JB Pritzker, Governor, State of Illinois

2025-26 Financial Aid Application Completion Data Available

02/06/2025

Effective today (Thursday, February 6, 2025), 2025-26 Financial Aid Application Completion Initiative functionality is available in the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs (GAP) Access portal.

All Illinois senior students at a public high school are required to complete a financial aid application – either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) – as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma. Students and/or parents who choose to not complete either the FAFSA or the Alternative Application may submit the Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form.

ISAC's Financial Aid Application Completion Initiative is available to public and private high schools to help identify students who have completed a financial aid application, as well as those who have opted to complete the Nonparticipation Form. Completion data is available every day in GAP Access.

Operational details are provided in the Financial Aid Application Completion Initiative – Access and Agreement User Guide.

Senior Class Rosters for Public and Private High Schools

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) provides ISAC with all public high school senior class roster information to match with financial aid applications and Nonparticipation Forms. Therefore, public high schools do not need to upload their 2025-26 senior class rosters.

Private high schools can upload their Class of 2025 rosters into GAP Access to have the information matched with completed financial aid applications. Private high schools must complete a Student Record Upload for the Class of 2025 by July 31, 2025.

Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form

Students and parents can complete the Nonparticipation Form via the Program Applications & Status Checks area of ISAC's Student Portal. A student or parent will need to create a Student Portal account to complete the form. Once the form has been completed, the opt-out box will auto-populate with a check mark next to the student's name in GAP Access.

How ISAC's Training Team Can Help

ISAC provides support and assistance for the Financial Aid Application Completion Initiative and other college-going activities to both students and partners:

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.