‘Illinois Promise,’ program to aid low-income students

December 6, 2004

As a public university, we must ensure that talented students of all economic backgrounds have access to our programs. If the face of our campus does not reflect our society, we cannot fulfill our obligation to create the leaders of future generations. That's why our campus is announcing “The Illinois Promise,” a program that will ensure high-achieving in-state students from low-income families will be able to attend Illinois.

Beginning with entering freshmen in the fall of 2005, students meeting the program’s criteria will have the financial aid necessary to cover the estimated cost of all tuition, fees, books, and room and board throughout their next four years on the Urbana campus.

To be eligible, students must come from families with incomes at or below the federal poverty level, and with no contribution expected from the family toward educational expenses – as determined through the university’s financial aid application process. They also must be Illinois residents.

Students who would qualify for this program are particularly vulnerable to dropping out for financial reasons. We want them to know that we’re committed to seeing that finances are not a roadblock to their success at Illinois.

The program will not affect the federal and state aid available to other students, including other low-income students who don’t qualify for the program. About 70 percent of all undergraduate students at Illinois receive some form of financial aid, in the form of state or federal grants, loans or work-study.

Students in the program will receive the federal, state and institutional grants and scholarships for which they qualify and will be expected to participate in about 10 hours per week of on-campus work through the federal work-study program. The Illinois Promise will provide grants to cover the difference between that financial aid and the students’ estimated costs.

The funds for the program will come through grants from private support, and fund-raising is under way with a $250,000 commitment from Danville businessman Lou Mervis.

We estimate that about 125 students will be eligible for The Illinois Promise in the fall of 2005, with about a 10 percent increase in each new freshman class. The cost of the program in the first year, after deducting funds available through federal and state financial aid and work-study, is estimated at about $280,000.

Contributions to the program may be made online.

Read more about the Illinois Promise