If you include reference names and email addresses in your online application, the application will automatically email your references on your behalf.  References will be given a link to return letters that are posted to your application file.  In this case, you will not be able to see the content.  You will only know the letters have been received.  But you may retrieve your reference letters yourself and then upload them to your application file.  These letters you will be able to review. Either process is acceptable.

The application is completed online and the application fee is paid online. Once you begin the process, you are able to return to your file and upload other requirements.  Official transcripts should be sent to the UIS Office of Admissions.

Acknowledgement of your application will be sent to you from the MBA program office. This will either be an acceptance letter or a checklist of items still needed to complete your full application.  

Note: This is likely to take 3-4 weeks after your application, fee and transcripts are received by the Office of Admissions.

When you are ready to begin MBA coursework, you will receive a faculty academic advisor. During the admission process and while you are completing prerequisites, you will receive guidance from MBA program staff.

More information regarding tuition costs can be found on the Tuition and Fees page.

Contact the MBA program office at (217) 206-7920.

1. Log in to the UIS Student Self-Service portal
2. Click on Financial Aid Notification
3. Make sure you select the correct aid year.
4. To accept/decline all or part of your offered aid, select the Accept/Decline button at the bottom of the notification.
5. Once you have clicked Accept/Decline, you are given to option to accept the full amount or click modify to take out a portion of the aid offered.
6. You can also request changes to your aid using the Request Changes button or by emailing Finaid@uis.edu.

Most forms and documents may be uploaded via UIS Student Self Service portal

1. Log in to the UIS Student Self-Service portal
2. Click on the Financial Aid Home page
3. Below the unsatisfied requirement you are submitting, click the Choose File button
4. Choose the file to upload and click Open (.pdf, .jpg and .png file types)
5. Once you view the file as Pending next to the Choose File button, click Submit
6. If the document has been uploaded successfully, you will see a "Document Upload Successful" status appear in the yellow box.

University Bursar prepares the billing statements for students. Tuition and fees are not assessed for students until closer to the start of each term, with official billing taking place after the add/drop period ends for each term.

1. Log in to the UIS Student Self-Service portal
2. Click on account billing information
3. Click on the UI-Pay
4. You can pay through View and Pay accounts

For more information on student accounts and how to pay, contact University Bursar at 217-333-2180 or bursarhelp@uillinois.edu.

Please read our UIS Student Guide to Financial Aid.

Work study is a part-time employment program for U.S. Citizens and permanent residents who are at least half-time students in a degree program and demonstrate financial need by filling out the FAFSA each year. If you have been awarded work study and would like to view work-study as well as part-time job listings, go to our CareerConnect website.

The MAP Grant pays according to the number of enrolled credit hours. Students enrolled in 15 or more credit hours will receive 100% of the MAP Grant award on their financial aid notification. Enrollment below 15 credit hours causes a prorated MAP disbursement. If the number of credit hours changes after the initial disbursement of the MAP Grant, by adding or dropping credit hours, the funds already paid to a student account may be adjusted.

Financial aid may be disbursed to the student account up to 10 days prior to the first day of classes. Students who are missing required documents or have not accepted financial aid in Self-Service may not receive a disbursement.

If you have excess financial aid that exceeds institutional charges on your UIS student account, University Bursar will issue a refund. The earliest a refund may be issued each semester is approximately a week prior to the start of classes.

Before you apply for financial aid, here’s some information you will need.

1. Your parents’ tax return for the tax year indicated on the FAFSA.
2. Your tax return for the tax year indicated on the FAFSA
3. Other income and asset information
4. Student driver’s license
5. Student and parent social security numbers, date of birth and legal names

If you are a dependent student, you and your parent will each need to create a StudentAid.gov account. You will need both of your social security numbers. You can create your account at StudentAid.gov.

Once you create your StudentAid.gov account, you may begin your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can apply for financial aid at studentaid.gov. If you need help with your FAFSA you can contact our office at (217) 206-6724 or schedule a meeting with an advisor at UIS Financial Aid. 

Students who are ineligible to file the FAFSA and reside in the state of Illinois may be able to apply using the Illinois Alternative Application.

A FERPA form can be completed which gives permission to disclosure higher-level financial aid information to a third party the student designates.  However, students and contributors should be aware that FERPA does not authorize the sharing of FTI data.  FTI data transferred from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may only be shared with the student upon request with the Office of Financial Assistance.  These data elements are considered highly protected by IRS Code and are only able to be used by higher education institutions for the purpose of administering financial aid programs, including determining eligibility and amounts of Title IV aid.  

The following information is included in FTI:

• Tax Year (ex. Award year 2025-26 is based on 2023 tax year information from the IRS)
• Tax Filing Status
• Adjust Gross Income (AGI)
• Number of Exemptions and Number of Dependents
• Income Earned from Work
• Taxes Paid
• Educational Credits
• Untaxed IRA distributions
• IRA deductible and payments
• Tax exempt interest
• Untaxed pension amounts
• Schedule C net profit/loss
• Indicators for Schedules A, B, D, E, F, H
• IRS response code

Students are not excluded due to military or veteran status, as long as they are first-time freshmen and meet all other eligibility requirements for the Promise. 

Many veteran or military-connected students are eligible for various types of military or veteran's assistance. Students with full tuition military-connected or veteran benefits may not have a need for the UIS Promise. 

The promise will cover mandatory fees for an undergraduate student with a full -time load of 15 credits/semester. Fees associated with online courses, lab fees, optional fees, athletic fees, late fees, parking permits or parking violation fees, and other non-mandatory fees are not included.

The Promise is intended to cover tuition and mandatory fees based upon an average of 15 credit hours per semester. Students may register for more or less credits as long as they are still enrolled full-time of at least 12 credit hours. The State of IL MAP Grant is pro-rated for enrollment of less than 15 credits, per state regulations. However, UIS scholarships and grants will not be increased to cover more than 15 credits per semester, nor will it be decreased if registered for between 12-15 credits.

Students receiving federal veterans’ education benefits, such as Post 9/11 GI Bill, may still be eligible for the Promise if all other criteria is met. Students who are utilizing State of Illinois veteran or military benefits may not have the need for the Promise. State of Illinois programs include Illinois Veterans Grant, Illinois National Guard Grant, and Deceased, Disabled, and MIA/POW Scholarship for dependents. These programs already cover full tuition and many mandatory fees.

A student must be an Illinois resident, be entering college as either a first-time, first-year (freshman) student or as a transfer student with a cumulative college GPA of 2.5 or above, be eligible for and receive the State of Illinois MAP Grant (as demonstrated by applying for aid through the FAFSA), enroll full-time, and not be in a fully online academic program.

Students may not see a grant or scholarship on their financial aid offer labeled as Prairie Promise. Beyond the IL MAP Grant, students' tuition and fees are covered by a combination of UIS gift aid such as Star Scholar Award, Capital Honor Scholarship, or AIM HIGH Grant funds. Other awards that will be included are Camerata Music Scholarship, Memorial Health Pre-Nursing scholarship, Child of Veteran tuition waiver, Child of Employee tuition waiver, and any other UIS-funded grants, scholarships and waivers. Some students may see a Promise award on their aid offer.

If students continue to meet the basic eligibility requirements and receive the IL MAP grant, they will continue to be eligible for the Prairie Promise for up to four years of undergraduate full-time study.

No, not at this time. The Prairie Promise is a financial aid initiative that is available to only first-year, first-time (freshmen) or transfer students who met the admission requirements mentioned under the eligibility criteria.

Room and board, course-specific fees such as laboratory fees, study abroad fees, the new student orientation fee, and indirect expenses like books, supplies and travel are not covered. Late fees, parking permits, parking tickets, damages, and other non-mandatory, optional fees are not included.