Merit Scholarship Matrix
Are you an incoming freshman coming to Eastern in Fall 2019? Check out our Merit Scholarship matrix to see how much you could qualify for!
Current EIU students can check their PAWS account for information and eligibility requirements for the Commitment to Excellence Scholarship.
NOTE: Test scores and transcripts can be updated through June 30 to either qualify or go up a scholarship level.
EIU Merit Scholarship Bonus FAQ
What is the EIU Merit Scholarship Bonus?
If you are an Illinois resident and you qualify for one of EIU’s Merit Scholarships, you will receive an additional $500 per year over 4 years. The four-year value of the scholarship for Illinois residents is between $10,000 and $18,000.*
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
- Be admitted to EIU as an undergraduate incoming freshman full-time (12 or more credit hours)
- Have a minimum 20 ACT / 1030 SAT and a 3.0 unweighted GPA on a 4.0 scale
- Enroll as a full-time freshman student at EIU
- Meet AIM HIGH Grant requirements
- Be admitted to EIU as an incoming freshman full-time (12 or more credit hours) with your EIU financial aid packaged by April 1.
How do I apply?
No separate application is required. You will automatically be offered the highest tier Merit Scholarship you qualify for based on your academic criteria when you are admitted to EIU, 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, current students or out-of-state students qualify?
- Transfer 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
- Current EIU students are not eligible for the $500 Illinois residency bonus, as the program is dependent upon the AIM HIGH Grant funding. Students currently attending EIU do not meet the requirements associated with the AIM HIGH Grant.
- 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
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 (Spring and Fall) 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 merit scholarship bonus, you must submit a FAFSA at fafsa.ed.gov starting October 1. 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 EIU Merit Scholarship Bonus program, you must also meet the state’s AIM HIGH Grant eligible student requirements. You must:
- Be an Illinois high school student who graduates in the same year as the scholarship is awarded
- 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 |
Who is a new freshman, as it pertains to the AIM HIGH Grant and EIU’s AIM HIGH scholarships’ eligibility?
Any Illinois high school student who graduates in the same year as the scholarship is awarded.
How is the EIU Merit Scholarship 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 EIU Merit Scholarship Bonus is dependent on that grant and on state appropriation annually, although the Merit Scholarships themselves are funded by EIU.
How is a student determined full time?
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. https://www.eiu.edu/finaid/policies_census_date.php
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.
* This scholarship is partially funded by the Aim High Grant.
