AIM HIGH Program

AIM HIGH Grant Requirements

The AIM HIGH Grant program, funded by the State of Illinois, provides merit-based awards to undergraduate students beginning with the 2019-2020 award year. The award is designed to encourage Illinois students to attend an in-state university, improve college affordability, and reduce student loan debt. For 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will provide $5,000 per year awards ($20,000 over four years) to the top academically admitted new freshmen in-state students in each academic college who meet all of the following criteria:

  • Is a resident of the state of Illinois and attended an Illinois high school.
  • Is a full-time undergraduate student enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program.
  • For the initial year of eligibility, the FAFSA or RISE household income is no greater than six times the federal poverty guidelines as outlined in the chart below.
  • For 2023-2024, preference will be given to students that have filed a 2023-2024 FAFSA or RISE alternative application by January 6, 2023.
  • For 2022-2023, preference will be given to students that have filed a 2022-2023 FAFSA or RISE alternative application by January 6, 2022.
Persons in Family/Household Maximum 2020 Income Maximum 2021 Income
1 $76,560 $77,280
2 $103,440 $104,520
3 $130,320 $131,760
4 $157,200 $159,000
5 $184,080 $186,240
6 $210,960 $213,480
7 $237,840 $240,720
8 $264,720 $267,960
Every Additional Add $26,880 Add $27,240
The AIM High Grant is renewable and available for up to four years (eight semesters) of continuous full-time enrollment provided the student:

AIM HIGH Grant renewal awards are contingent on funding availability. Each school must provide new financial aid funding to match a portion of the AIM HIGH Grant funding provided by the State of Illinois. The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign will match the state funding with the Illinois Tuition Grant and Illinois Commitment programs.