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IIA Eligibility Requirements
Institutional Eligibility {ISAC Rules, Section 2700.30}

Institutions approved to participate in the Monetary Award Program (MAP) are also approved for the Silas Purnell IIA Program. IIA-participating schools must offer at least a two-year program of collegiate study directly applicable toward the attainment of an associate or baccalaureate degree, or a program yielding a certificate, diploma, or associate degree in health education. These schools must be located in Illinois and may be public, private nonprofit, or certain proprietary institutions.

Student Eligibility {ISAC Rules, Sections 2700.20, 2700.40 and Section 2736.20}

To qualify for the IIA Grant, an applicant must:

  • be enrolled at least half time at an IIA-participating school as a freshman (school defines freshman status)
    • students who are classified at an academic level above freshman solely because of credits earned through Advanced Placement or other similar proficiency exams are still permitted to receive IIA Grant funds {ISAC Rules, Section 2736.20 (c)};
  • be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen;
  • have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and have a valid Student Aid Report (SAR)/Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) with an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of 500 or less;
  • be a legal resident of Illinois;
  • not have already received a baccalaureate degree and be enrolled in a degree or certificate program;
  • meet the satisfactory academic progress standards at the school;
  • comply with federal Selective Service registration requirements;
  • not be in default on any student loan nor owe a refund on any state or federal scholarship or grant;
  • not be incarcerated; and
  • meet MAP eligibility requirements, but does not actually have to receive MAP payment (i.e., no MAP payment because of a conflicting scholarship that covers tuition and fees, a student's MAP award is in a late or suspended status, or the student exceeded the maximum units of MAP eligibility, but remains defined as a freshman).

Note: Eligibility requirements, awarding procedures, and the payment process are patterned after the MAP process.  Procedures for enrollment requirements, including remedial and repeat courses and special enrollment circumstances, verification, Illinois residency appeals, school changes, and Social Security Number matches are processed the same as the MAP grant. Refer to the MAP section for further guidance.

© 2003-2007 Illinois Student Assistance Commission