Automatic Merit Scholarships
Are you an incoming freshman or transfer student coming to Eastern next Fall semester? Check out our Merit Scholarships to see how much you could qualify for!
Current EIU students can check their PAWS account for information and eligibility requirements for the Merit Scholarship. International undergraduate students on current visas (F1, J1) are not eligible for freshman merit or transfer merit scholarships.
Freshman Merit Scholarships:
NOTE: Test scores and transcripts can be updated through June 1 to qualify for the scholarship or qualify for a higher amount.
Renewal Criteria: Student must maintain the following cumulative GPA at Eastern Illinois University, with continuous full-time enrollment of 12+ hours.
- Distinguished Merit: 3.0 GPA
- High Achieving Merit: 2.75 GPA
- Academic Merit: 2.5 GPA
Transfer Merit Scholarship:
NOTE: Transcripts can be updated through June 1 to either qualify or go up a scholarship level.
Renewal Criteria: Student must maintain the following cumulative GPA at Eastern Illinois University, with continuous full-time enrollment of 12+ hours.
- Tier One: 3.0 GPA
- Tier Two: 2.75 GPA
Freshman AIM HIGH Bonus FAQ
What is the Freshman AIM HIGH Bonus?
If you are an Illinois resident and you have a minimum of a 3.3/4.0 GPA, you will receive an additional $500 per year over 4 years.
How do I qualify?
To qualify, you must:
- Be a resident of Illinois, with at least one parent (listed on your FAFSA) also an Illinois resident
- Have a minimum 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Enroll at EIU as a freshman student full-time (12 or more credit hours) at EIU
- Meet AIM HIGH Grant requirements
- Be admitted with your financial aid packaged and completed by June 1 of the year you’re intending to enroll at EIU.
- International undergraduate students on current visas (F1, J1) are not eligible for freshman AIM HIGH Bonuses.
How do I apply?
No separate application is required. When you are admitted to EIU, you will automatically be offered the highest AIM HIGH Bonus you qualify for based on your GPA, along with the bonus $500 per year if you are an Illinois resident. The scholarship is automatically renewable for a total of 4 years (8 semesters Fall and Spring).
Do transfer students qualify?
Yes, but the scholarship and bonus for transfer students are different. See the section below, Transfer AIM HIGH Bonus FAQ, for more information.
Do current students or out-of-state students qualify?
- Current students who first enrolled at EIU before Fall 2019 are not eligible for the $500 Illinois residency bonus, as the program is dependent upon AIM HIGH Grant funding. Those students do not meet the requirements associated with the state’s AIM HIGH Grant. Current students who first enrolled at EIU Fall 2019 or later and already received the Bonus will continue to receive it as long as they meet the renewal criteria.
- Out-of-state students are not eligible for the $500 Illinois residency bonus, but you may still qualify for $8,000 to $16,000 through our automatic merit scholarships for undergraduates. Learn more at: https://www.eiu.edu/scholarships/highlighted_scholarships_freshman.php
- Renewal criteria
Will the program be available to me my whole time at EIU?
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.
What are the renewal criteria?
To remain qualified after your first year, you must:
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Stay continuously enrolled (Fall and Spring) as a full-time student at EIU
- Meet AIM HIGH Grant requirements
Do I need to submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)?
Yes, to qualify for the AIM HIGH Bonus, 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.
Are there any other eligibility requirements?
In addition to the qualifications listed above, to receive financial aid from the AIM HIGH Bonus program, you must also meet the state’s AIM HIGH Grant eligible student requirements. You must:
- Be a citizen, or a non-citizen eligible for federal student aid
- Not have received a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent of 135 semester credit hours
- Not be incarcerated
- Not be in default on any student loan or owe a refund or repayment on any state or federal grant or scholarship
- Has filed a FAFSA and demonstrated need with household income (taxed and untaxed) no greater than six times the poverty guidelines
| People in Household | Max Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $72,360 |
| 2 | $97,440 |
| 3 | $122,520 |
| 4 | $147,600 |
| 5 | $172,680 |
| 6 | $197,760 |
| 7 | $222,840 |
| 8 | $247,920 |
| 9+ | $25,080 added for each additional person |
How is the AIM HIGH Bonus funded?
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 AIM HIGH Bonus is dependent on that grant and on state appropriation annually, although the AIM HIGH bonuses themselves are funded by EIU.
How do I maintain full-time enrollment at EIU?
You must be registered for a minimum of 12 credit hours by the published census date policy each semester. Full-time enrollment is assumed until census date.
Transfer AIM HIGH Bonus FAQ
What is the Transfer AIM HIGH Bonus?
If you are an Illinois resident and you have a minimum of a 3.3/4.0 GPA, you will receive an additional $500 per year over 2 years.
How do I qualify?
To qualify, you must:
- Be a resident of Illinois, with at least one parent (listed on your
- Have a minimum 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Enroll as a full-time transfer student at EIU
- Meet AIM HIGH Grant requirements
- Be admitted to EIU as an incoming transfer full-time (12 or more credit hours) with your EIU financial aid packaged and completed by June 1.
- International undergraduate students on current visas (F1, J1) are not eligible for transfer scholarships.
How do I apply?
No separate application is required. When you are admitted to EIU, you will automatically be offered the highest AIM HIGH Bonus you qualify for based on your GPA, along with the bonus $500 per year if you are an Illinois resident. The scholarship is automatically renewable for a total of 2 years (4 semesters Fall and Spring).
Do current students or out-of-state students qualify?
- Current students who enrolled at EIU before Fall 2019 are not eligible for the $500 Illinois residency bonus, as the program is dependent upon AIM HIGH Grant funding. Students who enrolled at EIU before Fall 2019 do not meet the requirements associated with the state’s AIM HIGH Grant.
- Out-of-state students are not eligible for the $500 Illinois residency bonus, but you may still qualify for $3,000 to $5,000 through our automatic merit scholarships for transfer students. Learn more at: https://www.eiu.edu/scholarships/highlighted_scholarships_transfer.php
Will the program be available to me my whole time at EIU?
For most students, yes. You can be eligible for the program for up to four 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.
What are the renewal criteria?
To remain qualified after your first year, you must:
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0
- Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress
- Stay continuously enrolled as a full-time student at EIU
- Meet AIM HIGH Grant requirements
Do I need to submit a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)?
Yes, to qualify for the AIM HIGH Bonus you must submit a FAFSA at fafsa.gov 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.
Are there any other eligibility requirements?
In addition to the qualifications listed above, to receive financial aid from the AIM HIGH Bonus program, you must also meet the state’s AIM HIGH Grant eligible student requirements. You must:
- Be a citizen, or a non-citizen eligible for federal student aid
- Not have received a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent of 135 semester credit hours
- Not be incarcerated
- Not be in default on any student loan or owe a refund or repayment on any state or federal grant or scholarship
- Have filed a FAFSA and demonstrated need with household income (taxed and untaxed) no greater than six times the poverty guidelines:
| People in Household | Max Income |
|---|---|
| 1 | $72,360 |
| 2 | $97,440 |
| 3 | $122,520 |
| 4 | $147,600 |
| 5 | $172,680 |
| 6 | $197,760 |
| 7 | $222,840 |
| 8 | $247,920 |
| 9+ | $25,080 added for each additional person |
How do I maintain full-time enrollment at EIU?
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.
How is the AIM HIGH Bonus funded?
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 AIM HIGH Bonus is dependent on that grant and on state appropriation annually, although the AIM HIGH Bonuses themselves are funded by EIU.
