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 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 students 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 students 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.
MAP Start-up Implemented
2025-26 Monetary Award Program (MAP) records – reflecting the start-up formula that was approved at the September 19, 2024 Commission meeting – are available to access via the MAP system. All 2025-26 Institutional Student Information Records (ISIRs) and Alternative Application Student Records received by ISAC are available with their accompanying eligibility status information, and daily processing of 2025-26 ISIR, Alternative Application, and eligibility status information has commenced. Further details are provided in a December 30 e-Message.
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 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 students to check out the Financial Aid Planning area for information regarding resources that are available to help them complete the financial aid process.
March 31: Second-term Priority Claim Deadline for ECACE, Golden Apple, MTI, NES & Social Work Scholarship
ISAC is accepting second-term payment requests (claims) for the 2024-25 Early Childhood Access Consortium for Equity (ECACE) Scholarship, Golden Apple Scholars of Illinois (Golden Apple), MTI Scholarship, Nursing Education Scholarships (NES) and Post-Master of Social Work School Social Work Professional Educator License Scholarship (Social Work Scholarship) programs. The second-term priority claim deadline for these programs is Monday, March 31, 2025.
As originally announced in a December 6 e-Message, colleges may submit 2024-25 NES claims for the fall term via the NES system. The priority deadline date for 2024-25 NES fall-term claims is March 31, 2025.
In addition, even though the priority claim deadline of December 31, 2024 has passed for the first (fall) term, ISAC is continuing to accept and pay first-term claims for the ECACE, Golden Apple, MTI and Social Work Scholarship programs through March 31, 2025.
Further details are provided in a January 21 e-Message.
March 1: Spring-Term Application Deadline for Grant Programs for Dependents of Police, Fire, or Correctional Officers
March 1, 2025 is the spring- and summer-term application deadline for the 2024-25 Grant Programs for Dependents of Police/Fire/Correctional Officers. Applications received after March 1 will be considered for summer term only awards.
March 1: Spring-Term Application Deadline for the Displaced Energy Worker Dependent Transition Scholarship Program
March 1, 2025 is the spring- and summer-term application deadline for the 2024-25 Displaced Energy Worker Dependent Transition Scholarship Program. Applications received after March 1 will be considered for summer term only awards.
April 4: MAP Second-Term Claims Due
Colleges are encouraged to submit 2024-25 MAP claims for the second term as soon as possible, and no later than the April 4, 2025 claim deadline date. In addition, even though the December 6, 2024 deadline has passed, ISAC is continuing to accept fall-term claims; however, initial claims and upward adjustment amounts for the fall term will be held as late, to be considered for payment later in the year.
When submitting claims, remember:
- ISAC has suspended the announcement of 2024-25 MAP grants for all students whose initial FAFSA is received by the federal processor, or whose initial Alternative Application is received by ISAC, on or after August 21, 2024; and,
- analysis of fall-term claim data resulted in a reduction factor being applied to second semester and second/third quarter eligible amounts and payment claims in order to remain within the fiscal year 2025 appropriation.
Further details are provided in a January 2 e-Message.
Continue Submitting Benefit Usage Data for ING Grant and IVG
ISAC is accepting spring-term benefit usage data for the 2024-25 Illinois National Guard (ING) Grant and Illinois Veteran Grant (IVG) programs.
Deadline dates are as follows:
- ING Grant data for the spring term is due Friday, May 30, 2025.
- IVG data for the spring term is due Friday, May 30, 2025.
- Even though the dates have passed by which summer- (for the IVG Program) and fall-term (for the ING Grant and IVG programs) data must have been submitted in order to be considered timely, colleges are still encouraged to submit benefit usage data for those terms as soon as possible.
Benefit usage data for the ING Grant and IVG programs is submitted to ISAC by colleges via the benefit usage functionality within each program's system, allowing colleges to report enrollment hours and dollar amounts for initial, in-district and out-of-district benefit usage by students, as well as adjustments to previously-submitted data. Even though ISAC may not be able to fully reimburse institutions for 2024-25 ING Grant or IVG awards*, reporting of benefits used must still take place so that usage can be accurately reflected on students' accounts.
Further details are provided in a January 21 e-Message.
* As previously announced, fiscal year 2025 funds have been appropriated for ISAC to reimburse public universities for some of the tuition and fees that they waive on behalf of eligible veterans and Illinois National Guard members. Details regarding the payment request process will be provided once they have been determined.
iGROW Tech Awards Announced
A January 21 e-Message announces that 2024-25 Illinois Graduate and Retain Our Workforce (iGROW) Tech Scholarships have been announced. Colleges will be notified when the 2024-25 iGROW Tech payment processes begins.
FAFSA and Alternative Application Remain Available
Although ISAC has suspended the announcement of 2024-25 MAP grants (for all students whose initial 2024-25 FAFSA is received by the federal processor, or whose initial Alternative Application is received by ISAC, on or after August 21, 2024), these 2024-25 applications remain available online. If not already done, an application should be completed and submitted as soon as possible by students who will be attending college between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025. FAFSA results are used to determine eligibility for other forms of federal, state and institutional financial assistance. The suspension of 2024-25 MAP award announcements does not impact any other financial aid programs.
January 29: Monthly Webinar
ISAC will offer a "Monthly Operational Update and Program News" webinar starting at 2 p.m. (CT) on Wednesday, January 29, 2025.
To participate, visit the Partner Training page in the e-Library on the day of the event to access the webinar link and presentation materials.
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.
March 26-28: ILASFAA Annual Conference
Be sure to register for the Illinois Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (ILASFAA) annual conference – Together Towards Tomorrow – which is taking place March 26-28, 2025, at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in East Peoria.
April 1: MAP Advising Data Due
The collection period for 2024 MAP Advising data has opened, and colleges may submit the required information through the ISAC Gift Assistance Programs Access (GAP Access) portal. MAP Advising data to be reported for the 2024 collection period is as follows:
- available advising and support programs (for the 2023-24 academic year) and
- course completion data (for the 2022-23 academic year).
2024 MAP Advising data is due April 1, 2025. There have been no changes from past years to the submission process.
Further details – including tips for submitting MAP Advising data, access to the MAP Advising Support Programs Search Tool and the MAP Advising Data Collection User Guide, and the anticipated timeframe for collection of 2025 MAP Advising data – are provided in a January 7 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.
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.
Processing Schedules
Although ISAC staff will be unavailable on the days listed above, all systems for ISAC-administered programs within the GAP Access portal will be available during regularly scheduled hours. For MAP and other programs administered through components of the GAP Access portal, results for payment requests submitted from 5 p.m. (CT) the business day prior to the holiday through 5 p.m. (CT) the business day following the holiday will be available via the appropriate program's system on the morning of the second business day after the holiday.
For Assistance
Access the Financial Aid Administrators 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 FAAs.
If you have any questions, please contact School Services by sending an e-mail to isac.schoolservices@illinois.gov or calling 866.247.2172
