Illinois Commitment Four Years, Free Tuition

Illinois Commitment Four Years, Free Tuition Note: To view the most up-to-date details and requirements for this program, visit our Illinois Commitment webpage. As you finish up the first half of the school year, I want to remind you about our Illinois Commitment program. We want all high-achieving students across the state to be able to attend Illinois, regardless of family incomeâ€"and our four years, free tuition campaign can help! How do I qualify? Lets first dive into the information needed to understand what qualifies a student for Illinois Commitment. This criteria is outlined below: Youre a U.S. citizen or eligible noncitizenYou’re an Illinois resident (parents listed on the FAFSA are also Illinois residents)Your family income is $61,000 or lessYour family’s assets are $50,000 or lessYou’re under the age of 24You’re admitted as a new freshman or transfer studentYou attended and graduated from an Illinois high schoolYoure enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program for at least 12 hours during fall or spring semesters If some of this is confusing and youre still unsure if you qualify, you can review our frequently asked questions, give our Office of Student Financial Aid a call at 217-333-0100, or talk to your high school guidance counselor. What steps do I need to take to apply? If you think you qualify for Illinois Commitment, you should take the following 4 steps: Apply to Illinois. The deadline is January 5 for freshmen and March 1 for transfers.Submit your FAFSA. You must submit it by March 15 to be considered for the program.Check your financial aid status. Award letters are generally available beginning in mid-February.Enroll at Illinois. You must be admitted to Illinois and can accept your offer of admission any time up until May 1. If you think you qualify for Illinois Commitment, you may also qualify for an application fee waiver. Feel free to contact us for details. Is Illinois Commitment renewable? Absolutely! Illinois Commitment is renewable for a total of 4 years (8 semesters of continuous enrollment) for new freshmen, and for up to 3 years (6 semesters of continuous enrollment) for new transfers, as long as you continue to meet the following criteria: You must submit a FAFSA by March 15 prior to each academic year.You and your parent(s) must continue to be Illinois residents.Your total family income must be $67,100 or less.Your total family assets must be $50,000 or less.You must be makingSatisfactory Academic Progresstoward your degree.You must be enrolled in at least 12 hours during fall or spring semesters. What can I do if I don’t qualify? Dont worry! Students who submit the FAFSA but don’t meet the Illinois Commitment eligibility criteria will still be considered for other financial aid program funding. In addition, your application for admission doubles as your application for merit-based scholarships awarded through the university. You dont need to submit any additional materials to be considered for merit-based scholarships. Brian Senior Associate Director of Recruitment Outreach, Undergraduate Admissions I'm here to help high school students and their families navigate the college search process. An Illinois alumnus (LAS ’02), I had the honor to play football for the Orange and Blue.