MAP grants are awarded to Illinois residents attending an undergraduate program at an in-state college or university. These need-based grants are funded by the State of Illinois and administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).

Illinois residents apply for the MAP grant by submitting a FAFSA every year. Students who are not eligible to File the FAFSA should complete the Alternative Application on the ISAC website. It is to your advantage to apply as early as possible as funding is limited and must disburse before a semester cut-off date. Please visit ISAC’s website (https://www.isac.org/students/during-college/types-of-financial-aid/grants/monetary-award-program/#Filing_Deadline_Dates) for updates on filing deadlines.

Students must have a Student Aid Index (SAI) of 9,000 or less to qualify. The current maximum award for 2024-2025 is $8,400 for full-time enrollment (15 credit hours per term), and may be less for students enrolled in fewer than 15 credit hours. The award is restricted to tuition and mandatory fees.

For complete information on the Illinois MAP Grant, visit isac.org.

Award information

By applying for financial aid and agreeing to share that information with the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) you have been considered for the State of Illinois (IL) Monetary Award Program (MAP) Grant. If you were determined to meet the eligibility criteria for the MAP grant, an award is included on your financial aid package. This award may be an estimate made by the financial aid office and, if so, is identified as a "State of IL MAP Grant (Est)". MAP grants are limited based on the number of applicants and funding levels appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly. Please be aware that in light of state funding constraints, reductions to estimated or actual MAP grants are possible.

Eligibility for a MAP grant is tracked by the equivalent number of semester credit hours of MAP benefits paid on your behalf. This is called MAP Paid Credit Hours. Payment for each term is being made according to the equivalent number of credit hours eligible for MAP payment, with a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 15 MAP Paid Credit Hours. If you are enrolled in fewer than 15 credit hours, your award will be prorated. The maximum number of MAP Paid Credit Hours that can be received is capped at 135, or the equivalent of 4.5 full-time semesters. Once this maximum is reached, a student is ineligible for future MAP Grant payments.

If a State of IL MAP Grant (Est) is not included in your award letter, you are not eligible for the grant at Loyola University Chicago.