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 2023-2024 and 2024-2025, 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 U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen or meet the “undocumented student” criteria of the RISE Act.
- 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.
- Cannot be incarcerated.
- Cannot be in default of any student loan nor owe a refund or repayment on any State of federal grant or scholarship.
- For 2024-2025, the initial year of eligibility, you must file the FAFSA or RISE alternative application and your household income can be no greater than eight times the federal poverty guidelines as outlined in the chart below.
- For 2024-2025, preference will be given to students that have filed a 2024-2025 FAFSA or RISE alternative application by March 1, 2024.
- For 2023-2024, preference will be given to students that have filed a 2023-2024 FAFSA or RISE alternative application by January 6, 2023.
| Persons in Family/Household | Maximum 2021 Income | Maximum 2022 Income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $77,280 | $108,720 |
| 2 | $104,520 | $146,480 |
| 3 | $131,760 | $184,240 |
| 4 | $159,000 | $222,000 |
| 5 | $186,240 | $259,760 |
| 6 | $213,480 | $297,520 |
| 7 | $240,720 | $335,280 |
| 8 | $267,960 | $373,040 |
| Every Additional | Add $27,240 | Add $37,760 |
- The AIM High Grant is renewable and available for up to four years (eight semesters) of continuous full-time enrollment provided the student meets Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements.
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.