qualified bilingual minority applicants, with priority given to those applicants who are enrolled in an educator preparation program with a concentration in bilingual, bicultural education.
The 2022-23 MTI Scholarship Program application continues to be accepted, even though the March 31, 2022 priority consideration date has passed. Complete applications – including the 2022-23 FAFSA (or Alternative Application, if applicable) – received after this date will continue to be considered for the MTI Scholarship Program for as long as funding remains after all timely complete applicants have been awarded. All minority students and qualified bilingual minority applicants who meet the program's eligibility requirements are encouraged to complete and submit their applications as soon as possible.
November 15: Priority Consideration Date for Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program Application
To receive priority consideration, applications for the 2022-23 Community Behavioral Health Care Professional Loan Repayment Program must be submitted on or before Tuesday, November 15, 2022. Further details are provided in an August 12 e-Message.
Throughout October: Public Service Loan Forgiveness Webinars
There is now less than a month remaining for federal student loan borrowers to take advantage of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program temporary changes, which end on October 31, 2022. Dates for PSLF webinars that will take place during the month of October will soon be posted at the PSLF page of ISAC's website. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how you might benefit from these temporary changes.
Holiday Schedules
ISAC staff will be unavailable for these holidays:
- Monday, October 10 – Columbus Day
- Tuesday, November 8 – General Election Day
- Friday, November 11 – Veterans Day
- Thursday, November 24 – Thanksgiving Day
- Friday, November 25 – Day after Thanksgiving
- Monday, December 26 – Christmas (observed)
- Monday, January 2 – New Year's (observed)
Staff will again be available the first business day immediately following each holiday.
For Assistance
Access ISAC's website anytime, or send an e-mail message to the ISAC Call Center. 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).
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If you have any questions regarding this e-Message, please contact the ISAC Call Center by calling toll free at 800.899.ISAC (4722), sending an e-mail message to isac.studentservices@illinois.gov or chatting live with one of our representatives through the "Live Support-Online" button in the Students & Parents area of our website.
Get information anytime about the college-going process and ISAC programs on ISAC's website and Student Portal, both accessible at isac.org.
