51³Ô¹ÏÍø

Meeting 100% of Financial Need for Illinois Students

The Prairie Promise is all about helping Illinois students to attend one of the best liberal arts colleges in the country—right here in their home state.

For Illinois residents, enrolling at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø for the first time, we promise to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need. To put it simply, we will offer you a financial aid package that is competitive with almost any college or university in the Midwest, public or private.

The Prairie Promise is our commitment to make sure that every student in Illinois, regardless of their personal financial situation, has an opportunity to experience the transformational power of a 51³Ô¹ÏÍø education.

What are the specific numbers for you and your family? Apply for admission and financial aid and find out!

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At 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, you join a community with a long-standing history of making college affordable to students of all financial means, and we’re one of the most diverse, vibrant colleges in the country:

• Twenty percent of our students are the first in their family to attend college
• Nearly 30% are students from underrepresented backgrounds
• Almost 20% come from overseas

You’ve worked hard to attend a highly ranked college. When you choose 51³Ô¹ÏÍø you will attend a college recognized as:

• A Best Value by US News
• A top 50 College by Washington Monthly for 10 years in a row
• One of America’s Colleges That Change Lives

51³Ô¹ÏÍø offers you extraordinary opportunities to pursue your educational passions—our pre-professional programs in business, engineering, law, and health professions, and our traditional liberal arts offerings, such as creative writing, environmental science, journalism, political science, public policy, anthropology and sociology, and so much more. Choose from nearly 100 and minors, or create your own interdisciplinary path.

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Frequently Asked Questions

• How will you calculate my demonstrated need?

  Your need will be based upon the data provided by you and your family on the , along with an expected minimum student contribution.

• What types of financial aid can I expect to receive?

  Your financial aid award may include federal and state grants, 51³Ô¹ÏÍø grants and scholarships, federal student loans, and/or a campus employment award, as well as any outside scholarships that you may receive.

  Loans included with your financial aid award will be limited to the Federal Direct Student Loan. We’ll never meet your need by including a parent PLUS loan or private loan in your aid award—that’s our promise.

• Are federal and state grants included in the Prairie Promise?

  Yes. Federal and state grants are used to meet the Prairie Promise. They will be part of your financial aid award.

• Can I be considered for both a merit scholarship and the Prairie Promise?

  Your 51³Ô¹ÏÍø merit scholarships will be used to meet the Prairie Promise and will be part of your financial aid award.

• What will happen to my financial aid if my financial circumstances change?

  Students must complete the financial aid application process and have their financial need determined each year. If your income and assets fluctuate, the amount of your financial aid award may differ based on the information submitted in subsequent years.

• I've been awarded an outside scholarship. How does that impact the Prairie Promise?

  Most scholarships that you receive from outside sources will help to reduce the amount you have to pay. Some outside scholarships can only be applied toward the cost of tuition, while others can be used to meet any of your college expenses, such as room, board, books, and other expenses.

  If you receive outside scholarships that can only be used for tuition, be aware that the total of these awards, along with any grants and scholarships you receive from 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, federal, and state sources, cannot typically exceed the cost of tuition. You should definitely apply for as many outside scholarships as possible to reduce your college costs.

• Will I be eligible for the Prairie Promise during all four years of my 51³Ô¹ÏÍø career?

  Yes. The amount of your financial aid award may vary depending on the information submitted on your financial aid application in subsequent years.

• Is there a deadline to apply for the Prairie Promise?

  First-year students should apply for admission and financial aid by the Early Action deadlines of November 1 or December 1, or by the Regular Decision deadline of January 15.

• As an undocumented or DACA student, am I eligible for the Prairie Promise?

  Undocumented students from Illinois may be eligible for a Illinois MAP Grant by completing the RISE Act  and the Financial Aid Application for Students Ineligible for Federal Financial Aid (PDF). If you’re eligible for a MAP Grant, you’ll also be eligible for the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Prairie Promise.

• Is the Prairie Promise available for currently enrolled students?

  Illinois residents enrolling at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø for the first time in Fall 2022 or beyond are eligible for the Prairie Promise. 

• Are transfer students eligible for the Prairie Promise?

  Yes. The Prairie Promise is available to first-year and transfer students who are residents of Illinois and will be enrolling at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø for the first time in Fall 2022 or beyond.