EIU will match the out-of-pocket cost of attendance of any regionally accredited public university in the U.S. outside Illinois. To qualify, Illinois students can submit their Financial Aid Award letters from qualifying institutions.
The EIU Cost Match program is a new financial aid program designed to benefit freshman students in Illinois and curb college-bound out-migration. EIU will match the out-of-pocket cost of attendance of any regionally accredited public university in the United States (outside Illinois). EIU will cover the out-of-pocket cost not covered by other federal, state, institutional and private awards, including Federal Pell Grant, State of Illinois MAP Program (MAP), Federal Loans, and other awards.
For example, if your out-of-pocket costs at EIU are $5,000 and your out-of-pocket costs at a qualifying university are $3,000, EIU will provide you with a scholarship for $2,000, allowing you to attend EIU for the same cost as the qualifying university.
To qualify, you must:
As dictated by Congress, the cost of attendance is the average cost to attend a university for one academic year (fall through spring). It includes tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, and personal expenses. Colleges adjust the cost of attendance each year to reflect changes to these costs.
No separate application is required. However, you must complete your FAFSA requirements and be admitted to EIU. Also, you must submit the Financial Aid Award letter from the university you wish to cost match with EIU.
No, this program is only available to first-time freshman undergraduate students who started in the Fall semester 2019 or later. Current students who already received EIU Cost Match will continue to receive it as long as they meet the renewal criteria.
Any public four-year university in the United States (outside Illinois) that is accredited by one of the six regional accrediting organizations:
Once you receive both your financial aid award letter from EIU and the qualifying institution to which you are admitted, submit your financial aid award letter from the qualifying institution in MyEIU. The award letter will be reviewed soon after submission, and we will contact you to discuss the details of your EIU Cost Match scholarship.
No, athletic scholarships will not be considered as part of your cost match. However, you are still welcome to apply for the cost match, whether you are receiving an athletic scholarship or you are a walk-on athlete without a scholarship. You may still find that going to EIU saves you money!
Cost Match award letters must include tuition, fees, room, board, and other miscellaneous expenses included in the school’s required on campus published cost of attendance. If your award letter does not include room, board, or other expenses (based on “with parent” or commuter expense estimates for example), please ask the school’s financial aid office for a revised award letter that includes on-campus costs. This information is required to best compare the out-of-pocket costs of attending college. If the school does not offer on-campus housing, off-campus living expenses can be considered if included in the school’s award letter. If no living expense components can be provided, EIU living expenses will be used in order to make a fair comparison.
For most students, yes. You can be eligible for the program for up to eight continuous semesters (Fall and Spring) at EIU, as long as you meet the renewal criteria. The program is dependent upon continued state appropriation of associated funds.
To remain qualified after your first year, you must:
Yes, to qualify for this program, you must submit a FAFSA at fafsa.gov. You can submit your FAFSA starting October 1 of the year before you intend to take classes at EIU. We recommend you file your FAFSA as soon as possible, and make sure to include EIU’s school code (001674) on your FAFSA so we receive your information. EIU’s priority deadline is December 15.
In addition to the qualifications listed above, to receive financial aid from the EIU Promise program, you must also meet the state’s AIM HIGH Grant eligible student requirements. You must:
| People in Household | Max Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $81,540 |
| 2 | $109,860 |
| 3 | $138,180 |
| 4 | $166,500 |
| 5 | $194,820 |
| 6 | $223,140 |
| 7 | $251,460 |
| 8 | $279,780 |
| 9+ | $28,320 added for each additional person |
You must be registered for a minimum of 12 credit hours by the published census date each semester. Full-time enrollment is assumed until census date.
In Spring 2018, the Higher Education Working Group — a bipartisan group of Illinois legislators interested in finding common-ground and viable solutions — proposed and passed a new merit-based grant program. That program — the AIM HIGH Grant — was signed into law in August 2018. The EIU Cost Match program is dependent on that grant and on state appropriation annually.