Welcome to College Zone - Which Zone Are You In?Return Home
e-Messaging | Order Materials | Publications & Applications | Contact Us
  
StudentParentCounselorFinancial Aid AdministratorLenderEspaolState of Illinois
6th-7th Grades
8th-12th Grades
College
Advanced Degree 
Planning
Finding / Applying
Financing
Financial Aid
Loans
Scholarships
Grants
Loan Repayment/ Forgiveness Programs
Money Matters
Borrowing Basics
Alternative Financing Options
Applications
Calculators
Teaching
Medical Professions
Military Service
FAQ's
Helpful Links
After College
e-Messaging Sign-Up
Illinois Residency Requirements
The following is the definition of an Illinois resident as it pertains to the ISAC-administered programs listed at the bottom of this page.*

Independent Students

By definition, a student pursuing an advanced degree is considered independent.

For an independent student to be considered a resident of Illinois s/he must have physically resided in Illinois for 12 continuous full months immediately prior to the start of the academic year for which assistance is requested and Illinois must be his/her true, fixed, and permanent home.

Example: An independent student attending an institution with an academic year starting on August 20, 2007, must have resided in Illinois from August 20, 2006 through August 19, 2007.

Armed Forces and Foreign Missionary Students

U.S. Armed Forces members and foreign missionaries qualify as Illinois residents if they:

  • physically resided in Illinois immediately prior to entering the U.S. Armed Forces (missionaries must reside in Illinois for six continuous months prior to entering missionary service);
  • return or plan to return to Illinois within six months of the conclusion of service; and
  • can demonstrate that their domicile was Illinois throughout such service.

A foreign missionary is an individual who is assigned duty outside the United States by an organization that engages in educational, philanthropic, humanitarian, or altruistic works. The missionary organization must have been engaged in placing foreign missionaries for at least five years and must be exempt from the payment of federal taxes. Some examples of such organizations include the Peace Corps and the Evangelical Alliance Mission.

Applicants who are dependents of U.S. Armed Forces members or foreign missionaries will be considered an Illinois resident if their parent(s) meets the Illinois residency requirements listed in this section.

Applicants who are the spouses of U.S. Armed Forces members or foreign missionaries must demonstrate that their absence from Illinois was the result of residing with a spouse during the period of service outside the state, and must also demonstrate that their domicile continues to be Illinois.

Applicants who cease to be Illinois residents after scholarship and/or grant award notification may complete the academic year with the awarded scholarships and/or grant.

Example: If an independent student moves out of state after completing the FAFSA and had received notification of scholarship and/or grant eligibility, the student remains eligible for the scholarship and/or grant for the balance of that award year, assuming all other eligibility requirements continue to be met.

Examples of Documentation To Prove Illinois Residency

Data from one or more of the documents listed below may provide proof that an applicant is an Illinois resident. For independent students, the dates recorded on the documents must indicate that the applicant has resided in Illinois for the relevant twelve continuous, full months.

  • Valid state or federal income tax return
  • Illinois high school or college transcript
  • Illinois driver's license
  • Utility or rent bills in the applicant's name
  • Illinois auto registration card
  • Residential lease in the applicant's name
  • Wage and tax statements (IRS Form W-2)
  • Statement of benefits from the Illinois Department of Public Aid
  • State of Illinois identification card, issued by the Secretary of State
  • Statement of benefits from the Illinois Department of Employment Security
  • Statement of benefits from the Social Security Administration
  • Illinois voter's registration card
  • Property tax bill

* The above is the definition of an Illinois resident as it applies to the following ISAC-administered gift assistance programs for which students pursuing an advanced degree may be eligible to apply. (Programs not listed below may have different residency requirements and, whenever that is the case, the requirements will be outlined within that program's area at College Zone.)

Illinois Future Teacher Corps (IFTC) Program
Illinois Special Education Teacher Tuition Waiver (SETTW) Program
Illinois Teachers and Child Care Providers Loan Repayment Program
Minority Teachers of Illinois (MTI) Scholarship Program
Nurse Educator Loan Repayment Program 
Nurse Educator Scholarship Program (NESP)
Veterans' Home Nurse Loan Repayment Program

Printable version
Printable version
Financial Aid
 Types of Financial Aid
 Illinois and Federal Financial Aid Programs
 Illinois Residency Requirements
 Citizenship Requirements
 Dependency Status
 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
 Work-Study Programs
 Fellowships and Traineeships
 Financial Aid Scams
 How and When to Apply for Financial Aid (Calendar)
 Scholarships
 Grants
 Loans
 Cooperative Education And Other Opportunities
 Teaching and Research Assistantships
      Partners of the College Zone Network:   | College Illinois! | IDAPP |      
      About ISAC | Site Map | Your Privacy | Terms & ConditionsPowered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC)      
© 2003-2008 Illinois Student Assistance Commission