Out of State Scholarships
Merit-based scholarships to out of state students.
Department URL
Donor Funded Institutional Scholarships
Donor-funded scholarships provided by generous alumni and friends of UIS. Annual application required.
UPDATE: The Biden Administration one-time Federal Student Loan Debt Relief program is currently on hold due to a federal court decision. The application is currently unavailable. Please review all the latest information at StudentAid.gov.
On November 22, 2022, the White House announced another extension to federal student loan repayments. Payments for borrowers that are not in a qualified deferment or forbearance status will now resume 60 days after the Department of Education is permitted to implement the debt relief program or litigation regarding the court cases is resolved by the Supreme Court. If there has been no resolution to the litigation of court cases or the debt relief program has not been implemented by Ju
Apply Now for Federal, State and Institutional Financial Aid for the 2023-2024 Academic Year
The time to apply for financial aid for Academic Year 2023-2024 (Fall 2023, Spring 2024 and Summer 2024) by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) began October 1, 2022. The Office of Financial Assistance encourages all UIS students to apply by December 1, 2022, to avoid missing any grant opportunities.
Policies
Please read the following documents carefully. These important financial aid policies and procedures can affect your continued eligibility for financial aid.
If you have any questions, please call our office (217) 206-6724 between 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., CST, Monday through Friday, or email Financial Aid.
Types of Aid
There are several types of financial aid that students can use to help pay for college.
Office of Financial Aid
It is the mission of the UIS Office of Financial Assistance to provide financial aid resources to students, administer aid programs with the highest integrity, and provide first-class customer service.
Office of Financial Aid mission statement
Approximately 85 percent of UIS undergraduate students receive financial aid through scholarships, grants, loans, and/or student employment. We are ready to help you apply for and receive assistance to fund your education.
Disbursement Process — Receiving Your Aid
Disbursement Process
When Will I Receive My Financial Aid?
Financial aid is disbursed to your student account no earlier than 10 days prior to the start of each term. Current term aid is disbursed continuously throughout the semester a few times per week. Aid is credited to the student's account. Based upon notification of other awards or changes in enrollment, financial aid and student account balances can change at any time (even after the semester ends).
UIS Student Guide to Financial Aid
This guide is designed to help you understand the financial aid process from the initial offer through delivery of financial aid.