2025-26 MAP Start-up Formula Is Being Revised to Keep Awards at 2024-25 Levels

03/12/2025

Consistent with usual practice, the FY26 MAP Start-Up Formula that was approved at ISAC’s September 19, 2024 Commission Meeting was a carryover of the prior year's (FY25) MAP Recompute Formula, which had an $8,400 maximum annual award amount. However, as ISAC has been monitoring 2025-26 FAFSA application volume and comparing FY26 data to FY25 data, there continue to be indications that FY26 application volume may be higher than FY25, along with expectations that enrollment levels will remain at the increased levels we are seeing in FY25.

As a result, ISAC is announcing that the Start-Up formula for the 2025-26 academic year will be adjusted to remain at the current FY25 level (announced in December for 2024-25), maintaining the FY25 4 percent reduction factor. Thus, FY26 annual MAP awards will be calculated with a 4 percent reduction factor. The effective maximum annual award for 2025-26 will be reduced from $8,400 to $8,064.

Keeping the Start-Up formula at the current FY25 level will allow the program to serve a greater number of eligible applicants than would otherwise receive grants, without sacrificing significant purchasing power.

The 2025-26 Start-Up Formula will be implemented in the GAP Access portal, beginning after 4 pm on Friday, March 14. Updated award amounts are expected to be available to institutions in the MAP system on Monday, March 17, 2025. The GAP Access system and Student Portal will be unavailable while the updates are made.

The maximum annual award amount set by the revised MAP Start-Up Formula will continue to be an estimated amount based on analysis and projections. Until the state’s budget is approved by the Illinois General Assembly and signed by the Governor later this spring or in early summer, the maximum annual award amount is not considered to be a final, approved amount.

As colleges send out award notifications, it’s important to identify MAP as "State of IL MAP Grant (Est)" and to ensure that the 2025-26 Required School-Issued Award Notification Letter is provided to students when they are notified of their eligibility for a MAP award.

The next phase in the 2025-26 MAP cycle will be the Recompute Formula, which will be based on the MAP appropriation in the finalized state budget and presented for approval at the June 26, 2025 Commission Meeting.

At this time, a 2025-26 MAP suspense date has not been announced.

ISAC truly appreciates your partnership and support as we navigate the phases of the MAP cycle and the state budget process during these changing and uncertain times. We will continue to monitor application volume, claim rates, and enrollment trends, and provide you with future updates as soon as we possibly can.

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If you have any questions, please contact School Services by sending an e-mail to isac.schoolservices@illinois.gov or calling 866.247.2172.