EIU Media Relations

Eastern Illinois University Reaffirms its Commitment to Illinois

State’s top-ranked public regional university to significantly reduce tuition & fees for qualified in-state students

Eastern Illinois University is unveiling a new multifaceted financial aid program that can significantly reduce—and in some cases completely offset—tuition and fee costs for qualified Illinois students who enroll at EIU.

This past spring, the Higher Education Working Group—a bipartisan group of 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. As a result, EIU is establishing three new aid programs in coordination with the Illinois AIM HIGH Grant program to facilitate Eastern Illinois University’s commitment to Illinois. Students who qualify for the scholarships will be eligible to receive AIM HIGH-supported funding for up to four years or eight semesters at EIU. More information about EIU’s AIM HIGH scholarship programs is available at https://www.eiu.edu/aimhigh/.

“Eastern Illinois University is deeply committed to its role as a premier regional public university,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Dr. Jay Gatrell. “This program demonstrates EIU’s longstanding commitment to the region and the state by attracting and retaining more of Illinois’ college-bound students.”

Ultimately, EIU’s commitment to Illinois will significantly reduce tuition and fees for students of families from all income levels, and in some cases completely offset tuition and fees for students of low-income families with annual adjusted gross incomes of $61,000 or less. Other program qualifications include Illinois residency for the student, Illinois residency for at least one parent identified on the student’s FAFSA, and admittance to EIU as a new, full-time freshman. Full AIM HIGH scholarship details are available at https://www.eiu.edu/aimhigh/.

Starting with its fall 2019 incoming class, Eastern’s commitment to Illinois will support qualified students with AIM HIGH Grant funding using a trio of funding mechanisms unique to EIU. They include:

• EIU Promise
  EIU will offset the remaining balance of a student’s tuition and fee costs for resident families demonstrating a family income of $61,000 or less.
• EIU Cost Match
  EIU will match the out-of-pocket cost of attendance of any regionally accredited public university in Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin. To qualify, Illinois students can submit their Financial Aid Award letters from qualifying institutions in those states.
• EIU Merit Scholarship Bonus
  Qualified Illinois students will be eligible to receive at least $2,500 each year through EIU’s renewable scholarship bonus. By combining Merit Scholarship benefits with state-funded AIM HIGH scholarships, qualified EIU students are eligible to earn up to $18,000 in scholarship funding over four years or eight semesters.

Together, these scholarship offerings can significantly reduce and in some cases completely offset costs for EIU’s qualified, incoming students.

Eastern Illinois University, the top-ranked regional public university in the state per U.S. News and World Report’s 2019 annual college ranking, is already the lowest overall cost-for-attendance university for residential students among all Illinois public universities. EIU’s new commitment to Illinois is further complemented by the university’s textbook rental program, which saves students an average of more than $900 annually. EIU also has committed to waiving its application fee—regularly $30—for any prospective students who apply for fall 2019 EIU admission by October 15, 2018.

“Access and affordability are more than just buzzwords,” shared Dr. David Glassman, Eastern Illinois University president. “They are the driving principles of Illinois higher education, and guide our decisions at Eastern Illinois University every day. In that spirit, we are always exploring ways in which we can do more for our students and our state.”

Glassman suggested that every Illinois student who dreams of earning a college degree should have an opportunity to prosper—regardless of the financial challenges they face.

“Thankfully,” he continued, “all qualified Illinois students have access to a top-notch university experience right here at Eastern Illinois University, and we are committed to making sure that cost is not a barrier to their ambitions, growth or success.”

“Eastern Illinois University has demonstrated an intense dedication to providing an accessible, affordable high-quality educational experience for more than 120 years,” Glassman added. “By remaining innovative in our approach and responding to the changing needs of our students and our state, we will continue to provide that experience for the next 120 years and beyond.”

“Eastern Illinois University could be one of the best decisions students ever make,” Glassman encouraged. “We’d love to show them firsthand how an entire university can be all in for their success.”

Prospective students in Illinois are encouraged to visit EIU’s AIM HIGH website at https://www.eiu.edu/aimhigh/ for additional information.

View EIU's AIM HIGH Grant Flyer Here.