ISAC Student PortalUpcoming Important Dates from ISAC
01/24/2025
The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) would like to make you aware of the following information, which may be of interest to you and/or your college-bound students.
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:
2025-26 (July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026)
2024-25 (July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025)
General Information (Not Specific to One Academic Year)
March 1: Illinois SETTW Application Deadline
Remind your college-bound seniors who plan to pursue a career in teaching that March 1, 2025 is the priority application consideration date for the 2025-26 Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program. In order to complete the online application, the student must log in to the ISAC Student Portal (if they have not already done so, they may create a profile here).
Complete applications received after March 1 will be considered only if available tuition waivers remain after all timely complete applicants have been awarded.
March 31: MTI Scholarship Application Deadline
Remind your college-bound seniors who plan to pursue a career in teaching that March 31, 2025 is the priority application consideration date for the 2025-26 Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program. In order to complete the online application, the student must log in to the ISAC Student Portal (if they have not already done so, they may create a profile here).
In addition to the MTI application, a 2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) (if applicable) must also be submitted by March 31.
Complete applications – including the 2025-26 FAFSA (or Alternative Application, if applicable) – received after March 31 will be considered only if MTI funding remains after all timely complete applicants have been awarded.
June 30: College Assessment Exam Deadline for State Scholar Consideration
Eligibility for the State Scholar Program is based, in part, on a student's highest qualifying ACT or SAT score. For students who are currently (or will soon be) 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).
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.
Further details are provided for students at the State Scholar Program page of our website.
FAFSA and Alternative Application Remain Available
The 2025-26 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. 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 is also available (in English and Spanish). Further details are provided at ISAC's Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act page.
Encourage your college-bound students to check out the Financial Aid Planning area for information regarding resources that are available to help them complete the financial aid process.
Financial Aid Application Completion Initiative and Nonparticipation Form
All Illinois public high school students are required to complete either the FAFSA or the Alternative Application as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma. Please see ISAC's Financial Aid Application Completion Initiative/Performance Metrics page, as well as a December 3 e-Message, for more information.
ISAC is on track to release 2025-26 completion information in February 2025, to help schools identify students who have not filed a financial aid application.
Students and/or parents who choose to not complete either the FAFSA or the Alternative Application may complete the Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form online via the Program Applications & Status Checks area of the ISAC Student Portal. A student and/or parent will need to create a profile to complete and sign the Nonparticipation Form.
February 28: State Scholar Appeal Deadline
As announced in a November 21 e-Message, more than 16,500 qualified Illinois high school students were designated as 2025-26 State Scholars last fall.
In order to ensure there are no errors in the announcement of State Scholars, counselors are encouraged to carefully review the sixth-semester roster data they submitted to ISAC. Appeals regarding the announcement of 2025-26 State Scholars must be received at ISAC by February 28, 2025.
January 27-31: Financial Aid Certification Series
ISAC's Financial Aid Certification virtual series, consisting of five sessions, will take place from Monday, January 27 through Friday, January 31, 2025. Further details, including details regarding each session and access to online registration, are provided in a January 8 e-Message. Participants who attend all five sessions will have the opportunity to receive a financial aid certificate from ISAC after successfully completing a post-series assessment.
February 25: Success Network Conference
If you have not already done so, register today for the 12th annual College Success Network conference – Building the Future We Want: Increasing Equitable Postsecondary Attainment – being held on February 25, 2025, at I Hotel & Illinois Conference Center in Champaign. Further details, including access to online registration, are provided in a January 10 e-Message.
April 17: Next Commission Meeting
The next meeting of the Illinois Student Assistance Commission is scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 17, 2025. Further details, including a listing of tentative agenda items, will be available prior to the meeting via the ISAC's Governing Board: The Commission section of the About ISAC area.
Visit the Commission Meeting Schedule page for information regarding all meetings scheduled in 2025.
Throughout the Spring: Professional Development Webinars
A January 14 e-Message provides information and access to registration for upcoming professional development offerings that will be available throughout the spring.
Updated MAP Estimator Available
Make sure your college-bound juniors know about the MAP Estimator (which is located in the Toolbox area of the ISAC Student Portal, and was recently updated to reflect the 2025-26 MAP formula). Students planning to attend an Illinois college may use this tool to get an idea of their possible eligibility for the MAP grant.
Holiday Schedules
ISAC staff will be unavailable for these holidays:
- Wednesday, February 12, 2025 – Lincoln's Birthday
- Monday, February 17, 2025 – Presidents' Day
Staff will again be available the first business day immediately following each holiday.
For Assistance
Access the Counselors area anytime, or send an e-mail message to School Services. 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 one or more subscription groups for Counselors.
If you have any questions, please contact School Services by sending an e-mail to isac.schoolservices@illinois.gov or calling 866.247.2172.
