EIU Undocumented Students

Scholarships for Undocumented Students

Eastern Illinois University is committed to supporting all of our students. Although undocumented students are not eligible for federal aid through the FAFSA, there are other resources available. With the induction of the RISE Act, undocumented students residing in Illinois are now eligible for state aid, including the MAP Grant, through an alternative application.

Undocumented students are also eligible for incoming freshman or transfer merit scholarships based on their academic criteria.

Students are encouraged to apply for scholarships through our Scholarship Search Engine, many of which do not require citizenship.

Finally, there are several outside scholarships available to students that do not require citizenship.

RISE Act

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.

The Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid can be found here.