Illinois Veteran Grant

About this scholarship

The Illinois Veteran Grant is an entitlement that covers eligible tuition and mandatory fees at Illinois public universities and community colleges. It may be used for undergraduate, graduate, and qualifying noncredit study for up to 120 eligibility units, approximately four academic years of full-time enrollment. Housing, meals, books, and other living costs are not included, so the benefit is classified as partial funding. Eligible applicants generally must have at least one year of federal active-duty service, although shorter service can qualify for recognized foreign-hostility duty, a service-related medical discharge, or discharge before August 11, 1967. The most recent service must be honorable, subject to the official exceptions. Applicants must also meet one of the program’s Illinois-residency pathways: service entry connected to Illinois followed by timely return, or current Illinois residence plus at least 15 consecutive post-service years in the state. The student must attend an Illinois public two- or four-year college and maintain that institution’s minimum GPA. Applications are accepted throughout the academic year and only one is needed to establish eligibility. ISAC advises allowing about 12 weeks for review; the applicant must notify the college by the final scheduled class day of the term for which benefits are requested.

Eligibility

• Have qualifying current honorable service or an eligible discharge from the U.S. Armed Forces, reserve component, or Illinois National Guard
• Complete at least one year of federal active duty or qualify under a published service-length exception
• Meet one of the Illinois residency pathways stated by ISAC
• Enroll at an Illinois public two- or four-year college or community college
• Maintain the minimum GPA required by the institution
• Submit the IVG application and all service and residency documentation
• Allow sufficient processing time and notify the college by the last scheduled class day of the requested term
• Remain within the program’s 120 eligibility-unit limit