CCR Update: FAFSA Edition

P. A. 101-180 requires all Illinois public high school students to complete either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application) as a prerequisite to receiving a high school diploma. Additionally, high schools are expected to provide students and their families with any support or guidance necessary to comply with the requirement. For students who choose not to file an application, a waiver may be completed by their parent. Parents can submit the "non-participation form" through the ISAC Student Portal (see below for more info).

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the online application that allows a student to apply simultaneously for federal student aid (including the Pell Grant, work-study opportunities, and federal student loans) and the Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant. Many colleges and universities use it for their aid programs, too.

You might need the following information or documents as you fill out the 2025–26 FAFSA form:

• Your parents’ SSNs if you’re a dependent student

• Tax returns

• Records of child support received

• Current balances of cash, savings, and checking accounts

• Net worth of investments, businesses, and farm

• List of colleges (up to 20) you are interested in attending

In preparation for filling out the 2025-2026 FAFSA application, students and parents should create their FSA ID.

Click this link to create your FSA ID. Do this first!

Complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by clicking this link: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

2025-26 FAFSA Walkthrough -video

Additional resources regarding financial aid can be found on the CCR website under the Financial Aid tab.

Questions about financial aid? Get answers directly from ISAC’s experts sent to your phone. Text your name to 630-216-4910.

You can also direct your financial aid questions to our ISAC Representative Joseph Martinez Meza at joseph.martinez-meza@illinois.gov or 224-760-1366.

Did you know that ECC’s financial aid office will assist you to complete your FAFSA even if you are not enrolled? The Financial Aid Office is located in Building B, room B156.

Office Hours

Monday through Thursday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
*Closed Tuesday: 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Phone: 847-214-7360
Fax: 847-608-5460
financialaid@elgin.edu

Financial aid is left on the table every year by students who didn’t apply, because they mistakenly thought they were ineligible. The reality is there’s no income cut-off to qualify for federal student aid. It doesn’t matter if you have a low or high income; most people qualify for some type of financial aid, including low-interest federal student loans. Many factors besides income—such as your family size and your year in school—are taken into account. Don’t make assumptions about what you’ll get—fill out the application and find out!

For students from families that do make too much to qualify for need-based grant aid, the FAFSA can still be helpful, since it’s needed for work-study, an AIM HIGH grant from one of Illinois' public universities, or a federal student loan (usually at competitive rates and with more borrower protections than private loans, including options for income-based repayment and forgiveness programs for some careers).

Your college may offer aid based on your FAFSA information as well, and your eligibility may be different depending on your school. Additionally, some scholarship programs use information from the FAFSA as part of the application process. As most financial aid is awarded based on the FAFSA filing date, it is a very good idea to complete the FAFSA as early as possible. This “place in line” can be used for opportunities that come up later, and also can be used if family financial circumstances suddenly change.

The FAFSA isn’t just for associate’s or bachelor’s degree programs! Students can receive need-based Pell grants, federal student loans, and other federal student aid for technical, trade, and vocational programs at community colleges and at many other schools and training programs. Students can check with the school they want to attend or use the federal government’s online College Navigator tool to find out which institutions participate in the programs: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/

Filing the application doesn’t commit you to anything. You’ll just find out whether you might be eligible for aid!

Every year families nervously await and often postpone filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Some skip the ordeal entirely, because they think it’s a waste of time and only a fast track to federal student loans. However, the FAFSA package also includes college scholarships and grants. Not filling it out is one of many costly FAFSA mistakes and can result in families losing money that could have helped them pay for college. Click the link for the full article.

The Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act allows eligible undocumented students and transgender students who are disqualified from federal financial aid to apply for all forms of state financial aid. The Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid provides a pathway for these qualified students to apply for Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants, the state's largest need-based grant program for low-income college students.

Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid FAQ

Alternative Application User Guide

• The 2024-25 Nonparticipation Form (used to opt-out of the 2025-26 FAFSA) can be submitted online on ISAC's Student Portal under the Program Applications & Status Checks tab. See the Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form Instructions for details on how to complete the electronic form. ​

• ISAC's Financial Aid Application Completion page​

College & Career Readiness Team

255 Red Gate Road, St. Charles, IL, 60175

331-228-6290