EIU Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships

2022 Biden-Harris Student Debt Relief Plan

President Biden has announced loan cancellation at $10,000 for single borrowers making less than $125,000, or households earning less than $250,000. The relief includes current students and borrowers who have federally-held undergraduate, graduate, and Parent PLUS loans where the first disbursement was on or before June 30, 2022.

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2023-2024 Financial Aid and Scholarships - Apply Beginning Oct. 1

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships encourages all students to apply early for financial aid and scholarships. To ensure full consideration for aid, submit your FAFSA as soon as possible after Oct. 1 of each year and search for scholarships using our scholarship search engine as soon as possible after Nov. 1 of each year. We recommend filing by Feb. 15 in order to meet possible state deadlines. If you need more information on how to apply, please visit the links below:

• How to fill out the FAFSA
• After the FAFSA: What Happens Next
• View the FSA ID video tutorial
• Federal Student Aid Virtual Assistant – AIDEN
• Scholarship Tips
• Scholarship Site

Our federal school code is 001674.

NEW Federal Student Aid Estimator

The Federal Student Aid Estimator is a free tool that helps students quickly calculate the amount of financial aid they may be eligible to receive.

Anyone can use the Federal Student Aid Estimator, which is available in English and Spanish. Users don’t have to be logged in to receive an estimate of their aid eligibility.

The Federal Student Aid Estimator also provides students with information about the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and its role in determining their federal student aid, and a link to the College Scorecard to help them find the college or career school that’s the best fit for them.

In the Federal Student Aid Estimator, users enter information in three short sections—student, household, and financial—and the tool instantly displays estimated results.

Students will receive a nonbinding estimate of their EFC, along with estimated eligibility for Federal Pell Grants, work-study funds, and federal student loans.

Helpful Videos from Federal Student Aid

To find out how to complete various processes for financial aid, watch a YouTube video here.

• Completing the FAFSA Via Mobile App — A How-To Guide

At Eastern Illinois University, we understand how COVID-19 has impacted wages, savings, financial security, and the ability to pay for life’s extras. Because of this, the two-year-old financial information you provided on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid, may not accurately reflect yours or your parent’s financial situation this current year.

WE MAY BE ABLE TO HELP WITH A PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT.

If you are:

• A dependent student and your parent(s) received Unemployment Benefits in the past year, or experienced a reduction/loss in income
• An independent student and you received Unemployment Benefits in the past year, or experienced a reduction/loss in income

We may be able to REDUCE your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) which could INCREASE YOUR ELIGIBILITY for MORE GIFT AID. (That is FREE MONEY!)

Please note: If your FAFSA information has already resulted in a ZERO EFC, a Professional Judgment cannot be processed. You may find your EFC on your Student Aid Report, on your award letter, or by contacting our office.

FOR PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT POLICIES/TO DOWNLOAD A PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT FORM: https://www.eiu.edu/finaid/Professional_Judgement_Forms.php

Our staff is happy to help if you have any questions. Call 217-581-6405 or email finaid@eiu.edu.